Located in the heart of Portalegre, Tombalobos is Chef José Júlio Vintém’s tribute to the rustic flavors and culinary spirit of Alentejo. Vintém, a self-taught chef with deep roots in the region, brings tradition into the present with instinct, fire, and a respect for what the land provides.
Located in the heart of Portalegre, Tombalobos is Chef José Júlio Vintém’s tribute to the rustic flavors and culinary spirit of Alentejo. Vintém, a self-taught chef with deep roots in the region, brings tradition into the present with instinct, fire, and a respect for what the land provides.
At Tombalobos, the menu is rooted in Alentejo’s staples—pork, lamb, wild herbs, olive oil—but reinterpreted with thoughtful technique and a modern eye. Vintém’s cooking honors recipes passed down through families and makes room for the occasional surprise: a smoked element here, a bright acid there, a texture you weren’t expecting.
The space is as honest as the food—warm wood, local stone, shelves lined with wines from nearby producers. It feels like walking into someone’s home, only here the chef knows exactly what to do with a whole pig.
Beyond the restaurant, Vintém works closely with farmers, winemakers, and foragers to keep the region’s traditions alive while giving them space to evolve. His food tells the story of where he’s from—not just in flavor, but in feeling.
Tombalobos is the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer, and then come back hungry.
