NUMÉRO NETHERLANDS’ FAVOURITE HOTSPOTS FOR FALL & WINTER
Who says euro-summer is best? The onset of the cooler seasons calls for coziness and indoor contemplation, and where better to do that than at one of our favourite restaurants? So grab your coat and take a trip with us to four of Numéro Netherlands’ favourite fall and winter euro hotspots and explore the best culinary spoils they have to offer.
LITA: MARYLEBONE’S SOUTHERN EUROPEAN GEM
words by NATALIE GAL
image courtesy of LITA
I must confess my personal bias for London (Amsterdam aside, of course!), but my judgment is unwavering when I declare this restaurant one of the hottest new spots. LITA brings vibrant southern European charm to the heart of Marylebone.
The name itself is deeply meaningful: Lita is short for “abuelita,” meaning grandmother. We all know that special magic grandmothers bring to the table, the softness, kindness and familiar care, is beautifully embodied within the restaurant. Guests are greeted by an inviting open-fire grill, a commitment to fresh, local produce and a menu that evolves with the seasons.
Just a few favourites include the Hereford beef with Amalfi lemon and shoestring fries, Norfolk quail with burnt pear and duck hearts, and a stunning Peak District T-bone steak. For dessert, it is essential to indulge in the Amalfi lemon meringue pie or a Yorkshire rhubarb mille feuille with Madagascan vanilla, blood orange and ginger.
My absolute highlight, however, is the design. It captures that quintessential British warmth and the feeling of community synonymous with beloved pubs. Natural light, earthy colours, terracotta tiles and rich red marble are all complemented by luxurious burnt-orange mohair. I’m utterly obsessed. See you all at LITA! Ta-ta!
BRILHANTE LISBOA: BRINGING BACK BELLE ÉPOQUE GLAMOUR
words by NATALIE GAL
image courtesy of BRILHANTE
Located in the lively Cais do Sodré district of Lisbon, BRILHANTE is a stylish and elegant restaurant inspired by the charm of Parisian brasseries. Its centrepiece is a striking stone counter with 26 seats, surrounded by dark woods, brass, leather and rich velvet. The space glows with red and gold tones, creating a luxurious yet welcoming atmosphere.
Stepping inside feels like being transported into a scene from the Belle Époque, where the turn of the century is captured in the warmth of twinkling lights. The interior evokes the extravagance of MAXIM’S in Paris during the 1890s, a place of opulent indulgence that has defined hospitality ever since.
The restaurant features a well-stocked bar with over 60 whiskies, adding to its charm and old-world appeal. The menu at Brilhante is led by Chef LUÍS GASPAR, with support from Resident Chef TIAGO RIBEIRO. Chef Gaspar brings a wealth of experience and passion to the kitchen, having worked in several acclaimed restaurants in Lisbon. Together, they offer a refined take on classic French and international cuisine.
The standout dish is the Brilhante Steak, inspired by the traditional Marrare Steak served in Lisbon cafés in the 19th century. This dish, created by Neapolitan cook ANTÓNIO MARRARE in the late 1700s, has been reimagined with a modern twist while preserving its classic roots. Served with a fried egg and a special sauce, the dish offers a nod to tradition with a new flavour profile.
Lisbon is the only other city where I’ve felt what Paris stands for—that romantic kind of freedom you just fall in love with. Brilhante stands out not just for its food but for the complete experience it offers. With the elegant interiors, thoughtful menu and whisky bar, everything has been crafted to transport us to a place of timeless sophistication.
LISBETH IN HAMBURG: REDEFINING NORTH GERMAN CUISINE
words by NATALIE GAL
image courtesy of LISBETH
In the heart of Hamburg’s historic Deichstraße lies LISBETH, the first restaurant by chef ANDRÉ STOLLE, which he opened in 2021. Over the past four years, the restaurant has undergone many changes and developments, yet its focus and love for traditional German cuisine has remained and only been elevated with time.
The restaurant started out as a place for lunch service, a kind of “cantine” for locals. For many, the word “cantine” recalls the simple, quick meals of school days. Stolle set out to challenge this assumption. He reimagined German classics with a gourmet twist, giving well-known childhood favourites an elusive je ne sais quoi. Today, the menu might feature Mehlbeutel or Hamburger Pannfisch, alongside reinvented pub snacks, such as a confit cod fillet served with oysters and gooseberries.
