The JNcQUOI Delibar Avenida, a wine bar cum cellar cum high-end eatery, part of the JNcQUOI family of restaurants and fashion stores, is in the penetralia of the iconic Teatro Tivoli building in the heart of Lisbon. The walls are decked with a myriad of wines, in the middle is a gorgeous oval bar and at the rear is a glass room that is a sanctuary to their most expensive wines. A glass of wine can cost up to a heady €800.
Manager, Ricardo Felgueiras shows off a bottle
On Big Bottle Day, a tradition started in 2019, which happens every Friday, you can prop up the bar and taste unique and rare wines dispensed from huge bottles from 6 to 18 litres.
The most popular are Chateau Haut Brion (the first Big Bottle), Chateau d’Yquem, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Barca Velha 2000, and Chateau Palmer 2017.
Then you sign the bottle for prosperity. It’s a cute idea.
As we had only popped by for a mid-week light lunch we made do with a single glass poured from a 75cl sized Pocas reserva white and Aldeia de cima reserva red to go with our lunch.
We started with a truffled roasted eggplant mashed up in front of us to ensure all the flavours would be tasted with each bite. This was unbelievably fresh and flavoursome. The white asparagus with truffle sauce was soft and fresh with a delicate sauce.
One of us was a vegetarian and chose tagliatelli with morilles. The tagliatelle was slightly al dente which went well with the texture of the mushrooms. I chose “Jacinto” cut beef with oven-roasted rice. This is aged meat served on baked rice that was delicately crispy on the top.
Then just as we thought it was all over the waiter brought over a whole tray of desserts. We had to choose and that was hard. After a great deal of deliberation, we opted for a deliciously rich and creamy creme caramel and a dinosaur jaw with rich chocolate mouse and caramel.
Verdict: Though this is a deli bar the cuisine is awesome and the wine choice is seemingly never-ending. Come here for early evening drinks with friends, or do as I did and enjoy a “light” lunch and then sort out those calories with a walk around Lisbon. Get there after 8pm and enjoy DJ entertainment too.
More info: Delibar Avenida
Avenida da Liberdade, nº 182-184, Lisbon, Portugal
No need to reserve a table.
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24 hours in Lisbon