Style and Creativity Converge at Alfama, Fine Portuguese Cuisine

At Alfama, fine Portuguese cuisine the dining experience is taken to another level through an array of small details that reflect thoughtfulness and care for one's environment. Whether it is through the hand-embroidered linen napkins that line the bread baskets, or through the elegance of Moorish-themed lanterns above the bar, or through the reproduction of an eighteenth century tile panel featuring a view of Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, or the recurring blue and white motif in the restaurant's décor, all the elements engage in a harmonious dialogue of elegance and style.

The experience is further heightened by the presence of beautiful art: the paintings of Eduardo Alarcão and Isabel Pavão.

Alarcão is famous in Portugal's contemporary art scene for his graceful interpretations of Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, dating back to the eighth century when the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula, influencing language, music, art and architecture.

Pavão, the first Portuguese artist to obtain a doctorate in Fine Arts from an American university (she holds a Ph.D. from New York University), can be considered one of Portugal's most remarkable art ambassadors today. Possessing a deep sense of history and exuding great depth and spirituality, Pavão's art invites the viewer to partake of her paintings in a very intimate way, as if whispering a secret to a dear, beloved friend.

Whether it is through her Cartographies, Los Angeles, Americana, Linguistic Bounderies or Alice in Wonderland, Pavão reaches out to the viewer's sensitivities through her interpretation of themes that are both ancient and yet modern. Of her Cartographies series for example, the renowned French art historian Christine Buci-Glucksmann says:

“Between the image and the sign, the picture and the transfer, the detail and the floating vastness, the 'geo-aesthetics' of Isabel Pavão explores maps in their multiple arrangements, in their connections and deconnections, the warp of their signs and the weave of their figures, she inscribes them in a molecular would-be of painting à la Klee, with its miniaturization effects, of an open book and surface weaving, which prolongs all her previous work on manuscripts (Linguistic Boundaries).”

The depth of Pavão's art clearly transcends its surroundings. One might say her work is worthy of permanent wall space at MOMA, the Guggenheim or the MET. So why would it be at a restaurant? Alfama, being quintessentially Portuguese, embraces Pavão's art and she has embraced the concept of an authentic Portuguese space in New York City -- one that transcends food and wine by offering a wholesome experience.

Alfama, fine Portuguese cuisine is located in the West Village at 551 Hudson Street, corner of Perry Street. The restaurant can accommodate up to 50 people indoors and up to 26 at its sidewalk café. All major credit cards accepted. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday and Sunday brunch from 12 to 3 p.m. Dinner is served from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and is extended until midnight on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, dinner starts at 5 PM and is served until 11 p.m. Corporate luncheons and private functions can be arranged by booking in advance. Live performances take place on Wednesdays (Fado music) and Thursdays (Jazz) from 8 to 10:30 pm. For reservations, please call 212/645-2500 or visit Alfama's web site at www.alfamarestaurant.com.