Marlene Vieira

Born on Portugal’s northern coast, Marlene Vieira is one of the leading voices in contemporary Portuguese gastronomy. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to reinterpreting and elevating traditional Portuguese cuisine, combining a deep respect for heritage with a creative and innovative approach.

Passionate about exceptional ingredients, she places seasonal produce at the heart of her cuisine and continuously seeks new knowledge, training, and techniques, embracing lifelong learning and the sharing of expertise.

Connected to the culinary world since the age of 12, she built her career in prestigious luxury hotels in Portugal and New York. She worked alongside renowned chefs such as Luís Baena, Jerónimo Ferreira, and Ricardo Costa before taking the helm of her own kitchen in 2012 with the opening of Avenue in Lisbon and its concept at Time Out Market.

Today, she is Executive Chef and owner of three distinct dining concepts, all rooted in Portuguese flavors: Marlene Vieira at Time Out Market, dedicated to traditional Portuguese cuisine; Zunzum, a gastrobar awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand; and Marlene, her fine-dining restaurant, which has been awarded one Michelin Star. With this achievement, she became the first female chef in Portugal in 30 years to earn a Michelin Star.

Alongside her culinary career, she is the author of several cookbooks and a regular presence on television programs such as Chefs Academy, MasterChef, and Cozinha de Chef. She has also contributed to a number of culinary publications associated with these projects.