20 Best Coffee Shops in Lisbon

We’ve created this Lisbon Cafe Guide featuring our favorite Lisbon cafes that serve specialty coffee. 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 food and coffee scene is towards the top of our list along with the restaurants, 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.

Sometimes we drink our daily fix at a Lisbon cafe along with brunch 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

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.

Our Favorite Lisbon Cafes Serving Specialty Coffee

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 and again in 2022, 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:

1. Neighbourhood

Sometimes it’s better to be smart than lucky. Neighbourhood accomplished both during the pandemic when their large patio allowed patrons to sit outside while drinking their coffee. Today, that same patio remains crowded with a combination of tourists and… you guessed it… people from the neighborhood.

When Neighbourhood opened shop in September 2019, the Santos cafe added an exciting element to the mix with its proper ristretto shots and Australian sensibility. Fast forward a few years and Neighborhood continues to excite us with its rotating coffees and tasty food offerings.

These food offerings include breakfast burritos during the day and smash burgers at night. But it’s the coffee that keeps us coming back. During our most recent visit, the cafe was brewing filtered coffee with beans from Olisipo (see below) and crafting espresso drinks with beans from Berlin’s Field Coffee.

2. Buna Specialty Coffee Shop

When it comes to locations, Buna Specialty Coffee Shop has found its happy place. The popular cafe moved to a charming Rua São Bento corner adjacent to the 28 tram in the Santos neighborhood in December of 2021. Details like a vintage cash register and old school record player bring the charm inside.

Although the location is relatively new, it feels right with its tiled floor and shelves filled with coffee and coffee equipment. The cosy interior has a few tables; however, the outside space is a game changer with a handful of small tables offering plenty of room for both dogs and strollers.

Sergio Godinho, one of the cafe’s owners, took time to chat with us during our most recent visit as he seems to do with everybody who steps through the door. The Portuguese investment banker lived in New York before returning to Lisbon where he subsequently discovered a passion for specialty coffee.

3. Milkees

Milkees deceives with its simply decorated location on a busy 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 and produce from various top quality markets like Mercado Biológico do Principe Real and Mercado 31 Janeiro. They typically buy coffee from local roasters like RoastBerry Coffee Lab (see below).

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 a local favorite when we want to work in a friendly environment, at least when it’s not too busy. We enjoy the cafe’s excellent coffee, satisfying food and attentive service. Plus, we count the cafe’s chocolate chip cookies among the best desserts in Portugal.

4. Olisipo Coffee Roasters

Anthony Watson and Sofia Gonçalves opened Olisipo in 2018 inspired by their joint love of coffee. Committed to both the local Lisbon neighborhood and the ‘neighborhood’ of coffee drinkers, the duo has created a cozy space where coffee enthusiasts are warmly welcomed.

Watson traveled the world, an adventure that included a homestay at an Ethiopian coffee farm, before relocating from London with Gonçalves. Striking photos from his journey adorn Olisipo’s walls.

When you visit Olisipo, expect to drink coffee made with single-origin beans sourced from South American countries like Brazil, Honduras and Peru as well as Eastern hemisphere countries like Burundi and Ethiopia. Housemade cold brew goes down extra easy on hot summer Saturdays.

Although Olisipo’s location is off the Lisbon tourist trail, coffee fans can easily walk up the hill from Alcântra or take an Uber. The reward for this small effort is what we consider to be the best coffee in Lisbon.

Beyond coffee, Olisipo serves tea and beer. Those who enjoy both coffee and beer can kill two birds with one stone by drinking A.M.O. beer brewed with Olisipo coffee.

5. Fábrica Coffee Roasters

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 multipe cafes in Lisbon plus locations up north in Porto.

Fábrica’s 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.

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 its Lisbon cafes offered free internet. Instead, we stop at Fábrica when we need a coffee break when we’re doing errands and need a caffeine jolt. The service is friendly, and the shop provides a comfortable respite from Lisbon’s touristic hordes.

