Quick Guide
We’ve created a Lisbon Cafe Guide featuring our favorite Lisbon cafes. In other words, you’ll find probably us at one of these Lisbon coffee shops when you visit Portugal’s colorful capital city.
We love living in Lisbon for many reasons. The city’s thriving coffee scene is towards the top of our list along with the food, climate and cost of living.
When we first visited Lisbon in 2007, Lisbon was just emerging as a tourist destination and its third wave coffee movement was still in its infancy. Though we were satisfied with Portuguese coffee served at traditional cafes like the counter at Pasteis de Belém during that initial visit, we wanted more when we returned in 2018.
Spoiler alert – we’ve found enough high quality, craft coffee to keep us both caffeinated and happy.
Lisbon has joined coffee’s third wave movement. Pictured here is a cappuccino at Milkees, one of our favorite Lisbon cafes.
It’s no secret that specialty coffee is our preferred drug of choice. Since we drink it every day of the week, access to good coffee was a key factor in our decision to move to Lisbon.
Sometimes we drink our daily fix at a Lisbon cafe and other times we brew a pot of filtered coffee at home. The caffeine jolt energizes us while the refined flavor satisfies our discerning palettes.
Brief History of the Lisbon Cafe Scene
Old-line Lisbon cafes like Pastelaria Versailles serve old fashioned coffee along with sweet, egg yolk filled desserts.
It wasn’t always this way in Lisbon. Although the city’s coffee culture dates back to the 18th century when Portugal first imported Robusta and Arabica beans from former colony Brazil, the Iberian country’s affection for modern coffee is a more recent development.
For centuries, Lisbon locals convened at neighborhood cafes to sip darkly roasted cups of espresso with friends at all times of day from morning to night. Many Lisbonites still follow this practice today, often combining their coffee with an über-popular Portuguese egg tart known as Pastel de Nata and spirited conversation.
Fun Fact: If you’re wondering how to say coffee in Lisbon, the Portuguese translation for coffee is café.
We typically drink a bica or meia de leite when we eat pasteis de natas in Lisbon. That’s how we roll.
Classic Lisbon cafes stick with tradition and serve commodity coffee mass-produced by companies like Delta Coffee and Sical. On the upside, this type of coffee in Portugal is cheap – often costing under a euro for an espresso.
However, as the expression goes, ‘you get what you pay for.’ Bica, the popular name for a Portuguese shot is commonly drunk with 2 packs of sugar to counteract the drink’s bitter, burnt flavor. You can pay as little as € 0.60 for a shot. As for us, we’d rather not drink swill.
Modern, new-wave coffee roasters roast their beans light to medium – the beans are never over-roasted to a ‘burnt’ consistency. Not only do specialty roasts taste good, but they also contain many positive properties such as the caffeine ‘pick me up’ that are roasted out of old-world coffee blends.
Given the choice, we typically choose to pay a bit more for quality when we visit coffee shops in Lisbon. Craft coffee is not cheap, costing twice as much or more compared to the commodity stuff. That being said, specialty coffee in Lisbon is a relative bargain compared to the cost in other European cities.
Pro Tip: You can still live like an old school local and order a bica (espresso) or meia de leite (coffee with milk) when you eat a Pastel de Nata at local pastelarias (pastry shops) in Lisbon. Follow our guide to find the best Pasteis de Natas in Lisbon.
The Best Lisbon Cafes for Specialty Coffee
You can enjoy specialty coffee as you wander around Lisbon’s mosaic sidewalks. We enjoyed this cappuccino at Buna.
Lisbon may have been late to join the third wave movement but the city has now claimed a spot at the party. As we learned while attending the inaugural Lisbon Coffee Fest in March 2019, the city is brewing with good coffee. The city has both public cafes roasting coffee as well as stand-alone roasters producing coffee for direct sale.
