Winebar do Castelo

Finding nice restaurants and pubs near big tourist destinations can be hit-or-miss, but Winebar do Castelo, just 100 meters from the entrance of Lisbon's So Jorge Castle, is a sure hit. Daniel Afonso and Nuno Santos, the owners, have roughly 150 wines on their menu, but they always keep a hidden stockpile of unlisted wines on hand so they can find something to your liking. Given that the castle and bar are perched atop a steep hill, any wine you choose will seem like the best kind of reward.

The concept of wine tasting hasn't fully taken off in Portugal, and getting a tasting tour at most of the vineyards that sell to the public is still a rarity. Wine Bar do Castelo, on the other hand, discovered a few years ago that a particular type of traveler gets turned on by a little wine education with their drink, and that's precisely what this modest café off the Castelo do S Jorge delivers. After you answer a few questions about the kind of wine you enjoy and/or want to drink, they'll bring you three wines to sample before you choose one to fill upon.

Location: Rua Bartolomeu de Gusmao 13, St. George Castle, Lisbon

View Details: yelp.com/biz/wine-bar-do-castelo-lisboa