Deli | Wallpaper*

Interior view of the Deli restaurant. Painted in blue, with a neon "Deli" sign in the center, there is a sitting area in light brown that goes from wall to wall, in front of which are metal tables and short wooden stools.

(Image credit: Francisco Nogueira)

last updated 26 July 2022

The Lisbon architecture studio, DC.AD, have transformed a 1960s pile in the city’s old Principe Real neighborhood into a light-filled, pastel-hued café and deli.

Dark, but high-ceilinged, rooms that once sold needle work rugs from Arraiolos have been gutted and reconfigured for a decidedly playful Millennial mood of a white metal screen, polished cement floor, see-through shelving, low tripod wooden stools, and a leather-padded bench that runs down the length of the room.

Already, Deli is drawing an appreciative neighborhood crowd that has found itself completely enamoured by its health-conscious menu of house baked goodies like the pastel de nata, fresh fruit, and takeaways. Especially popular are the roasted vegetable cous-cous, and baked cheese with coriander olive oil, though we’re particularly fond of the gluten-free tapioca crepes. These are cooked to order and filled with sweet dulce de leche, chocolate crumble, and roasted peanuts.

Interior view of the Deli restaurant. The walls are painted white and blue. To the left, there is a sitting area in light brown that goes from wall to wall, in front of which are metal tables and short wooden stools. To the right, we see a part of the open kitchen area.

Interior view of the Deli restaurant with a view of the street, through large windows. The walls are painted white and blue. To the right, there is a sitting area in light brown that goes from wall to wall, in front of which are metal tables and short wooden stools. To the left, we see a part of the open kitchen area.

Interior view of the Deli restaurant with a view of the street, through large windows. The walls are painted white and blue.

View of the white metal shelves in the Deli restaurant. They're filled with various fruits in baskets, glasses, jars, plates, and alcohol bottles.

Exterior view of the Deli restaurant. Through a huge window and glass doors to the right, we see the counter with high white metal shelves behind it, and the seating area to the left.

ADDRESS

Rua da Imprensa Nacional, 116

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Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.