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Hours
Sun
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Mon
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Tue
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Thu
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Fri
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Sat
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Reserve a table
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Ratings and reviews
3.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
European, Portuguese
Meals
Dinner, Late Night
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Menu
Salada de tomate, pepino, queijo curado terrincho com vinagrete de tomate
€19.5
Prato de presunto
€28
Salada de queijo de cabra, nozes e rúcula
€19.5
Sopa de melão, hortelã e presunto
€9.5
Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?
Details
About
A Severa was inaugurated in 1955, by the couple Júlio and Maria José de Barros Evangelista. It is the oldest Fado House in Lisbon, run by the same family for 4 generations, it is an active part of the history of Fado, being important for the promotion of the traditional Portuguese culture, where some of the greatest Fado singers started and passed away.
CUISINES
European, Portuguese
Meals
Dinner, Late Night
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
3.5
803 reviews
Excellent
261
Very good
205
Average
115
Poor
85
Terrible
137
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Nomad47177312726
7 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
This restaurant was the first to promote Fado as an art form and the Fado singers and musicians were excellent. Unfortunately the rest of our experience did not measure up. We had called in advance and been told that they had Octopus in Lagrerei style. When we arrived we were told that the octopus dish they did have was identical which it definitely was not. The food was pricey and the portions meagre, barely half of the octopus we had elsewhere for half the price. Rack of lamb was good but with little actual meat. At 36 euros each for the main dish we expected more. The wine was similarly pricey. 34 euros for the cheapest bottle. The price would have been okay if the service had been better. After receiving our meal we were practically ignored for the rest of the evening (almost 2 hours). We finally had to ask a different waiter to clear our places. Perhaps understandable if they hadn't had 7 waiters for about 40 people. We recommend lovers of Fado go elsewhere.
Written November 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maisie b
13 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
The quality of the four singers is brilliant. If you are going for a meal I imagine it is ok, we went to listen to the music and have some drinks. Unaware of the minimum charge per person. We were charged 70 euros for the two of us, for one jug of sangria. Even if we were to meet the minimum charge, items are very expensive on the menu. One jug of sangria is 34 euros. Experience was ok.
Written February 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
headingaway
Santa Monica126 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
My hotel suggested this place when I asked for a suggestion of where I could hear fado and eat dinner. It was great. The wine, the food, the dessert--lamb chops, and plum flan...five musicians and sweet fado music. And they didn't give me any trouble being a solo diner.
Written December 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlotte
The Hague27 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
Before visiting Lisbon, I spent quite some timing researching Fado restaurants, as we really wanted to visit one, but I was weary of tourist traps. Whilst this restaurant is oriented towards tourists, and is a bit expensive compared to other restaurants in Lisbon, I certainly recommend going, as the overall experience was absolutely marvelous! The setting is charming, the waiting staff is professional, the food is good, but above all the quality of the Fadistas and musicians was absolutely excellent (compared also to the performances in other restaurants on other evenings). We enjoyed the performances of four Fadistas, with breaks in between in which you could chat or order something. Wine is not cheap, but portions are generous. Ice cream with nuts and caramel sauce was absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend going here to enjoy a night of good fado in a nice atmosphere. We dined at 20:30 which was great as the fado started just after 21:00.
Written November 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
farrj
Wirral767 contributions
Apr 2022 • none
Having never experienced Fado before, we asked our hotel if they could recommend a good Fado restaurant, and they made a reservation for us at Restaurante A Severa.
Located in the Bairro Alto part of Lisbon, A Severa is an atmospheric restaurant, apparently established in 1955, and is typically Portuguese in style.
We chose the "Menu turístico" which was very good value at 55€ pp for 3 courses, although there was also an à la carte menu available. The food was well prepared and presented and very tasty, and there was a good selection of reasonably priced wines. We found the service to be very friendly and attentive.
However, what made the evening so special was the Fado, and over the course of the evening four excellent Fado singers performed , accompanied by two very talented musicians on string instruments. We felt the emotion of the singers and the result was a really magical evening, and one of the highlights of our 6 days in Lisbon!
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rui Z
Dublin9 contributions
Nov 2022 • solo
I sent my reservation request online and got the reply fast. Confirmed the date and time fairly easily and they didn’t ask for any deposit in advance.
I arrived a bit early on the day and they welcomed me inside warmly. The dining room has traditional decorations and an intimate atmosphere. After being seated down, I asked where the performance would be and then asked if it’s possible to get a closer table. They said yes and showed me where the new table was and asked kindly if I was happy with the new table. Yes I was happy:)
I chose the 60-euro fixed menu and expected that they may not be top-notch culinary dishes based on the reviews I read beforehand. The dishes turned out to be decent and actually well presented. The pace of the courses were well timed and the performance started on time around 9pm when I was almost done with my main dish.
The performance was excellent with some tables even singing together in the end, which created a nice and bonding ambience. The four singers also sang birthday songs for a table.
I left the restaurant satisfied around 11:30pm. I saw some people complaining about the food being overpriced. However I believe we are paying for the whole experience, not just the food. I feel I had a great time, got my money’s worth and would highly recommend this place for people who want to experience fado.
