Casanostra is a Bairro Alto classic is still the best Italian eatery in Lisbon. The menu is small but of a consistently high quality, and offers interesting and mouth-watering variations on the usual Italian standards of pizza and pasta. Italian chef Maria Paola already commands a near-devotional following among Lisbon’s foodies. Windows in the front room of Casanostra open out onto the street, offering a breath of fresh air by day and irresistible people-watching by night. Designed by architect Manuel Graça Dias, the refreshing mint-green interior is almost as delicious as the pesto dishes on the menu. The crowd is varied, but all share a common interest in good food and good taste. Intimate seating and crisply laid tables make for a homely but comfortably elegant atmosphere. Turn up without a reservation and you may have to wait for a while. But friendly staff will do their best to accommodate and may even offer you a complimentary drink while you wait!