Lisbon’s specialty coffee scene has absolutely transformed over the past decade.
You’ll find exceptional third wave cafes serving single origin beans alongside traditional spots pouring bica with generous sugar portions.
The city’s become a haven for coffee lovers and digital nomads alike, with Nordic-influenced roasters and Portuguese-owned cafes creating something genuinely special.
From the creative LX Factory to historic Príncipe Real, these twelve cafes represent the best of Lisbon’s evolving coffee culture.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab
Best For: Nordic-style specialty coffee excellence
This Danish import absolutely nailed what Lisbon’s specialty scene needed.
Founded by Jacob Karlsen and Allan Nielsen, Copenhagen Coffee Lab brought their Nordic approach to Príncipe Real in 2015 and hasn’t looked back.
Their light roast single origins are brilliantly executed. The flat whites are genuinely some of the best I’ve had in Portugal.
The minimalist interior feels calming, and those Danish cinnamon buns are worth the visit alone.
They’ve now expanded to six locations across Lisbon, including spots in Alfama and Chiado, making excellent coffee more accessible throughout the city.
Atmosphere: Minimalist Nordic design with calming vibes and reliable wifi throughout
Menu Highlights:
- Flat white with single origin beans
- Danish cinnamon buns
- Light roast espresso rotation
- V60 drip coffee
Location: R. Nova da Piedade 10 (Príncipe Real) + multiple locations
WISH Slow Coffee House
Best For: Slow brewing methods showcase
Tucked inside LX Factory’s creative complex, WISH lives up to its “slow coffee” philosophy beautifully.
This Portuguese-owned cafe doubles as a concept store selling design pieces and roasts their own beans in small batches.
I’m particularly fond of their Kenya AB Iyego Gatubu served via Chemex. It’s genuinely exceptional.
They offer multiple brewing methods including V60, Aeropress, and even Vacuum Pot.
The brunch menu is surprisingly good, with options like salmon bagels and light salads.
Fair warning: there’s no air conditioning, so summer visits can be warm.
Atmosphere: Grape tendrils surround 20-seat space inside creative concept store
Menu Highlights:
- Kenya AB Iyego Gatubu (Chemex)
- Salmon bagel
- Pastel de Nata
- Anchovy salad
- Light brunch options
Location: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, LX Factory
Hello, Kristof
Best For: Magazine lovers and freelancers
This tiny gem is probably my favourite cafe in Lisbon for atmosphere alone.
Owner Ricardo, a graphic designer, created exactly what freelancers dream of. Walls lined with international magazines and genuinely excellent coffee from Academia do Café, a local SCAE training center.
The space is wonderfully intimate with both communal tables and quieter corners.
Their avocado toast is spot-on, and the coffee quality consistently impresses.
The only drawback? Limited seating means arriving early is essential, and there are no outlets for laptop charging.
Atmosphere: Magazine-lined walls create cozy freelancer haven with intimate seating
Menu Highlights:
- Avocado toast
- Academia do Café specialty beans
- Communal table experience
- Curated magazine selection
Location: R. do Poço dos Negros 103
COMOBA
Best For: Health-conscious specialty coffee lovers
COMOBA represents Lisbon’s health-conscious coffee movement brilliantly.
This stunning light-filled cafe on R. de S. Paulo sources ingredients directly from local farmers and refuses refined sugars or processed items entirely.
I genuinely appreciate their transparency. They make almond milk in-house and import matcha straight from Japan.
The white interior with pink and blue seating creates an Instagram-worthy setting, but the food backs up the aesthetics.
Their commitment to quality ingredients means everything tastes genuinely fresh and thoughtfully prepared.
Atmosphere: Light-filled white space with pink and blue seating accents
Menu Highlights:
- House-made almond milk
- Japan-sourced matcha
- Local farmer ingredients
- No refined sugar dishes
- Seasonal produce focus
Location: R. de S. Paulo 99
The Mill
Best For: Best breakfast in town
This Australian-Portuguese collaboration nails the cafe-by-day, wine-bar-by-night concept perfectly.
The Mill’s become legendary for breakfast. Their avocado toast genuinely lives up to the hype.
They roast their own beans with a profile adapted to Portuguese preferences, meaning slightly darker than typical third wave roasts but still excellent quality.
The space fills quickly (expect queues), but tables turn over reasonably fast.
Their smoothies are equally impressive.
They’ve since opened a second location in Ericeira if you’re heading to the coast.
Atmosphere: Packed popular spot with quick turnover and dual concept energy
Menu Highlights:
- Legendary avocado toast
- House-roasted beans
- Fresh smoothies
- Evening wine selection
- Two single origin espressos
Location: R. do Poço dos Negros 1
Dear Breakfast
Best For: All-day breakfast with multiple locations
With three locations across Lisbon, Dear Breakfast has perfected the all-day breakfast concept.
The Bica branch is my personal favourite. It’s the largest with the most extensive menu.
Their breakfast tacos (request beans instead of chorizo) and huevos rancheros are consistently excellent.
The white interior with pink and blue seating feels fresh and modern, and the banquette seating offers precious outlet access.
Arrive before 11am to avoid crowds, as Lisbon brunchers tend to fill spaces after that hour.
The Alfama and Santos locations are equally charming.
Atmosphere: White airy space with pink-blue seating and outlet-equipped banquettes
Menu Highlights:
- Breakfast tacos (vegetarian option)
- Huevos rancheros
- Broken eggs dish
- All-day breakfast menu
- Marble-topped tables
Locations: Multiple (Bica: R. Gaivotas 17; Alfama: Largo Santo António da Sé 16; Santos: CC do Marquês)
Fábrica Coffee Roasters
Best For: Serious roasting operation with cafe
Stanislav Benderschi brought German precision to Lisbon’s coffee scene when he opened Fábrica in 2014.