Living as Lisbon locals, we’ve consumed enough cappuccinos and flat whites to become self-proclaimed experts on the topic of where to drink the best specialty coffee in Lisbon. These are our picks for the best cafes in Lisbon for digital nomads and coffee connoisseurs:
Milkees
Alexandre Freitas crafts each cappuccino and flat white with care at Milkees.
Milkees deceives with its simply decorated location on a nondescript block in São Sebastião near Lisbon’s El Corte Inglés. Thanks to passionate owners Alexandre Freitas & Joāo Pedro Erthal, the sophisticated cafe is a must-visit for specialty coffee aficionados drinking their way through Lisbon.
Sourcing quality local products, Freitas and Erthal serve bread from Gleba, coffee from Olisipo Coffee Roasters and produce from various top quality markets like Mercado Biológico do Principe Real and Mercado 31 Janeiro. It goes without saying that the cafe’s namesake dairy product is also local – the duo uses fresh milk both in crafting coffee and baking delectable pastries.
A visit to Milkees without a cookie would be incomplete. Pictured here is the cafe’s dark chocolate chip version.
The Milkees menu never disappoints us whether we eat tomato pesto sandwiches, hummus with pita or squash soup with gorgonzola. However, Erthal’s cookies are easily the cafe’s main attraction. The Michelin-trained chef loads his cookies with big chocolate chips and sprinkles them with fleur de sel flakes.
Milkees is quickly becoming our local favorite when we want to work in a friendly environment. We enjoy the cafe’s excellent coffee, satisfying food and attentive service.
Pro Tip: Check out Brazilian favorites like carrot cake and acelero berry juice when you drink coffee at Milkees.
Milkees is located at Rua São Sebastião da Pedreira 51C, 1050-206 Lisboa, Portugal.
Simpli
Musa Magwaza takes coffee seriously. Originally from South Africa, the friendly barista crafts each coffee with precision and care.
Simply put, we’re fans of Simpli, a hidden gem in Lisbon’s burgeoning specialty coffee scene.
Off the tourist track in the business district just off Marques de Pombal, this Lisbon cafe offers a comfortable space to drink coffee and work. While the epic statue in the nearby square celebrates the man who helmed the city’s rebirth after the devastating 18th-century earthquake, Simpli celebrates good coffee for everybody six days a week.
Baristas at Simpli serve each coffee on a wooden plank with a shot of water.
Drinking coffee at Simpli is a full sensory experience starting with the taste of house-roasted specialty beans sourced from Central and South America as well as Africa. Sounds of music stream through the comfortable space and scents of roasting beans often waft from the back of the cafe. A friendly crew of international coffee professionals completes the experience.
Beyond Simpli’s coffee, the cafe serves a food menu that includes pastries, excellent house-baked bread and a rotating lunch menu with items like soup, focaccia, sandwiches and Portuguese dishes. This Lisbon coffee shop also sells bags of roasted beans, both whole and ground to order.
Pro Tip: Come for the coffee but stay for the food. The cafe offers a wide variety of hot and cold lunch specials at affordable prices.
Simpli Bakery & Coffee has two locations. We frequent the original location at Rua Braamcamp 64, 1250-096 Lisboa, Portugal.
The Mill
Reuben Miller crafts excellent flat whites at The Mill on the edge of hilly Bairro Alto. The native Australian personally roasts coffee beans at nearby Flor da Selva to meet the cafe’s high coffee standards.
We discovered The Mill in the spring of 2018 and have since returned dozens of times thanks to the popular cafe’s excellent coffee, tasty food and friendly service. In fact, The Mill is a go-to location during the winter when fewer tourists jam the cafe on a daily basis.
Opened by Aussies who relocated to Lisbon, The Mill blends Australian cafe fare like avocado toast with Portuguese ingredients like piri-piri peppers. Menu options include toasties, bowls and eggs as well as bigger brunch plates.
Crowds flock to enjoy The Mill’s Australian-inspired menu.