Written November 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelbug2774
Canada42 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
Considering that food is so cheap and good in Portugal generally, we think the food at this restaurant was a disappointment. $60 per person is a bit pricey. I had grilled octopus which tasted burned, my friends had similar comments on their food. As for the fado show, be prepared for a long evening. Dinner starts at 8 pm, the show starts at 9:00 PM and goes on to midnight with 4 singers performing every 20 minutes or so and during that time, there is no way to get any service or even get your bill so you can leave. At the end of the show, the singers come out with their CDs and approach you as if they were giving them to you, but then they open it and sign it for you and ask you for EUR20. So if you are not interested, say no up-front before they start tearing the packaging and signing the CD for you. There is no explanation in English at all during the presentation although this restaurant is geared towards tourists. I think just a bit of explanation at the beginning in English would have been greatly appreciated by many of us who had no idea what was going on and how the evening would proceed. Maybe we would have appreciated the show more.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
njbnjb
Fairfax County19 contributions
May 2022 • none
My wife and I and another couple very much enjoyed the Fado evening here. I had the lamb chops and they were the best I've had in years. The serving was larger than usual, with four chops. The quality of the food was much better than we expected at a restaurant that clearly attracts many tourists. There was a full menu, unlike the set menus and set price and similar places in other cities that feature local musical traditions. There were two guitarists and four singers, each singer having a set of three or four songs, guitar solos between sets, and a grand finale with all the singers being in different parts of the room. I'm writing this review because of the negative ones I saw, just to say that we felt that the quality of the food, the even better quality of the entertainment, and the reasonable minimum charge all added up to good value and a great evening.
Written June 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Destination716148
Bologna2 contributions
Jan 2022 • couples
Food was terrible, nothing was acceptable. Butter and paté served packaged (as in breakfast buffets in hotels), one of the waiters was really rude telling people to "sshhh" while singers were about to start singing. People were not speaking loud but whispering to their partners. Would not recommend the place at all unless you are looking for the music. Minimum price to be paid by person is 35€. Place looked really nice
Written January 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ceci
33 contributions
Feb 2023 • solo
I was early to the restaurant and guided to a table which I showed dissatisfaction. However, the waiter convinced me to stay put, which I did not find it right. He even advised me that I could order a jug of sangria which would only be 3 to 4 glasses. It turned out to be at least 8 to 10 glasses. The premise had the right ambience, but the food was bad with stale bread, untasty codfish cake and sirloin steak. Soup, sauteed potatoes, olives and cheese are alright. I felt spending over 87 euro for no good reason. The fado music made up the best part though.
Written February 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
212091Susan
Athlone1 contribution
Mar 2023 • couples
Nice Fado music, but very poor meal. All in all, cannot recommend. Less spend on staff uniforms & more on the food & chef might pay off. Certainly, you cannot get away with screaming tourists exorbitant costs for appalling poor food.
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JumboJetJohnny
Melbourne645 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
Fresh local food, a good wine list and soulful & melancholic fado made for an enjoyable evening of Portuguese cultural immersion. A Severa is an authentic experience in what is essentially a local, family owned restaurant that is laid-back whilst creating a respectful environment for the musicians. Over the four sets, all with different vocalists, the serving of food & drink and dinner-chatter is paused during performances which go for about 10-15 minutes each. It was an entertaining & fun evening which included two sets with the vocalists encouraging audience sing alongs. If you want to see Fado in Lisbon, A Severa is the genuine article.
Written June 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea S
Barneville-Carteret24 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
As you can see in the pictures, this is a traditional Portuguese restaurant (whitewashed walls, Portuguese tiles, dark wood, real candles, traditional fare) which offers a Fado performance at 9 p.m. Unlike some other places, you can eat à la carte and don't have to follow a set menu. You need to order for a certain minimum amount but the Fado show is included. During our visit, the restaurant was almost completely booked but the service was very efficient and still very friendly. The food was great, the wine recommendation very good. The waiter was very patient with my attempts to speak Portuguese and did not immediately switch to English when he heard my accent. The Fado performance was done by two instrumentalists and three different singers - all of whom were very good. A great night out!
Written October 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce M
Sydney816 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
Came here for a special occasion and A Severa ticked all the boxes.
Just make sure you book well in advance as it’s a very popular restaurant for a reason
First the waitstaff were friendly and efficient, helping out non Portuguese speakers with smiles and patience.
Our food was excellent mix of traditional Portuguese cuisine and cooked to perfection. Desserts were unusual and great quality ( based on our waiters recommendation)
To top off a fabulous evening there was an extended Fado show with one male and three female singers doing blocks of 3 songs with a short break in between, concluding with a session with all 4. Fado seems to be a melancholy style relating struggle and adversity. While we didn’t understand the storyline, it was an unforgettable experience
Written September 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
christiankring
Boerkop40 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
We visited this restaurant because they have Fado every evening, which is part of the Portuguese culture.
A really cozy restaurant, an incredibly sweet and service minded server, nice entertainment, delicious food but quite expensive.
Given that you get entertainment, we got rid of 1450,- for the fork, the main dish and the cheapest white wine. For us a good experience, but too expensive.
When you go to their website, you can not see menu cards and prices, but are greeted with a text stating that you must pay 45 euros per person, but we got rid of the double.
Will give 5 for food, service and entertainment, but due to the price, unfortunately they only get 3.
Automatically translated
Written July 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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