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Many visitors to Portugal want to eat a Pastel de Nata or other Portuguese dessert every morning. We get that and did the same during our first visit too.
However, now that we’re locals, we’ve dug deeper into the Lisbon food scene and have embraced the city’s burgeoning brunch scene. Yes, Lisbon has joined the global brunch movement.
With menus featuring avocado egg toast and omelettes, Lisbon cafes serve brunch all over the city. Just like Amsterdam and New York, Lisbon has dozens of cafes specializing in the best meal of the day.
Feeling torn? Lisboa pastelarias serve fresh Pasteis de Nata all day long. In other words, you can eat brunch in Lisbon and enjoy a Pastel de Nata later.
Eating Brunch in Lisbon
Eating brunch is one of the most popular things to do in Lisbon. Crowds of locals, ex-pats and food travelers pack cafes throughout the city in order to satiate their brunch fix.
Considering the prevalence of eggs and sugar in the Portuguese cuisine, the city provides a great match for globally popular dishes like Pancakes, Eggs Benedict and French Toast (pain perdu). The key is to know where to eat the best brunch in Lisbon.
Our Favorite Lisbon Brunch Spots
Not to brag but we’ve eaten a lot of brunches since we moved to Lisbon in early 2019. How many? Enough that we’re unofficial Lisbon brunch experts.
Our favorite places for brunch in Lisbon run the gamut from cute and cozy to modern and expansive. Some serve crafted specialty coffee drinks while others offer outdoor seating.
When you’re looking to combine breakfast and lunch in Lisbon, we recommend starting at the following cafes:
The Mill
The Mill is a bit of a hybrid.
Originally from Australia, this cafe’s owners serve an ‘Australian-Portuguese’ menu with a focus on specialty coffee and brunch food. This is a spot where avocados and piri piri peppers co-exist in culinary harmony.
We first ate brunch at The Mill in 2018 when we were thinking about moving to Lisbon. Once we made the big move a few months later, we proceeded to frequent the São Bento cafe enough times that we knew each staff member by name.
The Mill’s compact menu includes toasties, bowls and plates featuring ingredients like chouriço, goat cheese and kale. The menu has changed a few time over the past couple years, but the food remains consistently good.
Compared to other brunch spots, prices are moderate and flavors are tight. On a recent visit we enjoyed wonderful fritters filled with sweet corn, topped with avocado and served with an optional side of smoked salmon.
True confession – sometimes we go to The Mill just for flat whites. The staff roasts a range of global single sourced beans at Flor da Selva in nearby Santos. These flat whites provide a nice afternoon pick-me-up after traversing the city’s endless, undulating, cobblestone calçadas.
Pro Tip
Buy a bag of beans to brew in your Airbnb apartment. If you don’t have access to a grinder, the staff should be able to grind the beans for you upon request.
The Mill is located at R. do Poço dos Negros 1, 1200-335 Lisboa, Portugal.
Heim Cafe
Heim Cafe has a colorful menu. Literally.
This cozy Madragoa spot separates its food and drinks by color – green, yellow, red and blue for brunch combos and pink, green and yellow for the smoothies. Natural wine is no exception with options including red, white, green, rose and orange.
Picky eaters or those on a budget can order a la carte dishes instead. Fitting into both of these categories during our recent visit, we ordered two plates plus glasses of fresh orange juice to wash it all down.
During your visit, expect to eat modern dishes like Quinoa Fritters, ‘Panwiches’ and Avocado Toast. The ‘Something Good’ dish features fried halloumi – something we rarely pass on when we see it on a menu.
Pro Tip
Heim Cafe offers limited outdoor seating if you prefer to eat your brunch in the fresh air.
Heim Cafe is located at Rua Santos-O-Velho 2 e 4, 1200-109 Lisboa, Portugal.
