Lisbon Restaurants

  1. Adamastor

    This tiny wedge-shaped café serves inexpensive meals (chicken or sardines, anyone?) amid first-rate people-watching. Get there early to snag an outdoor table.

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  2. Café A Brasileira

    This wonderful original Art Deco café has literary credentials - the seated bronze statue outside is writer Fernando Pessoa, a former habitué. It's touristy but still a local favourite with lots of atmosphere.

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  3. Café Apolo XI

    A small charming café far from the tourist trail, Apolo XI attracts a low-key workaday crowd, who come for meatballs, stuffed cuttlefish, grilled pork ribs and other daily specials.

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  4. Café dos Teatros

    A theatrically lit setting with excellent soups, salads and sandwiches and ample dessert choices.

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  5. Café Nicola

    The grande dame of Lisbon's cafés, Nicola has shiny 1930s Art Deco features and outside tables. The white-tablecloth restaurant at the back is a good place for lunch.

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  7. Café no Chiado

    Tree-shaded outdoor tables make a fine setting at this peaceful café in Chiado. There are quiches and salads, as well as daily specials.

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  8. Cafeteria Quadrante

    On the 3rd floor, this is a calm, spacious, modern café with a lovely terrace overlooking the river.

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  9. Casa Brasileira

    Take your place around the stand-up counter at this popular local café for tasty pastries, fresh juices and sandwiches. There are also outdoor tables at the front.

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  10. Cha da Lapa

    A smart, English-feeling tearoom, refined and well mannered, with flock wallpaper, tea and scones.

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  11. Esplanada

    This pleasant indoor-outdoor café is a good spot for a coffee break among trees and twittering birds.

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  13. Lusitália

    One of several outdoor cafés facing the leafy praça, Lusitália serves toasted sandwiches, salads and a daily pasta, as well as decadent desserts.

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  14. Matas Snack Bar

    Fronting a tree-shaded courtyard in a quiet stretch of Graça, this colourful café serves simple lunch plates, though most come here for coffee, pastries and the pleasant open-air setting.

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  15. Pastelaria São Roque

    A mirrored, templelike café, with gold-topped columns and alcove tables for window-watching. It justifiably declares itself catedral do pâo (cathedral of bread) in tiles behind the counter. The homemade soup is delicious.

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  16. Pois Café

    This large, airy café has big tables, comfy armchairs and plenty of books and newspapers on hand for whiling away a lazy afternoon. The fresh salads, hearty sandwiches and desserts are delicious (and nice accompaniments to tangy juices).

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  17. Royal Café

    This stylish café has moulded plastic furniture, tasty create-your-own sandwiches and a small backyard patio, with hipster kids sprinkled about. Laptop not included.

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  19. Sitio do Pica Pau

    This sweet café has a small, shrub-surrounded terrace looking down a steep, cobbled, pastel-painted street to the river.

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