As the food evolved, so did the setting. The CANTINE became LISBETH, a casual fine dining restaurant with a warm, stylish interior inspired by its historic surroundings. The name honours Stolle’s grandmother, who played a decisive role in his life and first introduced him to the magic of food and the kitchen.
When I interviewed Stolle about German cuisine in the wider European context, he reflected:
“German cuisine is highly underestimated. Like any other national cuisine, it is diverse and differs greatly by region. To reduce it to sauerkraut and roast pork would be wrong. But German cuisine is also not the loudest, not very present in the international media, there’s still room to grow.”
For Stolle, the distinction of North German cuisine lies in its ingredients and history:
“Compared to Southern German cuisine, the North has fewer preserved recipes and, due to climate, a different product range. The ingredients tend to be more rustic, often pickled or salted. Its roots lie more in ‘poor people’s cooking,’ dishes like Grützwurst, Schwarz-Sauer, or mashed rutabagas. Functionality was historically more important than appearance.”
With LISBETH, Stolle is redefining how we think about German cuisine, especially its northern traditions. It’s an example of what fine dining can be at its best: rediscovery, courage and rewriting the codes that history has imprinted on the culinary world.
SANTA JOANA: A NEW CULINARY DESTINATION IN LISBON
words by NIA TOPALOVA
image courtesy of SANTA JOANA
Set within a restored 17th-century convent, SANTA JOANA is the flagship restaurant of LOCKE DE SANTA JOANA, opening in late October. Led by acclaimed chef and Culinary Director NUNO MENDES in partnership with WHITE RABBIT PROJECTS, the restaurant celebrates Portugal’s rich culinary heritage. Mendes is joined by Head Chef MAURICIO VARELA and Pastry Chef MARIA RAMOS, who together present a menu rooted in local ingredients and tradition, reflecting Portugal’s deep connection to both land and sea.
The interiors, designed by LÁZARO ROSA-VIOLÁN, respect the building’s architectural past while introducing contemporary elements. Portuguese artists such as CAROLINA VAZ and GRAUº CERÂMICA contribute works inspired by the convent’s history.
The restaurant’s signature dishes include Alentejo pork presa with walnut sauce and chickpea fritters with smoked chouriço. Seasonal cocktails and a regionally focused wine list complete the offering. Santa Joana sits at the heart of Locke de Santa Joana — a new design-led hotel with 370 rooms and six bars and restaurants. Together, they offer a refined hospitality experience that celebrates Lisbon’s culinary evolution and creative energy.
RON GASTROBAR: A REBEL IN FINE DINING
words by AYA SOFIA OPPENBERG
image courtesy of RON GASTROBAR
Welcome to RON GASTROBAR, fine dining at star level, but without the overdone frills. Ten years ago, acclaimed chef RON BLAAUW traded the formality of his two-Michelin-star kitchen for the vibrant and casual elegance of Ron Gastrobar in Amsterdam-Zuid. Ditching white tablecloths and rigid tasting menus, he embraced a tapas-style concept that celebrates bold, shareable dishes and an inviting atmosphere. Far from diluting his craft, this shift culminated in a third Michelin star, awarded soon after the Gastrobar’s opening, acting as proof that culinary brilliance thrives even in relaxed settings.
The restaurant serves pure, uncomplicated dishes at an exceptional price-to-quality ratio. The top-tier cuisine returns to essentials, with each plate featuring no more than four ingredients. As beautiful as the food is, there’s an atypical choreography to the service that departs from your usual going-out routine — and this only adds to its charm.
With everything on the menu priced at around 20 euros, the starter-main-dessert formula gets thrown out the window. Instead, dishes arrive when they’re ready, not in a stiff order, and no one seems particularly concerned with where you’re “supposed” to begin. One moment you’re eating soft-shell crab with a sharp, citrusy twist, and the next a buttery beef tartare with enough crunch on top to make you pause mid-sentence, leaving space for conversation and plenty of wine refills.
Who knew that letting go of the rules could taste this good?
SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE: SUSHI PARK PARIS
words by NATALIE GAL
image courtesy of SUSHI PARK PARIS
We can’t deny our love for Japanese cuisine, but the experience at SUSHI PARK PARIS is truly unique. Nestled within SAINT LAURENT’s — yes, that Saint Laurent — Rive Droite Paris location, the restaurant single-handedly redefines our expectations for hospitality and culinary culture.
