Hugo Portela

Chef Hugo Portela is a chef and restaurateur with over a decade of extensive international and domestic experience in high-end hospitality. His career foundation includes formative roles in prestigious European hotels such as Hotel Arts Barcelona and Montreux Palace in Switzerland.

He is a specialist in opening and managing 5-star hotel units, having successfully led four openings as a manager. Key leadership roles include serving as Executive Chef at Hilton Porto Gaia and holding head chef positions at renowned Porto establishments like Hotel Torel Avantgarde and Hotel das Virtudes.

In May 2024, he reached a significant career milestone by becoming the Kitchen Chef and Owner of Cibû Restaurant in Leça da Palmeira, realizing his vision of an independent culinary project. Passionate about traditional Portuguese cuisine and technique, Chef Portela is known for his comprehensive operational skills, from menu development and staff training to stringent quality and cost control.