The Portuguese chef with the most Michelin stars is preparing to open four restaurants by the end of 2026, in a plan that includes different concepts and a project under his own name. The new houses will appear in Porto, Guimarães and Vila Real, marking a new phase in the career of chef Vítor Matos who, until now, has never owned a space that he leads.
According to the SIC Notícias website, two of the openings are planned for Porto and will be inspired by international cuisine. One of the restaurants will have an Italian origin and the other will be dedicated to Japanese cuisine. The first team has already been formed and this set of projects should debut, although there is no announced date yet.
The other two spaces follow a product-centric approach. In Guimarães, the Hool restaurant, located in the Hotel da Oliveira, will undergo a thorough renovation that will involve changes in concept and space. In Vila Real, the first restaurant in the chef’s own name will be created, in a project that represents a structural change in his professional career.
A consolidated network in the territory
Currently, the cook maintains an expanded network of restaurants under his gastronomic direction. In Porto, he leads Antiqvvm, awarded two Michelin stars since 2024, and Blind, at Torel Palace Porto, where he shares the kitchen with Stéphane Costa.
In Vila do Conde, he runs Oculto, located at The Lince Santa Clara, in partnership with Hugo Rocha. In Lisbon, he won a Michelin star with 2Monkeys, at the Torel Palace Lisboa, which he runs with Guilherme Spalk, and also ensures the leadership of the Black Pavilion, currently undergoing renovation.
In Douro, he oversees Schistó, a fine dining space with 14 seats integrated into Torel Quinta da Vacaria, in collaboration with Vítor Gomes. In the same hotel he also coordinates 16 Légoas, with a more informal profile.
Route between Portugal and Switzerland
Outside of these projects, he takes on the gastronomic direction of the Vidago Palace and the Casa de Chá at the Hotel Pedras Salgadas, both in the process of renovation. The activity also extends to wine through the Natura project, developed in partnership with winemakers Márcio Lopes, Dirk Niepoort, Amílcar Salgado and António Sampaio.
Born in 1976 in Vila Real, the chef divided his training between Portugal and Switzerland. The first Michelin star was won in 2010 at Largo do Paço, part of Casa da Calçada. The route includes visits to several hotels and restaurants, maintaining a consistent connection with the north of the country.
According to , recruitment processes are ongoing for three of the four new spaces and the opening calendar should extend to 2026. With these openings, the chef reinforces his presence in different regions and introduces, for the first time, a restaurant under his own name.
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