Fauna & Flora
Brunch fans have another happy place in the Madragoa neighborhood – airy, plant-filled Fauna & Flora. Open since late 2017, this lively Lisbon cafe serves a range of sweet and savory options as well as beverages that start with Portuguese coffee and end with global cocktails.
Not near Maragoa and feeling lazy? The popular brunchery has a second Lisbon location in Anjos if that’s more convenient to where you’re staying.
Fauna & Flora’s fun menu features a staggering number of brunch and ‘brinner’ choices ranging from smoothie bowls and pancakes to rice bowls and burgers. Adventurous diners can order a salmon, bacon or a vegan nest with two baked avocado halves and a kataifi nest.
Pro Tip
Arrive early if you’re looking to eat weekend brunch at Fauna & Flora. Otherwise, you’ll likely have a long wait for a table.
Fauna & Flora has two locations. The original location is at Rua da Esperança 33, 1200-655 Lisboa, Portugal.
Cafe Dede’s
Agne “Dede” Costa and Rhi Pulford hail from Brazil and Austalia respectively. Now that they live in Lisbon, the creative duo serves global dishes prepared with local ingredients at Cafe Dede’s in Lapa.
And not just any local ingredients. This cafe sources bread from Gleba, natural wine from Senhor Uva and specialty coffee beans from 7g Roaster.
Costa and Pulford traveled the world before settling in Lisbon. Dishes like Okonomiyaki and Korean BBQ Jackfruit Burgers showcase flavors they discovered during their culinary travels.
With two locations, including a space in the upscale Gladstone building next to leafy Jardim da Estrela, Cafe Dede’s is a great spot to start your day. The combination of tasty food and quality specialty coffee is a winner.
Pro Tip
Go big and order Dede’s full brunch. The meal comes with a main dish, banana bread, orange juice and coffee or tea.
Cafe Dede’s has two Lisbon locations. The original cafe is located at Rua de Sant’Ana à Lapa 33, 1200-796 Lisboa, Portugal.
Brick Cafe
Comfortable Brick Cafe, just down the hill from Graça in Intendente, offers an excellent brunch value.
First time visitors won’t leave hungry after eating the cafe’s all-inclusive brunch menu. Served all day long, this hearty meal includes a croissant, bread, chocolate salami, a trio of cheeses, ham and salad plus two drinks (one hot and one cold). If you think that sounds like a lot of food, you’re correct.
We each ordered the full brunch during our first visit and added sides of bacon and smoked salmon. When we return, we’ll be more selective and order a la carte dishes like filled croissants and Greek yogurt unless we’re feeling particularly peckish.
Brick Cafe serves salads and burger for those not in the mood for traditional brunch food. Be sure to check the menu next to the brick wall to discover the daily soup and dish of the day before you order.
Pro Tip
Order a croissant with lemon curd or nutella for a sweet start to your day. Though not at the level of Paris pastries, Brick’s French style croissants are the best we’ve found in Lisbon so far.
Brick Cafe is located at Rua de Moçambique 2, 1170-245 Lisboa, Portugal.
Augusto Lisboa
We must have walked by Augusto Lisboa’s pink wall a hundred times before we actually entered its doors. Though it’s just a five minute walk from our apartment, we never thought about going inside until visitors from the US, Matt and Marie, gave us a good report.
Once we made those extra few steps, we discovered a quirky space filled with kitschy fur chairs and a striking chandelier. Modern tiles and jungle print decorate the walls and the floor is the same shade as as Lisbon’s vivid Pink Street.
Brunch options skew classic but with a twist. Bowls come topped with yogurt, oat apple pear porridge or fruit. Salads entice with ingredients like Portuguese cheese, green apples and bacalhau (cod). Avo toast goes the extra mile with the addition of scrambled eggs, homemade cream cheese and pickled carrots.
We can’t comment on the coffee since we’re not fans of mass marketed Sical beans. However, we enjoyed imbibing glasses of cinnamon-flavored water and fresh orange juice. Maybe next time we’ll opt for a crafted Porto Tonico or Caipirinha with our Alfama brunch instead.
