The 7 Best Coffee Shops in Lisbon

The best coffee shops in Lisbon, reflect Portugal’s deep historical connections, while also embracing the modern coffee culture.  The Portuguese baristas are masters of transforming a seemingly humble cup of coffee into an elevated art form to tantalize coffee lovers of all stripes.

The area has a staggering number of specialty coffee shops offering high-end espresso, cold brew, and single-origin coffees. So, I put together this list to help you get a feel for what the local coffee scene has to offer on one of my Lisbon food tours.

Fábrica Coffee Roasters

Photo credit: Fábrica Coffee Roasters

I love that Fábrica Coffee Roasters directly sources their coffee beans from their extensive network of dedicated ethically minded coffee farms. This gives them complete control over every step in the process. They even roast their own green coffee beans in-house with exacting standards.

Fábrica Coffee Roaster’s ambiance is warm with a modern-rustic-industrial interior and vintage Portuguese décor. It invites you to soak in the aroma of fresh-roasted coffee and switch gears to a more casual pace. While still not losing touch with the flow of your day.

If you’re a coffee lover with a DIY gene, this is the place to buy the kind of high-end coffee equipment professional baristas use. Perfect if you’re in Portugal for an extended stay or if you’re thinking about having a coffee house souvenir shipped back home.

When I was at their Portas de Santo Antão coffee house, the weather was scorching hot outside. So, I ordered one of their cold-brewed coffees. I appreciated how the slow-brewing process they use mutes the acidic tones of the coffee, mellowing it out, without dulling the great coffee flavor.

Fábrica Coffee Roasters €€€ – Rua das Portas de Santo Antão 136, 1150-269 Lisbon, Portugal. Open Monday to Friday 9AM – 5PM.

Café Janis

Photo credit: Café Janis

Located in Cais do Sodré, Café Janis is a trendy new presence on Lisbon’s coffee scene. This is thanks in part to their reputation for some of the best specialty coffees in the city, as well as the Mediterranean flavors on their menu.

The interior ambiance of Café Janis has a hip, bohemian vibe. There’s a real sense of curatorship to the comfortable blend of modern and vintage décor. It shows real respect to Lisbon’s identity of the past, while also leaning in to embrace the future.

I stopped here on a lazy morning in Lisbon to order a matcha latte and some banana bread. The sweet banana flavor played perfectly with the earthy body of the matcha. The way they incorporated the dairy into the latte gave it a silky smoothness that I really appreciated.

 Café Janis €€ – R.Moeda 1A, Lisbon, Portugal 1200-275 – Open every day from 8:00 AM to 12:30 AM.

Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery

Photo credit: Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery

A Scandinavian-style coffee house like Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery is a testament to Lisboa’s reputation for being a European city that embraces multiculturalism. It’s located on the edge of the Alfama and São Vicente, is popular with locals and tourists alike.

The interior employs a minimalist approach, which is popular in most Scandinavian countries. This gives it a clean, professional ambiance that’s inviting. Without being so institutional that it feels sanitized.

I loved the bakery pairings at Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery. I had one of their fragrant cardamom buns paired with a boldly flavored Americano. I think this is the best coffee on their entire menu.

The cardamom bun is more common in Arab Countries yet is also present in Scandinavian coffee culture. Sinking my teeth into its fragrant soft cardamon-infused dough helped me appreciate the multicultural richness of Europe.

Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery €€€ – Rua Nova da Piedade 10, 1200-298 Lisbon, Portugal. Open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Saturday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Café A Brasileira

Photo credit: Café A Brasileira

Café A Brasileira is one of the best coffee shops to experience Lisbon coffee while soaking in the vivid, visual history of the Chiado district. Originally founded in 1905, the entire area is rife with vintage tile décor known as azulejos.

The interior of the Café A Brasileira has a vintage feel. Its popularity with locals and tourists gives it a lot of hustle and bustle, which will help wake you up in the morning. Yet it’s probably not the place to slowly sip a cup of coffee while perusing the newspaper.

Instead, I ordered bica, which is a Lisboa take on espresso, along with a pastel de nata. The bica had a robust coffee flavor that was smoother than a traditional espresso. It was the perfect counterpoint to the creaminess of the filling. My only regret was that I didn’t order a second bica to enjoy on my visual adventure through Chiado.

Café A Brasileira €€ – Rua Garrett 120, 1200-205 Lisbon, Portugal. Open every day 8:00 – 12:00 AM.

The Mill

 

Photo credit: The Mill

The Mill in the Santos district is one of the best specialty coffee shops in Lisbon. They consider themselves an Australian-Portuguese coffee shop and proudly offer impressive pour-over coffees, espresso, and cold brew coffees.

Their specialty coffees are available all-day long. They also have a reputation for hosting an impressive brunch service. However, they are very busy on Sundays. So, you want to come early for brunch.

The ambiance is invitingly cozy, with a minimalist design that invites you to decompress a little. It has a vibe that matches the local neighborhood. It’s no surprise that a lot of locals come to the Mill to unwind after work.

I stopped here after a busy afternoon touring Lisbon to have one of their pour-over coffees and an order of avocado toast. I opted to add some seasonal cherry tomatoes and feta cheese. The sharp flavors of the pour-over coffee helped cut the richness of my glorified avocado toast.

The Mill € – R. do Poço dos Negros 1, 1200-335 Lisboa, Portugal – Open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Bettina & Niccolò Corallo

Photo credit: Bettina & Niccolò Corallo

Nestled in the Principe-Real district of Lisbon Bettina & Niccolò Corallo is a sweet spot enjoyed by coffee and chocolate lovers alike. It is honestly as much of a chocolatier as it is a coffee shop, and they bring the two together perfectly.

The interior of Bettina & Niccolò Corallo is the definition of cozy with an intimate ambiance, that’s perfect for heart-to-heart conversation with an old friend. However, there’s minimal seating, but that’s no bother as the Jardim do Príncipe Real is right nearby.

I stopped in the late morning looking for a snack to tide me over until my lunch reservations were ready. I ordered a chocolate bar dried cherries and a cup of black coffee. The coffee was robust and the combination of artisanal chocolate and the sweet, yet sharp bite of the cherries danced on my tongue.

Bettina & Niccolò Corallo €€ – R. da Escola Politécnica 4, 1250-102 Lisboa, Portugal – Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Sunday Open 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Heim Café

Photo credit: Heim Café

Heim Café in Lisbon’s Alcântara district is a great place to pick up a matcha before taking a walk along the Docas de Santo Amaro. This is another one of Lisbon’s cafes that embraces Scandinavian minimalism without sacrificing the local charm.

The interior ambiance of Heim Café is bright, and open with clean lines. Yet it also has an organic feel with natural wood accents and living plants. They also go the extra mile to serve many of their beverages in artistic quality cups and drinkware. It’s one of those special little touches that’s worth appreciating.

I really loved their matcha latte. They use a high-quality matcha powder that on its own is vivid shade of green, and gives off a vibrant rich, earthy flavor. I appreciated how much the latte strikes a balance between the tang of the matcha and the natural sweetness of the milk.

Heim Café €€ – Rua de Santos-O-Velho, 2 e 4, Lisbon, Portugal 1200-812 – Open 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

Conclusion

The sheer volume of great coffee shops in Lisbon can leave you feeling spoiled for choice. Finding the best one to suit your tastes can feel challenging. It might help to start with some of the more well-known coffee shops to give you an idea of what the Lisboa coffee scene has to offer. 

From there you can try a few of the smaller gems on this list, along with the decadent pastries they have to offer. Eventually, I’m sure you’ll find the Lisbon coffee shot that’s best for you.