Saint Laurent Rive Droite has recently reopened after a year of extensive renovations. The result is a transformed space with a spirited architectural vision and never-before-seen design. This project, once again, embodies the maison’s deep commitment to creativity, artists and, simply put, the making of beautiful things.
The restaurant design is truly out of this world: a modern, rethought Gothic aesthetic featuring moody corners and the glowing warmth of candles. The entire space feels like a contemporary cathedral, with a colour palette of dark brown and black accented by touches of papyrus white. The use of soft paper juxtaposed with grand wood creates a luxurious contrast that captivates us completely.
Upon visiting, our editor-in-chief, TIMOTEJ LETONJA, remarked on its essence: “It’s mysterious, moody, hidden. Very exclusive. From the interior to the dishes and cocktails, it’s outstanding. One of the best dishes I have ever had the chance to try.” If you’re looking to spot your favourite celebrity or fashionista, this is undoubtedly the place to be!
MR PORTER: WHERE GLAMOUR MEETS BRITISH ELEGANCE
words by NATALIE GAL
image courtesy of MR PORTER
At 22 Park Lane, Mayfair, London, is a restaurant with a golden glow that captures Britishness to its core: MR PORTER Restaurant, Bar and Lounge. Known for its unparalleled techniques and use of only the highest-quality ingredients, the menu is both chic and elaborate — just like the setting.
Mayfair itself is a place of transformation. Once muddy farmland, it became a hub of entertainment, attracting artists, musicians and performers to its namesake annual fair — hence, May Fair (simple, right?). By the 18th century, aristocratic families began shaping the area we recognise today: elegant, symmetrical facades and grand architecture that define London’s most glamorous district.
Now, there is no better place for a restaurant like MR PORTER. The establishment fits perfectly into Mayfair’s image — glamorous, elegant and undeniably sexy. The 360-degree bar serves exquisite cocktails that elevate the experience. Take the Love Potion — a mix of Mastiha liqueur and rum under a cotton candy cloud, crowned with raspberry and rose foam. Or the French Touch, a Parisian-inspired blend of vodka, citrus and apricot liqueurs, peach and champagne. Chic-ness in a glass.
And then — the dishes! British cuisine is brilliantly represented here, reimagined with a global, modern twist. Think fusion delights like roast beef carpaccio, avocado carpaccio with beluga caviar, or the vibrant prawn salad with grilled corn, avocado and dried chilli sauce. Don’t miss the taboon oven-roasted sea bass in adobo, or timeless classics like the ribeye on the bone or Lady Mignon.
MR PORTER is an essential stop on your next London jaunt. One simply can’t resist that Mayfair elegance — that Bond-esque daydream — and MR PORTER captures it perfectly.
CANALHA: A FAMILIAR NEWCOMER IN LISBON
words by NIA TOPALOVA
image courtesy of CANALHA
Opened in November 2023, CANALHA has already settled into Lisbon’s culinary rhythm as though it was always there. Located on Rua da Junqueira, near MAAT, this neighbourhood spot blends casual charm with a clear sense of purpose. Founded by chef JOÃO RODRIGUES in partnership with hospitality group PARADIGMA, it marks Rodrigues’s return to a permanent kitchen after years leading FEITORIA and travelling Portugal with the RESIDÊNCIA project. Though Canalha wasn’t part of his original plan, the opportunity came naturally — a laid-back space without pretence, designed to feel like the restaurants Rodrigues grew up with: noisy, welcoming and open to everyone, whether for a beer and codfish cake at the counter or a seafood dish at lunch with family.
The space itself reflects that intention. Designed by Paradigma and LADO, the restaurant combines traditional elements like ivory tiles, Lisbon-style stone and pink marble counters with a relaxed, lived-in atmosphere. The menu leans into hearty, familiar flavours, from cold meats and Cantabrian anchovies to grilled scarlet prawns and slow-cooked Portuguese classics. Daily specials are scrawled on a slate, and fresh seafood is on display, ready for guests to choose and customise. Leading the kitchen is LÍVIA OROFINO, a talented chef from Rio with roots in fine dining and a deep connection to Rodrigues’ vision.