Pro Tip
Walk over to the Feira da Ladra flea market after your brunch on Tuesdays or Saturdays. The unique Thieves’ Market is just a ten-minute walk from Augusto Lisboa. The cafe is also a short walk from the Miradouro da Graça, one of the city’s most scenic overlooks.
Augusto Lisboa is located at Rua Santa Marinha 26, 1100-491 Lisboa, Portugal.
Nicolau
Located in Baixa near Lisbon’s main square, Praça do Comércio, Nicolau is a great spot to kick off a day of touring. It’s also a good spot for a leisurely meal with friends on a lazy Lisbon Saturday.
You’ll have a couple big decisions when you eat brunch at Nicolau starting with where to eat. Choices include sitting inside the insta-cute cafe or outside on the expansive terrace.
The harder decision will be narrowing down the urban cafe’s food choices. Perhaps you’ll want to go traditional with pancakes or french toast. Or maybe you’ll want to eat healthier with a salad or açai smoothie.
The cafe also offers desserts like carrot cake and brownies which are a good option… unless you already ate red velvet pancakes for brunch. This decadent dish doubles as a dessert.
Pro Tip
Turn your brunch plate into a brunch feast. Nicolau’s brunch combo includes fresh orange juice, yogurt with fruit and homemade granola OR pancakes, eggs of your choice and coffee or tea. Potential upgrades include fruit, avocado, smoked salmon, cappuccinos and mimosas.
Nicolau is located at Rua de São Nicolau 17, 1100-547 Lisboa, Portugal. The cafe has a second location in Porto.
Neighbourhood
We first discovered Neighbourhood when Reuben from The Mill (see above) told us about the newest coffee shop in the neighborhood. How could we resist an Australian-owned cafe where baristas pull expertly executed ristretto espresso shots? We couldn’t.
In those early days (circa November 2019), we didn’t know that Neighbourhood’s outdoor tables would become so desirable due to the global pandemic. We also didn’t know that the coffee shop would eventually serve superb breakfast burritos that appease our unrequited cravings for good Mexican food in Lisbon.
Since Neighbourhood’s owners are from Australia via London, it only makes sense that the cafe would have avocado toast on the menu. But this cafe’s version takes the brunch staple one step farther by adding jalapeños for an extra kick of heat.
Pro Tip
Follow Neighbourhood on social media to find out about the cafe’s pop-up dinners. Past pop-up have featured food from Korea, Mexico and Vietnam.
Neighbourhood is located at Largo do Conde Barão 25, 1200-163 Lisboa, Portugal.
The Royal Rawness
We didn’t know much about Lisbon’s hip Marvila neighborhood until a local barista recommended specialty coffee spot The Royal Rawness to us about a year ago during a random conversation. Located in the corner of a former wine factory, the cafe serves both quality coffee and a solid brunch.
As we found out during our first visit, The Royal Rawness is just down the street from breweries Dois Corvos and Fábrica Musa. It’s possible to begin a day in the edgy neighborhood with coffee and brunch before enjoying craft brews in the edgy, northern warehouse district with friends.
The Royal Rawness’ brunch menu features fancifully-named dishes like Holy Sheep (roast lamb sandwich), Yellow Fluffy’s (avo egg toast) and Banana Party (PB&B smoothie). This menu is varied enough to satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores as well as anybody with a sweet tooth.
Pro Tip
Order your coffee by country. The Royal Rawness roasts beans sourced from farms in Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua and Rwanda.
The Royal Rawness is located at Praça David Leandro da Silva 2, 1950-131 Lisboa, Portugal.
Zenith
If you believe that brunch shouldn’t be limited by the clock and tastes better with a mojito, then Zenith is the spot for you. This Avenida cafe serves an all-day brunch menu in an industrial space. Plus, cocktails flow as freely as coffee.
