The room where the stories start.
A long brass counter, 140 wines from the Douro to the Cape, and a house negroni that arrives wearing smoke like a coat. Pull up a stool.
Vasco's Old Fashioned.Not for the impatient.
Bourbon rested on Madeira wood, a house-cut ice sphere smoked with cherry, orange oil expressed at the pass. Fourteen minutes to make, four minutes to disappear.
Cocktails with an accent.
Vasco's Old Fashioned
R 125Bourbon, Madeira reduction, orange oil, smoked ice.
Smoked Negroni
R 135Portuguese gin, Campari, oloroso vermouth, cherrywood smoke.
Ginjinha Sour
R 115Ginjinha cherry, gin, lemon, egg white, star anise dust.
Porto Tónico
R 95Chilled white port, Fever-Tree tonic, orange twist.
Espresso Aguardente
R 105Double espresso, aguardente velha, brown-sugar rim.
Peri-Peri Paloma
R 125Tequila reposado, grapefruit, lime, chilli tincture.
Fado Thursdays
Live fado from 20h. Guitarists welcome to sit in if they can hold a tune (and a glass).
Table-side flambé
Chouriço, prawns and crêpes suzette - set alight, cheered on.
Port flights
Three houses, three vintages. R 195. A civilised way to lose an evening.