Unique to the 1890 Lodge is a restaurant and wine bar fully integrated into the Lodge circuit, open all year round, serving lunch and dinner, as well as light snacks and tapas in the wine bar.
Graham's has teamed up with the Basque company SAGARDI, internationally recognized as specialists in wine related gastronomy at the very highest level. At VINUM, visitors are presented with ideal food pairings for the Symington family's extensive range of Douro and Port wines. All the entrées, main courses and desserts are specially created to accompany these wines.
In addition to the above, the wine list also includes a careful selection of other wines, made by friends of the family from various regions around the world, and in particular from the Primum Familiae Vini, of which the Symingtons are proud members. Among their ranks are some of the world's most prestigious producers. Vinum offers patrons the unique opportunity to sample all of these under a single roof.
VINUM strives to create wonderful food from all the best natural ingredients that can be produced in the North of Portugal, including of course, the Douro Valley and from the cold and clean deep waters of the neighbouring Atlantic Ocean.
The setting is very much the Lodge ambience itself. To one side, once seated at their table, diners can view the seemingly endless rows of Port pipes, separated from the restaurant by a very clever and discreet metal and glass screen. On the opposite side there is the large bulk of the Lodge's granite walls. Elegant iron columns support the attractive original Riga pine timbers and roofing; their seasoned tones casting an inviting, soft golden light over the tables. In short, it's a very atmospheric surrounding in which to enjoy meals with some wonderful wines. The restaurant comfortably seats up to 90 people and a further 64 in the adjoining Atrium terrace. If required, an additional 16 people can be accommodated at the chef's private table.
The Atrium: The VINUM restaurant also features a very attractive external covered seating area, on the terrace adjoining the main Lodge façade and known as the Atrium. This terrace has one of the very best views of any restaurant in Gaia and Porto. Given the Graham's Lodge location on high ground, it commands expansive views of the old medieval quarters of Porto and Gaia, as well as the iconic Dom Luis 'double-decker' bridge over the Douro River. This view is spectacular both during the day and at night, when all the medieval landmarks are beautifully floodlit. This terrace can furthermore be enjoyed in all weathers as a well-designed, graceful conservatory type structure allows for year-round usage and therefore, come rain or sunshine, VINUM'S diners can always enjoy the remarkable vistas.
The Wine bar: with its stylish and carefree bistro ambience, visitors can enjoy a variety of snacks ('tapas', 'pintxos', sweet pastries) and wine by the glass, seated on tall stools around the bar itself or at small round tables. There is also an outside, open air terrace, ideal for enjoying Porto's year round sunshine with a chilled white wine or perhaps a lightly chilled Old Tawny Port.
Read more about Vinum and the 1890 Lodge on Graham's Blog.
email: reservas AT vinumatgrahams DOT com
NOTE: My sincere thanks to SFE's Miguel Potes for providing info and photos incorporated here.
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