Javá: the Tagus from the rooftops of Cais do Sodré
A hidden rooftop at the top of the 8 Building
On Praça Dom Luís I, the former building of CTT, the Portuguese postal service, now houses several restaurants on the ground floor. To find Javá, you have to enter the building, cross the inner courtyard and take the panoramic lift to the top floor. Up there are a dining room hung with midnight-blue velvet and a terrace decked out with flowers, rattan bistro chairs and glass pendant lights.
The highlight is the riverside terrace: a balcony counter with high stools looks straight out over the Tagus, the quays of Cais do Sodré and, on the opposite bank, the Cristo Rei statue. The venue is in high demand in summer and at sunset.
Mediterranean grills and brunch
The cooking follows a Mediterranean spirit, with vegetables, fish and meat cooked over fire and on the grill, and flavours that lean towards the Middle East. You can have a light lunch, a longer dinner or simply come up for a drink. At weekends, an à la carte brunch is served.
Tables can be booked online; seats on the terrace facing the river go quickly.
Practical information
Service runs from noon into the evening, with opening hours that change with the season: it is best to check before coming and to book. Access via the door of the CTT building on Praça Dom Luís I, then the panoramic lift. Cais do Sodré metro (green line), the Cascais line train station and the ferry terminal are a five-minute walk away; the Mercado da Ribeira is right opposite.