With its fair prices and chill vibe, The Mill is often crowded from early morning until it closes in the late afternoon. If you have time, linger with a glass of wine or piece of cake. If you’re planning to do a bit of work, be aware that computers are only permitted at the cafe’s long communal table.
Pro Tip: Purchase a bag of freshly roasted Arabica beans to prepare in your Airbnb apartment or to take home as an edible Lisbon souvenir.
The Mill is located at Rua do Poço dos Negros 1, 1200-335 Lisboa, Portugal. The Mill has a second location in nearby Ericeira as well.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab and Bakery
Copenhagen Coffee Lab originated in Denmark but now has several Lisbon locations. Pictured here is a cappuccino that we drank at the Santa Clara location in Lisbon.
Danish-based Copenhagen Lab opened its first Lisbon coffee shop in 2015. Considering that Scandinavians consume more coffee than any other people around the world, it’s no surprise that this Nordic coffee shop is a leader in Lisbon’s third wave movement.
Popular with Lisbon digital nomads, Copenhagen Lab roasts its beans in Denmark and serves them in a variety of espresso-based drinks and pour overs in its original Principe Real location as well as in newer cafes located in Alcântra, Alfama, Cais de Sodré and Santa Clara. Offerings beyond coffee include sandwiches, salads and pastries.
We recommend pairing your coffee with a cinnamon bun. This pastry rarely disappoints in Scandinavia as we personally discovered in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Before you leave, buy a loaf of homemade sourdough or rye bread to enjoy later.
Pro Tip: Expect to pay a premium for coffee paraphernalia when you shop at Copenhagen Coffee Lab. However, the selection is extensive.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab and Bakery has multiple locations in Lisbon as well as in cities like Copenhagen, Düsseldorf and Duisburg.
Fábrica Coffee Roasters
Marianna Dilda crafted our Fábrica coffees with finesse and style.
Open since 2015, Fábrica Coffee Roasters has been serving some of the best coffee in Lisbon since the roastery opened its first cafe in the Avenida neighborhood. Fast forward and Fábrica now has two cafes in Lisbon plus a location up north in Porto.
Both Lisbon cafes have an urban, funky vibe that reminds us of spots we’ve frequented in cities like Portland and Cape Town. The coffee is comparable as well. Fábrica serves a variety of options for lovers of both espresso-based drinks and pour overs.
Our cappuccino blended into the table’s design at Fábrica. Can you find it?
In addition to freshly roasted coffee available in cups or by the bag, Fábrica sells light cafe fare and baked goods like pasteis de natas and chocolate brownies. Coffee fans can often smell beans roasting in the back of the cafe.
We’d probably frequent Fábrica more often if the two Lisbon cafes offered free internet. Instead, we stop at Fábrica when we need a coffee break when we’re doing errands in Chiado. The service is friendly, and the shop provides a comfortable respite from Lisbon’s touristic hordes.
Pro Tip: Leave your laptop at your hotel or apartment. Fábrica does NOT provide internet to its customers.
Fabrica Coffee Shop is located at Rua das Flores 63, 1200-193 Lisboa, Portugal.
Hello, Kristof
Ricardo Galésio modeled Hello, Kristof on cafes he visited during his travels.
The name Hello, Kristof is ironic considering that the Portuguese owner’s first name is Ricardo. Shouldn’t this Lisbon cafe be called Hola, Ricardo instead?
However, there’s nothing ironic about the intimate cafe inspired by its Scandinavian brethren. The design is minimalist, the space is cozy and the coffee is impeccably crafted to order.
Sitting at Hello, Kristof’s front table always gives us an excuse to put our laptops away and focus on the coffee.
Irony aside, Ricardo Galésio designed his version of the ideal cafe when he opened Hello, Kristof in 2016. The small room features a long communal table as well as a few small tables where people can chat or read magazines that line the cafe’s back wall. One table bans laptops, but computers are allowed at others.
