Midori

The story

Midori Restaurant Linhó | Michelin-Starred Japanese Dining in Sintra, Portugal

A Restaurant Based on Traditional Japanese Cooking

Midori, which proudly carries the title of the first Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Portugal, offers diners a unique culinary adventure showcasing modern Japanese fine dining and the highest quality ingredients. The restaurant features a sophisticated, light-filled interior and intimate surroundings, complemented by breathtaking views of the Sintra Mountains.

The name Midori means "Green" in Japanese, honoring the dominant colour that surrounds one of the oldest Japanese restaurants in the country, nestled between the vast garden of Penha Longa Resort and the magical Serra de Sintra. Inaugurated in its current form in 2017, the restaurant's origins date back 25 years earlier. All that remains from the old Midori is its essence – the quest to be different and exclusive.

The restaurant’s refined decor focuses attention on the kitchen, dishes, and service. The Japanese-Portuguese intercultural relationship is reflected in a hand-painted mural symbolizing the arrival of Portuguese sailors in Japan in 1543, alongside 3D undulating wall panels representing the sea. This reflects a cuisine that is not fusion, but distinct: Japanese with Portuguese touches. The open kitchen reinforces the proximity between diners and the Midori team.

Chef Pedro Almeida and Chef Tiago Santos

Chef Pedro Almeida has been passionate about the culinary arts from a very young age, inspired by his mother’s traditional Portuguese cooking and the fresh produce from farms surrounding his childhood home. His love for Japanese cuisine developed while working with Paulo Morais, one of Portugal’s best sushi chefs. After being hired as Junior Sous Chef at Midori, a research trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo brought new ingredients, cooking techniques, and ideas for dishes now constantly tested in the Midori kitchen.

Chef Tiago Santos began his culinary journey with seven years of rigorous training in Lisbon, later joining Penha Longa Resort to refine his skills in innovative fine-dining environments before contributing to Midori’s culinary vision.

Japanese Cooking with a Portuguese Soul

The menu offers a true culinary adventure that blends Portuguese and Japanese cuisine with cutting-edge techniques. Two tasting menus are available: Menu Kiri (11 moments, 158€) and Menu Yama (12 moments, 192€), each featuring traditional courses like Sakizuke, Hassun, Sushi, and Mizumono, with wine pairings available. The kitchen emphasizes the highest quality ingredients, with Japanese inspiration bringing shine to Portuguese tuna and lilyfish. Each meal becomes a sensory experience that celebrates Japanese tradition with sophistication and exclusivity.