10 Amazing Lisbon Coffee Shops for Every Type of Coffee Lover

Whether your preferred nomenclature is coffee or café, bica or cimbalino, in Portugal coffee isn’t just coffee. The act (or ritual, if you will) of drinking coffee is an integral part of Portuguese culture and has been since at least the 18th century. It can mean time set aside to center oneself before a day begins, a few minutes of solitary respite midday, or a time to linger and socialize with family and friends. Traditional Portuguese coffee shops are ubiquitous and can be found with little to no effort. And they’re enjoyable. But if you’re looking for modern coffee shops in Lisbon, particularly those that offer a little something extra to go along with a tasty cup, then read on. Whether you’re looking for ethically sourced beans, a place to grab a cup and a snack even late in the day, or a cool space to hang out with friends, the following list will have you covered.

Coffee Purists

Olisipo Coffee Roasters

Olisipo Coffee Roasters is only open to the public on weekends, from 11:00-3:00. So why does a coffee shop that’s only open 8 hours a week make our list? Well, there’s something very special going on here. Located in the charming Ajuda neighborhood of Lisbon, it has become an indispensable addition to the community since its opening in 2018.

You can see this, as we did, when neighborhood residents wander in for their weekend coffee. The passion and pride that the shop’s co-founders, Antony Watson and Sofia Gonçalves, have when serving their patrons is simply indisputable. When we visited, we were treated no differently than locals and greeted with not only the kind of enjoyable and substantive conversation reserved for honorary “regulars” but also a tasting flight of the newest cold brews they happened to be experimenting with and were excited about. Whether they are talking beans or brewing methods, their passion is unequivocal. And frankly, it’s infectious. Bottom line here is this: whether you simply enjoy really good coffee or are a coffee-obsessed purist who cares deeply about the art, science, and history of coffee making, this shouldn't be missed.

Fábrica Coffee Roasters

Fábrica Coffee Roasters began as a small, family-owned enterprise with an earnest passion for coffee and a fairly simple philosophy. That philosophy was grounded in the concept of being intimately engaged in each step in the production process. This included direct trade partnerships with farmers, roasting beans on-site at their original location, and offering a robust diversity in the extraction methods on offer. They roast according to each type of bean’s unique characteristics and purpose: darker for espresso, lighter for filter. This probably doesn’t seem particularly revolutionary today, but it differentiated them from traditional coffee houses and established their position as one of Lisbon’s early specialty coffee trailblazers. With three locations and a coffee truck in Lisbon, good coffee is always within reach.

Pro Tip: Fábrica is one of the few new wave coffee shops who eschews laptop culture, so there is no free wifi available at their locations. As the sign says: “No WiFi. Drink Coffee.”

Torra Roasting & Coffee

Torra Roasting & Coffee isn’t interested in putting up barriers between you and your coffee ritual. You won’t walk up to a bar to place an order. Nothing separates you from their friendly and knowledgeable staff. The roasting of beans is done on-site, so their freshness is indisputable. And all of this translates to a level of warmth and accessibility often lacking in specialty coffee shops. It’s Torra “Roasting” and then “Coffee” not because the coffee--which can be extracted through a number of methods at this charming cafe--is an afterthought. They simply believe in an unbroken line. One that starts with thoughtfully sourced and properly roasted beans, continues on to efficiently and properly extracted coffee, and leads, ultimately, to that cup placed in front of you. As a bonus, you will also find delicious breakfast staples and excellent cakes and pastries here. We particularly enjoyed the vegan banana bread.

Coffee in Brew

Coffee in Brew clearly takes coffee seriously. From the impressive variety of beans on offer to the brewing methods employed for extraction, you’ll have a few decisions to make when you sidle up to the bar. That doesn’t mean you’ll find the whole experience stuffy. Patricia, the omnipresent owner, will happily explain all the options to you. In some cases, depending upon what you order, you may even receive a card along with your coffee, detailing the bean’s origin, process, variety and flavor notes. Whether you end up with one of the Brew Bar methods (filter, batch, Chemex, or syphon), the more common Espresso Bar varieties or Cold Drinks, like coffee tonics or cold brews, you’re unlikely to regret your decision.

Cool Kids Who Hang Out in Cute Coffee Shops

Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery

Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery is a coffee roastery, wholesaler, cafe and bakery chain founded in Copenhagen in 2013. They have more than thirty cafes across Denmark, Germany, France, and Portugal. But don’t let the word “chain” dissuade you. Copenhagen’s Lisbon locations are all unique, from the airy, arched space in Cais do Sodre to the outdoor courtyard with a direct view of the Santa Justa Lift in Baixa. And the coffee here is very, very good. It should be. Whether it is their supply partnerships, internal roasting processes, or tasting and cupping protocols, the quality is across the board top-notch. Following suit are their bakery options, which are made from scratch using their own recipes. The trifecta of good location, great coffee and delicious food make Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery an easy place to linger.