As for coffee, Galésio sources beans from top European roasters. He was serving London’s Kiss the Hippo for espresso drinks and Copenhagen’s La Cabra during our most recent visit.
Pro Tip: Not in the mood for coffee? Order a refreshing iced tea flavored with a cinnamon stick and lemon instead.
Hello, Kristof is located at Rua do Poço dos Negros 103, 1200-337 Lisboa, Portugal.
Selva (Formerly Cafe de Finca)
In addition to its specialty coffee selection, Selva’s menu is filled with healthy food options.
Proving that the Lisbon coffee scene is constantly changing, popular Cafe de Finca has recently changed ownership and is now called Selva. Despite these changes, co-owner Marek Bronstring has assured us that Selva’s trio of new owners is committed to serving quality specialty coffee in the Alcântara neighborhood.
Though the cafe will likely replace the current Barcelona roaster with a local option, much at Selva will remain familiar in its roomy two-story space. Baristas will continue to craft flat whites and cappuccinos as well as prepare pour overs using AeroPess, Chemex and V60 devices. In terms of food, the menu will continue to feature fresh, healthy options like smoothie bowls and toasties.
Pro Tip: Selva is a good option to consider if you’re close to or in the Alcântara area.
Selva is located at Rua Luís de Camões 112 A, 1300-361 Lisboa, Portugal.
Neighbourhood Cafe
Baristas Miguel Marque and Thiago di Frona pulled a double ristretto to craft our cappuccino.
As proof that the Lisbon coffee scene is rapidly changing, Neighbourhood opened shop in September 2019. Though new to the scene, Neighbourhood adds an exciting element with its proper ristretto shots and Australian sensibility. Additionally, this Lisbon cafe exclusively uses beans sourced from London’s The Roasting Party.
Owner Ricky Foran explained that his baristas are not exactly coffee nerds but rather brew what they like. After tasting Neighbourhood’s smooth, rich style of cappuccino, we like what they do.
Pro Tip: Neighbourhood currently serves dessert but will be adding a brunch menu once its kitchen is operational.
Neighbourhood is located at Largo do Conde Barão 25, 1200-163 Lisboa, Portugal.
Cafe Dede’s
A cheesecake bite added a sweet element to this flat white crafted by owner Rhi Pulford herself. Though Pulford humbly admitted that her latte art skills may not be the best, we think her coffee looked and tasted just fine.
Cafe Dede’s became a favorite Lapa neighborhood brunch spot when we stayed at a nearby Airbnb apartment in 2018. Reminiscent of Australian cafes, this Lisbon cafe serves exciting global cuisine and specialty coffee in a friendly, comfortable setting.
Married owners Agne “Dede” Costa and Rhi Pulford run the cafe with a passion for local, seasonal ingredients. Dede cooks specialties like Okonomiyaki and Berry Pancakes while Pulford runs the front of the house with precision. They procure beans from Porto’s 7g Roaster and serve their flat whites and cappuccinos with small sweet treats – a welcome extra touch.
Cafe Dede’s is now open for dinner as well as brunch. Reservations are necessary for the cafe’s weekly Friday night oyster dinners.
Pro Tip: Follow Cafe Dede’s Instagram account for a daily dose of coffee inspiration.
Cafe Dede’s is located at Rua de Sant’Ana à Lapa 33, 1200-796 Lisboa, Portugal.
Buna
Originally from Moscow, Anna Santos learned about coffee in Portland before opening Buna in Lisbon.
Buna is a São Sebastião cafe that treats specialty coffee with ultimate respect. Co-owner Anna Santos displayed this respect when she introduced us to the variety of coffees on offer at the small-but-worthy Lisbon cafe.
The variety of coffee available at the petite cafe is one surprise; the other is its location near El Corte Inglès on a street filled with businesses and wide sidewalks. Not just a walkway, the expansive sidewalk provides additional space where guests can enjoy Buna’s coffee and selection of healthy menu options.
We took advantage of Lisbon’s warm weather and drank our crafted coffee outside at Buna.
