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North Chattanooga restaurant Bela Lisboa to close after nine years

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / Bela Lisboa is seen on Frazier Avenue on May 20, 2026. The restaurant recently announced it would permanently close its doors at the end of May. Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / Bela Lisboa is seen on Frazier Avenue on May 20, 2026. The restaurant recently announced it would permanently close its doors at the end of May.

By Emily Crisman May 21, 2026 3 min read

Bela Lisboa, a Mediterranean and Portuguese restaurant on Frazier Avenue in North Chattanooga, is closing at the end of May after nine years in business.

One factor that led to the closure was damage to the restaurant from a November 2024 fire, which was caused by an electric vehicle in the building’s garage and forced the business to close for 10 months, owner Gabe Duncan said.

“After we had the fire, our business never really picked up to what it was beforehand,” Duncan said by phone. “We were just super slow.”

Before the temporary closure due to the fire damage, he said his goal was to make Bela Lisboa, which was known for its seafood and traditional Portuguese dishes, the city’s first Michelin star restaurant.