Fauna & Flora

Fauna & Flora’s Rua da Esperança location is a trendy café located on the ground floor of a lovely azulejo-covered building. It’s interior is cute and stylish. Think clean white walls, throw in a few pastel colors here and there, and add lots of reclaimed or repurposed woods. And yes, as the name implies--or, at least, half the name implies--there are gobs of plants within its walls. But the cool vibe and Instagrammable photo ops aren’t all it has to offer. Fauna & Flora serves up some excellent coffee. The beans are sourced from Flor Da Selva, a small-scale, family-owned coffee roasting company located nearby. And the breakfast and brunch fare are also fantastic. You’ll find everything from granola and smoothie bowls and pancakes to bagel sandwiches and various toasts, including a number of delicious vegan and vegetarian options. Their second Anjos location is no less charming, and just as popular.

Heim Cafe

There’s something reassuringly familiar about this uber-busy, all-day Australian-style café. It has bright white walls, lots of wood, a mirror reminiscent of a picture window, and plenty of verdant plants. Your decadent-looking cappuccinos and lattes are delivered in those cute, blue, porcelain coffee cups and saucers, filled to the brim. The staff whiz by with a wide assortment of delicious-looking dishes at a dizzying pace. On that corner where three Lisbon streets converge and the bells from Church Santos-O-Velho ring out, it feels like the perfect marriage of Australian comfort and Portuguese romance. While we were there, we noticed every single table ordered the fluffy pancakes. We didn’t, and we regret it. Don’t make the same mistake.

Bloom Coffee Room

Bloom Coffee Room shares a space with Bowls & Bar, an eatery, and Saudade Flores Frescas, a florist. And somehow, it all works. Fresh flowers greet you as you enter, and a neon sign reading “I feel you” guides you to the counter where you’ll find the baristas hard at work. The specialty coffee menu seems fairly straightforward: black, white (with milk), and cold. But spend a little more time asking questions and you’ll discover they work with specialty coffee roasters all over the globe, from Kenya to Copenhagen, Berlin to Costa Rica. Find a seat, perhaps in the bright and airy front of the café, where you can see the electric tram passing by every so often.

Book Nerds Who Love Coffee

Ler Devagar

Though it’s absurdly reductive, it’s not technically incorrect to say Ler Devagar is just a bookstore. There is a small coffee shop within, and sure, you can get a cup of coffee there. Or you could get a drink at the small bar instead. But what makes this place special, and why you might want to pencil in a visit for that cup of coffee, is the incredible vibe of the interior and its overall cultural significance.

Let’s start with Lx Factory, the former industrial site repurposed as an artistic, commercial and performance complex. Within that complex, Ler Devagar--English translation: “Read Slowly”--is a three-story bookstore, library, and event space. It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Within, you will find innumerable new and used books lining every inch of its walls, charming wooden sculptures hanging from its ceiling, and a vertiginous, stacked platform off to one side with the old bones of an antiquated printing press. There’s also a sectioned off auditorium within the bookstore where performances are held, aptly named Ouvir Devagar, or “Listen Slowly”. Throughout Ler Devagar you’ll find ample seating, with chairs and tables scattered throughout. Grab a cup of coffee, dig into the oeuvre of a favorite author, and soak it all in.

Le Petit Prince Café Culture

Excavate a cozy, sub-basement level, corner café in any French town, plop it down in Lisbon, and you get affable owner Jean Pierr’s delightful Le Petit Prince Café Culture, named for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s celebrated novella. The quaint interior, with nooks jammed with handsomely-distressed, antique wooden tables, stacked shelves, and various artwork, all come together to create a warm, inviting space. It’s no surprise that a café named for a popular literary work makes space for an impressive collection of books, many of which are either French translations or by French writers. Much like the space, the mismatched coffee cups are full of character. And if you’re smart, leave room for the tartines (open face sandwiches). Perfect for a modest breakfast or lunch, delicious options like the Lune de Miel--a expertly toasted slice of bread topped with figs, honey, herbs, and goat cheese--will start your day off right or turn it around if it has gone off the rails. If you’re a bibliophile or a Francophile (or both!), don’t miss this gem.

Conclusion

From an outsider’s perspective, the thing you have to understand about Lisboans, and, more widely, the Portuguese, is that nothing is exactly as it seems. If you focus on the surface of things, you’ll miss a lot. And drinking coffee is no different. The Portuguese are a social but also deeply contemplative culture. They like to linger over their coffees, savoring their downtime as they socialize. So, when you visit, why not do the same and embrace the phrase, “Vamos tomar um café!” or roughly translated, “Let’s go get coffee!”

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