The Best Coffee Shops in Lisbon: A Guide for Nomads, Connoisseurs, & the Caffeine-Addicted
Lisbon’s a city I keep finding my way back to. As I write this, I’m ticking off trip #4. With each passing visit, I come to know and love this city one layer deeper, always leaving with a few new gems to add to my personal “Best of Lisbon” list. In this post, I’ll let you in on some of my favorite coffee shops in Lisbon to caffeinate, with and without my laptop.
Curva
Because I’m literally sitting in the cozy confines of Curva as I type this post, this Lisbon coffee shop in Graça gets to top the list. It might even literally top the city, as the stairs I had to climb to get here from Chiado were no joke. A cafe, bar, shop, and gallery space all rolled into one, Curva is perhaps better known for being one of Lisbon’s best coffee shops to work from. Everyone around me right now literally has a laptop in front of them. With designated tables for remote workers, like me, and others barred from that altogether, it’s the sort of place where you can chip away at your work guilt-free for hours. They have a menu of reasonably priced small plates and baked goods to go with their exceptionally poured coffee, fresh juices, and cocktails.
Fábrica Coffee Roasters
If you’re after specialty coffee in Lisbon, look no further than Fabrica Coffee Roasters. With locations in Lisbon, Porto, and Cascais, Lisbon is where they found their start and continue to roast all of their carefully sourced beans. Inspired by the third wave coffee scene in Nürnberg, Germany, owner Stanislav Bendersky’s intention for his family-run, independent Fabrica Coffee Roasters has always been to bring a truly exceptional coffee experience to Portugal that starts with working directly with the farmers, always roasting in-house, and letting the customer choose how they want to enjoy their brew. No wifi here, so remote workers be warned.
R. das Portas de Santo Antão 136
Buna Coffee & People
Another independently-owned specialty coffee shop in Lisbon, Buna Coffee & People in the Santos neighborhood is a relaxed place to get a quality cup of coffee and a bite in Lisbon. They work with only the best roasteries in Europe to roast their high-quality beans and actively push the ethos of connection and conversation, making people from all over the world feel welcome, from the international crew spinning the lattes behind the bar to the clientele of expats, locals, and travelers ordering them. It’s not a spot to crack open your laptop, but definitely one to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
Rua Poços Dos Negros 168, R. de São Bento 3
Paleio Café
Paleio Café could be classified as a Lisbon hidden gem. Its quirky interiors decked out in objects from the 80’s and 90’s and affordably-priced menu of coffee and brunch fare should have far more than the 200 reviews sitting under it on Google. When I stopped by, it was mostly to duck out of the rain, but then I found myself never wanting to leave. The space is cozy and intriguing, with something to look at no matter which direction you’re facing. They do have working wifi, so bringing your laptop is an option here, outside of the brunch rush of course. Or just bring a good book, like I did, and stay awhile in its captivating atmosphere. No one’s going to rush you here.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab
I was first introduced to Copenhagen Coffee Lab in Lisbon, then found it in other European cities like Dusseldorf, Germany and Nice, France. It’s a Danish-owned coffee chain that started in Copenhagen and has become known for its high-quality coffee, bread, and pastries. I know it for its guaranteed good wifi and laptop-friendly atmosphere. It’s good to have a European go-to coffee shop to work from that isn’t Starbucks. They have at least a dozen locations in Lisbon, but the one I first found and continue to frequent anytime I’m in town is the Cais do Sodré location (linked below). Probably see you there at this rate.
Baobá Café
Because specialty coffee shops are my favorite, here’s another one: Baobá Cafe. This Brazilian coffee shop sources their 100% Arabica beans from their Baobá Farm in São Sebastião da Grama, São Paulo, as well as from several other strictly Brazil-only origins. They’re on a mission to inspire newfound appreciation for Brazilian coffee in Portugal, where many other specialty coffee shops mainly stock beans from Africa and Central America. All of their beans are roasted in-house and they have quite the talented team behind the bar who can point you to the perfect Brazilian blend based on your coffee preferences. I have successfully worked from here on my laptop, but it’s a pretty intimate space and the wifi isn’t as stable as at other spots on this list.
Comobå
Serving exclusively fairtrade, organic, and small-batch roasted coffee, Comobå has carved out its own niche in Lisbon’s increasingly crowded coffee scene. They’re always innovating their menu, leaning on their talented and multicultural team in the kitchen and behind the coffee bar. The farm-to-table food menu shifts weekly and their genuine Japanese matcha blends pair perfectly with their homemade almond, coconut, and rice milks. Comobå’s always keeping you on your toes, with each visit delivering to you a slightly different experience. They are laptop-friendly, but the wifi isn’t always the best, so many come here for the food, coffee, and match, and elsewhere for the head-down work sesh.
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