Zenith’s menu fully embraces the brunch concept with a full slate of smoothie bowls and egg dishes. Pancake toppings run the gamut from Nutella to francesinha sauce. However, don’t go to Zenith expecting an authentic American brunch. If you do, you’ll be disappointed.
During our Zenith brunch, we kept our pancake stack relatively simple with bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried egg. Oddly, maple syrup was inside the pancakes as opposed to drizzled on top. However, there was nothing odd about our Eggs Benedict dish served with avocado and a side of smoked salmon.
If you enjoy your Zenith Lisbon brunch, you can repeat the experience at the cafe’s original location in Porto or in Madrid. Yes, the team behind Zenith has jumped the border and is now conquering Spain.
Pro Tip
Be bold and order a colorful beetroot latte, golden latte or matcha latte.
Zenith is located at Rua do Telhal 4A, 1150-346 Lisboa, Portugal.
Bonus Pick – Chinese Dumplings
As much as we enjoy eating traditional brunch food in Lisbon, sometimes we want something different. And by different, we mean Chinese dumplings (a/k/a dim sum).
Luckily for us, Lisbon has a vibrant Asian community that dates back to the days when Portugal colonized Macau. The city’s central Martim Moniz neighborhood is home to numerous Asian business including Mercado Oriental, a thriving food court that serves dishes from countries like China, Japan and Thailand.
Sure, we could easily eat a proper dim sum brunch at a sit down restaurant in Lisbon. Sometimes, though, we’re simply in the mood to order baskets of dumplings and wash them down with bubble tea, the iconic sweet beverage invented in Taiwan.
Mercado Oriental’s Ravioli House serves a reasonably-priced, shareable feast of 20 dumplings. If there’s a better dumpling deal in Lisbon, we have yet to find it. As for bubble tea, flavors like pearl milk and taro are available downstairs at Meeting Tea.
Pro Tip
Pick up Asian ingredients at the Amanhecer market just below the food court. This grocery store sells chili crisp, fresh scallions and all of the ingredients we need to cook chicken stir fries and other Asian food favorites at home.
Mercado Oriental is located at Rua da Palma 41 A 1o andar, 1100-390 Lisboa, Portugal. This food court is just above the Amanhecer market.
Additional Lisbon Brunch Spots
Did we mention that eating brunch in Lisbon is a popular thing to do? We did and we weren’t exaggerating!
We’ll be updating this guide as we experience more great Lisbon brunch spots. In the meantime, here are enough options to fuel your mid-day hunger in neighborhoods throughout the city.
- Amélia Lisboa – Sister Cafe to Nicolau in Campo de Ourique
- BLOOM – Ex-Pat Friendly Cafe in Alcântara
- BOUTIK – Bali-Style Cafe in São Bento
- Bowls & Bar – Eclectic Cafe in São Bento
- Brunch Café – Brunch Cafe in Baixa
- Café com Calma – Cozy Cafe in Marvila
- Café Janis – Tropical Cafe in Cais do Sodré
- COMOBA – Modern Cafe in Cais do Sodré
- Dear Breakfast – Stylish Cafe with Multiple Locations
- Early Birds Lisbon – Friendly Cafe in São Bento
- La Boulangerie – French Cafe in Lapa-Estrela
- Maria Limão – Crêpe Cafe in Graça
- Naked – Natural Cafe in Príncipe Real
- Royale Café – Mediterranean Cafe in Chiado
- Seagull Method Cafe – Sister Cafe to Heim Café in Príncipe Real
- Tartine – All-Day Cafe at the Time Out Market
- Tease – Trendy Cafe in Príncipe Real
- Varanda Restaurant – Upscale Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz
Plan Your Lisbon Stay
Hungry for More Food in Lisbon?
Don’t stop with brunch! Check out our Lisbon Eats guides for the city’s best Restaurants, Pasteis de Nata, Pizza, Ice Cream and Specialty Coffee.
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About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