Santos sources beans from Barcelona-based Nomad. After working as a barista in Portland, she selected the Spanish roastery over local options based on her respect for the beans and her preference for filtered coffee.
Though Buna has only been open since March of 2019, the cafe is quickly building respect within the Lisbon coffee community. One visit is enough to catch Santos’ passion for the flavors and complexity found in specialty coffee. However, if you’re like us, you’ll want to return to try all of Buna’s bean offerings and coffee styles.
Pro Tip: Depending on the weather, cool down with a cold brew NITRO or warm up with a dirty chai latte.
Buna is located at Avenida Ressano Garcia 43A, 1070-234 Lisboa, Portugal.
The Royal Rawness
The Royal Rawness’ airy space is worthy of a special trip to the up-and-coming Marvila neighborhood.
The aroma of freshly roasted coffee flows through the air at The Royal Rawness. Not only do baristas prepare coffee with the Lisbon cafe’s gleaming La Marzocco machine, but employees roast coffee beans sourced from South America, Asia and Africa at the rear of the cafe.
Located in Lisbon’s rapidly gentrifying Marvila neighborhood since early 2019, the cafe has an airy vibe and space for people to work, eat and drink coffee. A long wooden table fills the center of the room, offering a communal space for those looking to mingle with old or new friends.
Living up to its name, this plate of Marvellous Marvila Toast came with home-made french toast, banana, caramelized date sauce and candied walnuts. We paired the tasty brunch item with cappuccinos.
The Royal Rawness offers a full menu with loads of breakfast, brunch and lunch items. More adventurous diners will want to order a super salad or artisanal fish pot along with a colorful smoothie or healthy detox shot. However, there’s nothing wrong with sipping crafted coffee with comforting pancakes or french toast.
Pro Tip: Explore Marvila before or after you get your coffee on at The Royal Rawness. The neighborhood is filled with surprises including a top-notch pizzeria and craft breweries. FYI – you can easily travel to Marvila by bus.
The Royal Rawness is located at Praça David Leandro da Silva 2, 1950-131 Lisboa, Portugal.
COMOBA
We paired our cappuccinos with a slice of this gorgeous red velvet cake at COMOBA.
Located near the popular Time Out Market, COMOBA is a stylish cafe that serves a healthy menu in addition to a selection of specialty coffee and pastries. This Lisbon cafe sources local ingredients and serves Outpost coffee beans from London.
Despite being situated in a historic building, COMOBA offers a modern menu filled with items appropriate for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free diners. Think chia porridge and smoothies as well as fish tacos and breakfast burritos. For us though, COMOBA’s main draw is its specialty coffee program and cake, both ideal for a mid-afternoon break after touring around Lisbon.
Pro Tip: COMOBA provides an excellent launching spot since it’s convenient to Lisbon’s Cais de Sodre metro station.
COMOBA is located at Rua de S. Paulo 99, 1200-109 Lisboa, Portugal.
Wish Slow Coffee House
Coffee wishes come true at Wish Slow Coffee House in Lisbon’s LX Factory.
It’s no surprice that trendy LX Factory is a destination for specialty coffee fans, and Wish Slow Coffee House makes a visit to the Brooklyn/Portland/Fishtown-esque converted factory inevitable. Open since 2015, the modern coffee shop happily co-exists with gift shops, restaurants and bars at the popular hipster/tourist destination.
Trained baristas exclusively use 100% arabica beans to craft quality cappuccinos and brew coffee for pour overs. However, non-coffee drinkers can enjoy drinks like matcha lattes and hot chocolate. Who are these people???
Food features prominently at this stylish cafe. In addition to all-day brunch, Wish’s menu includes bagels, salads and bruschetta plus lots of tempting desserts. Worth a special note, this Lisbon cafe serves a variety of Poffertjes, cute miniature Dutch pancakes found in destinations like Amsterdam.