6. Liberty Cafe

Proving that there’s no such thing as too many specialty coffee shops in Lisbon, Liberty quickly made its mark after opening in 2022. But what makes this cafe different from the pack?

First and foremost, owner Nikita Pirokgov brings a refreshing enthusiasm that exudes both from his words and his actions. He and his team craft each coffee using modern techniques and the best available beans. Plus, he’s an engaging conversationalist.

That leads us to the second differentiator. Unlike most Lisbon coffee shops, Liberty independently sources its beans from top European roasters. During our most recent visit, we spotted bags from Paris’ Kawa as well as Copenhagen’s Coffee Collective. Our flat whites were crafted with the latter.

Since Liberty focuses on brunch, books and wine in addition to coffee, the cafe is a happy place for people who love eating, drinking and eating. In other words, the cafe is a happy place for everybody.

7. Baobá Café

Mostly, though, we’re glad that we found this café, upon a reader recommendation, which was hiding in plain sight. However, don’t think that this Lisbon cafe is a hidden gem. It was bustling during our initial mid-week visit and has recently extended its hours to meet customer demand for lightly its roasted coffee served in a variety of ways.

We opted to drink flat whites during our first visit. Adding a Mista Toasta turned our coffee break into a lunch break. And, since we were so comfortable in the cafe, we ended up ordering a second round of cappuccinos. Needless to say, that first visit won’t be our last.

During our next visit, we may choose to order Pão de Qeuijo (cheese bread) and Brigadeiro chocolate balls in a nod to Baobá’s Brazilian heritage. Or maybe we’ll order avocado toast or a croissant instead. Either way, we’ll definitely be ordering two flat whites with a side of free internet when that visit happens.

8. RoastBerry Coffee Lab

We hightailed it to RoastBerry Coffee Lab after hearing about the Alcântara cafe from a Lisbon barista of Russian descent. Apparently, Russians love specialty coffee and own several shops in Lisbon. Who knew?

Open since November 2019, RoastBerry Coffee Lab quickly developed a reputation due to its serious approach to roasting and brewing quality beans as well as for its clever roster of chilled drinks. Many of those drinks combine cold brew with exotic ingredients like condensed coconut milk and lemongrass.

After drinking a ‘barista edition’ flat white crafted with Colombian geisha beans and a ‘Thai dispatch’ cold brew during our first visit, we were hooked. We later returned with our laptops in tow and tried more drinks.

Beyond specialty coffee and despite its name, RoastBerry Coffee Lab serves an extensive selection of specialty tea and a small but mighty brunch menu. Maybe it should be called RoastBerry Lab instead.

9. The Mill

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.

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. However, if you’re planning to do a bit of work, be aware that computers are only permitted at the cafe’s long communal table.

10. Hello, Kristof

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.

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 Denmark’s La Cabra during our most recent visit.

11. Copenhagen Coffee Lab and Bakery

Danish-based Copenhagen Coffee 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.

We recommend pairing your coffee with a cinnamon bun. This pastry rarely disappoints in Scandinavia as we personally discovered in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Before you leave, buy a loaf of homemade sourdough or dark rye bread to enjoy later.

12. Malabarista Café

Partners in life and business, Ricardo Rabello and Jadwiga Thun opened Malabarista Cafe in 2020 after working at various Lisbon cafes and coffee shops. This prior experience enabled them open their Anjos storefront during a global pandemic and, more importantly, serve great coffee.

We discovered the shop soon after it opened thanks to a recommendation from the team at Milkees. Once we realized that Malabarista was just a short tram ride from our second Lisbon apartment and that the cafe was serving Olisipo coffee, our visit was inevitable.

Rabello and Thun use relationships developed over time to select local products for their shop. In addition to sourcing some of the cafe’s beans from Olisipo, the duo gets bread from Simpli and stromboli pizza rolls from Tozzi Forneria Moderna. Other tasty items on offer at Malabarista include cake, pastries and toast.

