- Insiders Profile -

Sacha & Melody

CO-FOUNDERS
Reia Collective: casa reîa, Black Trumpet, Fado no Covento

◆ What inspired you to embark on your journey in hospitality, and how has Lisbon shaped your approach to creating dining experiences?

Sacha : I’ve always believed that hospitality can serve as a catalyst for community-building and cultural exchange. When I first arrived in Lisbon almost a decade ago, the city’s dining landscape was still evolving— good coffee places were not around so much and the culinary scene felt ripe for reinvention. This city has taught me that great hospitality is about more than just food; it’s about forging connections, supporting local artisans and culture, and creating environments where people feel at home.

Melody: My parents were both natural hosts, and from a very young age so was I, organising various gatherings in and out of my home. Naturally life pushed me into Press & Event Production before I joined Sacha’s team at Yamba, running the wellness curation and organising wellbeing events. From there I grew into various positions but I always kept my role as host. I generally love to welcome and connect with people who come my way and always think of the client’s experience and journey first.

Photo credits: Renato do Val 

◆ What inspired you to embark on your journey in hospitality, and how has Lisbon shaped your approach to creating dining experiences?

Sacha : I’ve always believed that hospitality can serve as a catalyst for community-building and cultural exchange. When I first arrived in Lisbon almost a decade ago, the city’s dining landscape was still evolving— good coffee places were not around so much and the culinary scene felt ripe for reinvention. This city has taught me that great hospitality is about more than just food; it’s about forging connections, supporting local artisans and culture, and creating environments where people feel at home.

Melody: My parents were both natural hosts, and from a very young age so was I, organising various gatherings in and out of my home. Naturally life pushed me into Press & Event Production before I joined Sacha’s team at Yamba, running the wellness curation and organising wellbeing events. From there I grew into various positions but I always kept my role as host. I generally love to welcome and connect with people who come my way and always think of the client’s experience and journey first.

◆ If you had to describe your project Reia Collective in just three words, what would they be?

Melody & Sacha: CONNECTION, CULTURE, GASTRONOMY

◆ Lisbon’s food scene has transformed significantly in recent years. What trends have you noticed, and how do you see it evolving further?

Sacha: I’ve observed a shift toward quality, consistency, and local sourcing. Lisbon is becoming a truly cosmopolitan capital, a gastronomic hub where many cultures blend together, and where chefs are increasingly celebrating Portuguese ingredients, and adding their unique twists. I feel Lisbon will continue to refine its identity by blending global influences with local traditions, more authenticity and warmth and more appetite for places that push the traditional boundaries of hospitality. 

◆ If you were hosting friends visiting Lisbon, besides your venues: casa reîa, Black Trumpet and Fado No Convento where would you take them for dinner and drinks?

Melody: Some of our favourite places to host friends: Taberna do Mar, Da Noi, Aura Dim Sum, Flores da Pampa; and for drinks: Insaciável, Social B, Cascavel.

◆ A few books for the coffee table?

Sacha & Melody: Unreasonable Hospitality, Portugal the CookBook, Afro Surf, The Monocle Book of Japan, The Monocle Book of Gentle Living, Wabi-Sabi Welcome.

◆ Can you walk us through your perfect day in Lisbon, from sunrise to sunset, including your favorite food stops?

Melody: Actually this winter we’ve been riding out early to catch the movement classes we’re curating at casa reîa, Sacha grabs a cup of batch-brewed coffee with adaptogenics with a tuna melt sandwich and me, a matcha and açai, I practice some movement while he strolls along the empty, sunny beach with our dog, and then we enjoy the sauna & cold plunge there which is so nourishing. If we don’t stay for lunch then a quick drive back to town to enjoy lunch at either By Koji, Tiffin cafe or Mercearia do Prado. Maybe check out Gulbelkian’s gardens, and wander around. We love walking across Santos, it's so familiar, but Graça also has its charm, and has a great Mirador spot for sunset. Dinner at Taberna do Mar, or in Fado No Convento to catch some Fado. And lastly, if we still have the energy we would head toRumu for a boogie.

Photo crédits: Reia Collective

◆ With Lisbon’s diverse dining scene, what do you think makes a restaurant truly stand out?

Sacha: A truly standout restaurant transcends trends. It respects seasonality, and offers more than just a great meal.. it places human connection at the centrepiece, and becomes a home where experiences feel both personal and timeless. It’s about forging memories, making guests feel cared for, and inspiring them to return for the sense of purpose.

◆ Do you have a personal favorite dish you crave in Lisbon, and where’s the best place to enjoy it?

Melody: Every month we go to Taberna do Mar for our date night: a small, compact Portuguese-Japanese restaurant in Graça held by the son and grandson of fishermen. Their tasting menu is incredible, we always order seconds of their delicious fish soup!

◆ How do you see art and music enhancing the hospitality and dining experience, and how do you incorporate these elements into your venues?

Melody & Sacha: We see music and art as bridges between people and cultures, breaking barriers to spark meaningful connections. By intertwining gastronomy with art, music, and culture, we shape the dynamics of these exchanges—impacting conversations at the table, the emotions felt in the moment, and the memories they carry back home.

We host 150+ artists yearly across our places, with a deliberate curation spanning from music to art, wellbeing, workshops and artistic performances. Our wish is to nurture environments that celebrate expression, collaboration, culture and continuous growth, encouraging guests to experience something meaningful and constantly evolving. We believe it plays an important role in shaping the future of a more thoughtful form of hospitality.

◆ What’s one memory or experience in your food journey so far that you’ll never forget?

Sacha: Omakase Room, a tiny Japanese gastronomic restaurant in New York city, where I had a solo dining experience with Sake pairing that reminded me of my adventures in Japan.

Melody: I went to Dans le Noir in Paris, where your experience from start to finish is in a completely dark, pitch-black room. From finding your seat, to finding the food, and getting it into your mouth, the whole journey becomes an adventure. Sensorial dining to another level!

◆ Can you share with us your hidden gem or local hangout?

Melody: We’ve been quietly nurturing a secret creative space next door to Black Trumpet. It has no name, no Instagram, no website, no official programme or opening hours. We’re there every Wednesday and it has been so lovely witnessing the spontaneous conversations and connections that unfold organically from these creative evenings. From poetry workshops, piano recitals, contemporary dance performances, or DJs secret acts, I'm amazed by the diversity of talents that exist in & around Lisbon.