(Last updated: May 5, 2026)
Don Alfonso 1890 has restaurants around the world, including a Toronto location named the “Best Italian Restaurant in the World Outside Italy” by 50 Top Italy in 2022.
The Macau version originally operated inside the Grand Lisboa from 2008 to 2017, before giving way to Casa Don Alfonso, a more casual pizza-and-pasta restaurant. It returned in 2021 as one of Grand Lisboa Palace’s four signature restaurants, receiving its first Michelin star in 2026.
That finally got me through the door.
The dining room is grand and extremely polished, with chandeliers, marble floors and a massive wall of wine occupying one side. It looks impressive, no doubt, but it’s simply too large. Everything feels spread out, and much of the intimacy disappears with it.
Dining over lunch on a Saturday, we went for the 3 course set that costs $788.
The amuse-bouche got things off to an excellent start: squid-shaped pasta with basil emulsion and tomato jelly. Light, refreshing and tremendous in the mouth. Somehow, this tiny opening bite contained the best pasta of the entire meal.
The Brittany Blue Lobster requires a $128 supplement. Served in a light broth with a little foam on top, the lobster remained sweet, firm and the centre of the dish. Nothing on the plate got in its way. 5 stars
The Vitello Tonnato carries the same $128 supplement and was even more interesting. Veal, tuna tartare, caviar and capers sounds like four dishes fighting for possession of one plate, but everything came together beautifully. 5 stars
The Sea Urchin Spaghetti ($288 supplement) is where things dip a bit. It’s a handmade pasta using a traditional guitar tool, but I honestly thought the amuse bouche noodles were better. No wow factor, nothing that takes you somewhere else. For that supplemental price, it was very disappointing. 3 stars
The signature Cannelloni was much better. Old school grandpa recipe using oxtail, mozzarella, and San Marzano tomato. Slight acidity, nothing too rich, but it all clicks. Pleasant with a capital P. 4 stars
For the main course, we shared an Iberico Pork Rack cooked like a steak. The fat was easily the best part, while the meat needed plenty of sauce to keep it interesting.
I ordered it medium rare, but would probably take it a little further next time. Good without being memorable. 4 stars
Desserts were a bit mixed. The Chocolate, Raspberry and Mint was too sweet unless every spoonful included some fruit. 3.5 stars
The Tiramisu Semifreddo was considerably better, able to hold its own against any dessert served in the city. 4.5 stars
Altogether, Don Alfonso 1890’s set meal felt a little uneven, and the supplements added up quickly. We landed at $3,200 for two after a $550 bottle of wine, which is a serious number.
Service was impeccable. Nobody missed a step, nothing arrived at the wrong time and our glasses were never allowed to contemplate emptiness.
Gun to my head, I’d say Don Alfonso 1890 deserves its Michelin star, but it feels right on the line.
Compared to a place like Aurora, the food and service are a slight step up, but everything costs double. Whether that gap justifies the price is up to you.