13. Thank You Mama Café

Thank You Mama Café is a coffee shop with benefits. Those benefits are bagels and babka. Anna Santos, a former partner at Buna Specialty Coffee Shop (see above), opened this coffee shop in Anjos in September of 2020.

A creature of habit, Santos sources the cafe’s beans from Barcelona-based Nomad just like she did at Buna. After working as a barista in Portland, she selected the Spanish roaster over local options based on her respect for the beans and her preference for filtered coffee.

Though Thank You Mama has only been open since September of 2021, the cafe has become a destination for neighborhood locals who appreciate good coffee and quality bagels. It’s also a popular spot for pet people who enjoy interacting with the staff’s boisterous dogs.

We fit into the first two categories since we like bagels as much as we like coffee. While we’ve had no problem finding good coffee in Lisbon, finding decent bagels has proven to be more of a challenge. Baked on the cafe’s premises, these bagels are the best we’ve found. Toppings like house-cured salmon and hummus take them to the next level.

While the cafe currently has an admirable coffee program and those aforementioned bagels which we love, we’re curious to see where Thank You Mama goes in the future.

Right now, the cafe has a handful of tables plus a long counter with stools plus a few racks of locally produced clothing. However, there’s a big space in the back that currently acts as a blank canvas. Will it be used for coffee tastings and cuppings, brunch seating or more clothes? Only time will tell.

14. Cafe Dede’s

Cafe Dede’s became a favorite Lapa neighborhood brunch spot when we stayed at a nearby 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.

15. The Coffee

The Coffee caught our eye with its minimalist design and Japanese letters. After all, we have an affinity for drinking at cafes in Japan where the coffee is the star of the show.

Upon entering the cafe, we quickly learned that The Coffee has indirect roots to Japan since the cafe’s owner is a Brazilian with Japanese ancestry. We also learned that The Coffee has serious coffee chops with cafes in Brazil, Columbia, France, Spain and now Portugal.

We channeled the best of Brazil, Japan and Portugal during our first visit to The Coffe. For starters, Gabriela Naben crafted our flat white with Japanese precision using Brazilian beans roasted locally at Olisipo (see above). We then paired our globally-inspired flat white with a matcha chip cookie.

16. Selva

Proving that the Lisbon coffee scene is constantly changing, popular Cafe de Finca changed ownership in 2019 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 at the cosy two-story Alcântara cafe.

Although the new owners have replaced the previous Barcelona roaster with beans locally roasted at Olisipo Coffee Roasters (see above), baristas 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 features fresh, healthy options like smoothie bowls and toasties.

17. Give It a Shot

During our initial impromptu visit, Give It a Shot featured beans sourced from Sweden’s Morgon Coffee Roasters. More recent roasters include Portugal Kōyō Specialty Coffees and Spain’s Kima Coffee.

Since a friendly barista crafted our flat whites with care and served them with panache, we’ll likely order flat whites again unless we’re in the mood for pour overs. Next time, however, we’re definitely bringing our laptops.

18. Simpli

Off the tourist track, this Lisbon cafe offers comfortable spaces to drink coffee and work. While the epic statue in a 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.

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.

19. Dear Breakfast

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.

20. Shakar

Every time we think we’ve been to the best coffee shops in Lisbon, we find another cafe that demands our attention. Such was the case when Lisbon man-about-town Rishav Verma casually asked us if we’d been to Shakar yet. Our answer of “no” changed to “yes” that very day. After all, we were just a short walk down Rua São Sebastião da Pedreira from the new-to-us Lisbon cafe.

We have since returned to Shakar multiple times. The cafe’s flat whites are among the best we’ve imbibed in Lisbon. And, since we enjoy food and coffee with all five senses, the latte art is a bonus that we appreciate.

Additional Lisbon Cafes

Bonus Pick – Bettina & Niccolò Corallo

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.

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Original Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Republish Date: August 9, 2020