The Journal
Notes from the kitchen and the bar.
Written by the people who cook and pour it - mezcal explained without the mystique, recipes we won't shut up about, and what to do in Cais do Sodré after midnight.
Mezcal 101 · 6 min read
A beginner's guide to mezcal, without the mystique
Espadín, tobalá, tepeztate - what actually changes in the glass, and how to order a flight you'll enjoy.
Bar Manager, Las Ficheras · 4 September 2026
In the kitchen · 5 min read
Why our duck enchilada takes three days
Cured, braised, pulled, then finished in a mole coloradito that starts with whole chiles and ends with orange.
Head Chef, Las Ficheras · 22 August 2026
Neighbourhood · 4 min read
Eating late in Cais do Sodré: a 1 AM itinerary
Where to go before us, what to order when you arrive at midnight, and how to get home after.
Las Ficheras · 10 August 2026
Culture · 3 min read
The artists behind our walls: 2026 mural season
Four painters, four months, one wall that gets erased every time. Who is next and how to watch it happen.
Las Ficheras · 28 July 2026
House news · 3 min read
All-you-can-eat taco Tuesdays: how it actually works
Nine fillings, ninety minutes, €26 a head. The rules, the fillings, and the best order to eat them in.
Las Ficheras · 15 July 2026
In the kitchen · 7 min read
Mole negro: 34 ingredients, explained one by one
Chiles, seeds, spice, fruit, chocolate and bread. What each group is doing, and why none of them can be skipped.
Head Chef, Las Ficheras · 2 July 2026