Founded in 1937 by Armando Machado, a fado violist, and Maria de Lurdes Machado, a fado singer. Amália was family: godmother to two of the Machado children, she came for late suppers and often sang for the pleasure of it. Alfredo Marceneiro closed his career on this stage. Mariza, at seven years old, opened hers here. The photographs remain on the walls. Fado is sung every night, between the courses.
Every night, the room gives way to the stage. Performances unfold between courses, at the rhythm of the evening. Service pauses when fado begins, and resumes when it ends. It has been this way since 1937.
A tasting menu paced to the night — each course served between performances, with time to breathe. Sea bass in escabeche. Bacalhau dourado with sauce bâtarde. Tornedos in bordelaise sauce. Couvert and amuse-bouche to open, Abade Priscos pudding to close.
The tasting menu can be accompanied by a different wine for each course, chosen by the house to converse with the kitchen and with the evening. We began doing this before anyone else — and it remains the fullest way to experience Adega Machado. For those who prefer to choose at the table, the wine list travels Portugal from north to south.
The tiled façade is by Thomaz de Mello — Tom. The walls hold more than a hundred photographs, paintings and caricatures from the Machado family collection — generation after generation of fado singers, musicians and visitors who passed through. The room was fully renovated in 2012; the history stayed intact. Fado is sung today on the same stage.
Fado begins at 20:30. The kitchen opens at 19:30. There are few tables, and evenings fill up well in advance.
For group bookings, corporate dinners, birthdays or other special occasions, please contact us directly. We treat every evening as what it is — unrepeatable.
Write to us at [email protected] or call (+351) 213 422 282.
Adega Machado. Fado House, Bairro Alto, since 1937.
Opening Hours
Open every day from 19:30 to 01:00
Fado Show from 20:30 to 01:00
José de Oliveira, Lda. — NIPC 500 158 584