Pro Tip: Digital nomads can use their laptops at a long white table in the back of the shop.
Wish Slow Coffee House is located at Espaço G 02a, Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-472 Lisboa, Portugal.
Dear Breakfast
Coffees at Dear Breakfast look as good as they taste. Pictured here is an iced latte garnished with a sprig of mint.
Dear Breakfast lives us to its name with a menu filled with a variety of breakfast items including all manner of eggs plus smoothies, pancakes, croissants and yogurt parfait. Not just available in the morning, breakfast is served all day, every day at this Lisbon cafe.
Although Chef Raquel Patronilho takes breakfast seriously, Dear Breakfast retains a sense of whimsy with its clean design aesthetic and added elements like candles and fresh flowers. Open since 2017 in Sao Bento, the cafe’s windows open to one of Lisbon’s many cobblestone sidewalks.
This pink latte gets its color from beetroot juice. Other ingredients include ginger, honey and milk
Coffee doesn’t take a back seat at Dear Breakfast. The cafe serves drinks like cappuccinos and lattes with the option of ordering a pink version of the latter.
Not to be confused with a standard latte, Dear Breakfast’s caffeine-free pink latte’s primary ingredient is beetroot juice. The taste is familiar yet unique with a hint of minerality.
Pro Tip: Order a pink latte. You know you want to give it a try. Just be sure to snap a photo before you take a sip.
Dear Breakfast has two Lisbon locations. We frequent the original cafe located at Rua Gaivotas 17, 1200-719 Lisboa, Portugal.
Fauna & Flora
Fauna & Flora serves brunch and ‘brinner’ in its aptly decorated green space.
Chic brunch fans have a happy place in the Madragoa neighborhood – airy, plant-filled Fauna & Flora. Open since late 2017, this Lisbon cafe serves a range of sweet and savory options as well as beverages that start with coffee and end with cocktails.
Although the baristas at Fauna & Flora craft classic coffee drinks including cappuccinos and flat whites, we find their coffee to be too darkly roasted for our taste. Owner Joana Faria sources its coffee beans from nearby Flor da Selva, an old-school, family-run operation that has been roasting beans in the neighborhood since 1950.
Fauna & Flora tops its Guilty pancakes with peanut butter, banana, roasted peanuts and chocolate.
We still recommend Fauna & Flora even though we’re not infatuated with the cafe’s coffee. The menu is fun with a staggering number of brunch and ‘brinner’ choices ranging from smoothie bowls and pancakes to rice bowls and burgers.
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 is located at Rua da Esperança 33, 1200-655 Lisboa, Portugal.
Bettina & Niccolò Corallo
Bettina & Niccolò Corallo serves both chocolate and coffee. Pictured here is a cup of the cafe’s bubbly hot chocolate.
Sometimes we’re thirsty but not in the mood for coffee. It’s rare but it happens. For times like those, Bettina & Niccolò Corallo offers a hot chocolate option that makes us swoon.
Chocolate lovers don’t have to drink their passion at Bettina & Niccolò Corallo. They can also eat bars, brownies and sorbet made with chocolate produced at the family’s estate located in Africa’s São Tomé and Príncipe.
Pro Tip: Coffee addicts can order espresso drinks at Bettina & Niccolò Corallo.
Bettina & Niccolò Corallo is located at Rua da Escola Politécnica 4, 1250-096 Lisboa, Portugal.
Additional Lisbon Cafes
Lisbon cafes provide a caffeinated respite from the city’s many hills.
As you explore Lisbon, keep your eyes peeled for even more cafes. Here are several to consider as you traverse the city:
- Benjamin Coffee House
- Café A Brasileira
- Cafe Jardim da Estrela
- Heim Cafe
- Montana Lisboa Cafe
- Olisipo Coffee Roasters
- Nicolau / Amelia
- Tease
- Thirsty for more specialty coffee in Europe? Check out our cafe guides for Amsterdam, Bucharest, Budapest, and Hamburg.
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