Red Frog (Closed)

Words by Theodora Sutcliffe

Red Frog (Closed) image 1

Address: 5A Rua do Salitre, Lisbon, 1250-198, Portugal
Tel: +351 21 583 1120
Website: view Red Frog (Closed)’s website
Hours: Mon-Thu 18:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 18:00-03:00, Sun Closed
Style: Speakeasy
Food: Bar Snacks

Due to the pandemic, Red Frog has relocated.

Review

Inventive, quirky contemporary speakeasy that’s a must-visit when in Lisbon.

The first – and as of summer 2017 still the only – contemporary speakeasy in Lisbon, Red Frog has been garnering plaudits since it opened its doors in 2015. Nestled among the fancy shops and swish hotels of Avenida da Liberdade, it’s easy to identify thanks to the house rules and shiny red frog on the exterior wall.

The long, narrow basement space enjoys a Prohibition-meets-Victoriana vibe. A cabinet of curiosities at the rear features trinkets like a vintage telephone; ornate miniature pictures adorn the walls; and the bartenders work in shirt-sleeves and ties.

So far, so familiar. Yet the regularly changing menu is as creative as you’d expect from the ranks of house-made tinctures and bitters that dominate the back bar. Impressively, drinks featuring ingredients as crazily diverse as champagne reduction, patchouli and a cocktail onion don’t just taste good but feel intellectually coherent.