The Probat roaster is visible from the seating area, and the intense coffee aroma hits immediately.
Their kenyan V60 paired with traditional Pastel de nata is genuinely brilliant. The rich fruity coffee complements the custard pastry perfectly.
The red brick and wood interior creates a wonderfully cozy atmosphere despite the larger size.
Their La Marzocco GB5 pulls consistently excellent espresso.
It’s clear they’re serious about elevating Lisbon’s specialty standards.
Atmosphere: Red brick and wood interior with visible Probat roaster creating aroma
Menu Highlights:
- Kenyan V60
- Pastel de nata pairing
- Balanced espresso (La Marzocco)
- Filter coffee options
- Small batch roasting
Location: R. das Portas de Santo Antão 136
The Folks
Best For: World-ranked specialty coffee experience
The Folks earned 88th place in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking for the second consecutive year. Genuinely impressive recognition.
Since opening in 2022, they’ve expanded to six locations across Lisbon including Santos, Alfama, Chiado, and Belém.
Their specialty coffee quality is exceptional, and the brunch menus are equally strong.
The ranking criteria included coffee quality, staff experience, innovation, and sustainable practices. All areas where The Folks excels.
Space is limited, so arriving early matters.
Certain tables are designated laptop-free during peak hours.
Atmosphere: Small specialty-focused spaces with designated laptop areas at select tables
Menu Highlights:
- Award-winning specialty coffee
- Brunch menu options
- Sustainable sourcing
- Expert barista service
- Six location variety
Locations: Six across Lisbon (Santos, Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, Alfama, Chiado, Belém, Rua das Pedras Negras)
Heim
Best For: Neighborhood charm and menu variety
This intimate Santos corner cafe has built a genuinely loyal following.
What I appreciate most is their menu balance. Both vegetarians and meat-lovers find excellent options.
The street-corner setting feels wonderfully neighborhood-authentic, and weekends see tables fill quickly (which speaks to quality).
The atmosphere is relaxed without being overly precious.
It’s become one of those local favorites that manages to stay welcoming despite popularity.
Expect waits on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but the food genuinely makes it worthwhile.
Atmosphere: Intimate street-corner vibe with relaxed neighborhood authenticity throughout
Menu Highlights:
- Vegetarian menu options
- Meat-lover dishes
- Balanced food selection
- Weekend brunch specials
- Local favorite status
Location: Santos neighborhood (street corner setting)
Montana Lisboa Café
Best For: Riverside coffee and sunshine
Located literally five steps from the Tagus river in Cais do Sodré, Montana occupies a converted warehouse shared with a street art gallery.
They work with Barcelona’s Café de Finca roasters, and their kenyan V60 is genuinely excellent.
The pink rainbow salmon bagel is their signature dish.
I prefer the outdoor tables along the river promenade. Perfect for sunny afternoons with a book and sangria.
Their La Marzocco pulls balanced espresso with proper crema.
The setting attracts more tourists than locals, but the quality remains solid.
Atmosphere: Converted warehouse with river promenade seating five steps from Tagus
Menu Highlights:
- Kenyan V60 (Café de Finca)
- Rainbow salmon bagel
- Sangria selection
- Craft beer options
- Balanced espresso
Location: Rua da Cintura do Porto de Armazém A, nº20, Cais do Sodré
Buna Specialty Coffee Shop
Best For: First Nitro cold brew Portugal
Buna made Portuguese coffee history as the first cafe offering Nitro cold brew in the country.
Owners Olga and Ana opened in March 2019 with Barcelona’s Nomad roastery supplying beans.
Their house Brazil is wonderfully crowd-pleasing, while rotating single origins explore fruity and floral profiles.
The Nitro cold brew is genuinely refreshing. Perfectly carbonated and smooth.
They’ve established a loyalty programme for regulars, which I appreciate.
The avant-garde approach to brewing methods sets them apart in Lisbon’s evolving specialty scene.
Atmosphere: Avant-garde brewing focus with innovative specialty coffee approach throughout
Menu Highlights:
- Nitro cold brew (first in Portugal)
- House Brazil bean
- Fruity single origins
- Floral rotating coffees
- Loyalty programme rewards
Location: R. dos Mastros 27
Olisipo Coffee Roasters
Best For: Weekend-only roastery cafe experience
Antony Watson’s journey to founding Olisipo is genuinely inspiring. He cycled to Ethiopia exploring coffee cultures, documented it in “Bean on a Bike,” then worked at London’s Vagabahn Coffee Roasters before settling in Lisbon.
Together with Sofia Gonçalve, they’ve created a roastery focused on community engagement and quality beans.
The cafe operates weekends only, as roasting takes priority during the week.
You’ll find their beans at WISH and other quality cafes across Lisbon.
Their travel-inspired approach brings genuine passion to every batch.
Atmosphere: Community-focused roastery with travel-inspired passion and weekend cafe hours
Menu Highlights:
- Small batch roasting
- Weekend cafe service
- Ethiopia-inspired beans
- Community engagement focus
- “Bean on a Bike” story
Location: R. do Cruzeiro 84 (weekend cafe hours only)
Final Thoughts
Lisbon’s coffee scene has evolved brilliantly while respecting Portuguese traditions.
The blend of Nordic-influenced specialty cafes and local roasters creates something genuinely special.
Whether you’re after laptop-friendly spaces in Príncipe Real, riverside relaxation in Cais do Sodré, or creative energy at LX Factory, excellent coffee awaits.
The city welcomes both digital nomads and traditional bica drinkers, and that diversity strengthens the scene.
I’m genuinely excited about where Lisbon’s specialty coffee movement is heading. It’s only getting better.
