Lisbon — By Alexandre Kühl Oliveira on January 22, 2010 at 6:08 am
Filed under: Attractions, Family Friendly, featuredarticle, Food & Beverage, Restaurants & Bars

Lisbon best café breaks from the cold and rain

Nothing like a warm, cosy coffee shop to hide from the rain and cold outside. These days, Lisbon has been upgrading its offer and I do have to say I’m more pleased than ever. To the point that I started to put off some places I use to go to before… Here’s a list of some you may consider, not only for the delicacies they serve, but also because you will be walking into a warm, inviting atmosphere:

Café Fábulas – At Chiado area (map), Café Fábulas stands in the winery of an old building, changing from an art gallery into a restaurant and café, yet into a chill out place. Huge arches gives a filling of entering the old age. Music flows from room to room, barely touching anyone reading a book or accessing Internet. Try one of their vicious crepes.

Pois Café – This is an excellent choice for anyone walking around Alfama (map). Pois Café was started a few years ago by two Austrians. You can imagine where it leads you – yummy cakes and a stylish atmosphere. Shelves of used furniture are packed with books, magazines and newspapers. Best of all this, they have them in different languages…

Noobai - Located on the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, also known as Adamastor (map), just a few steps from Bairro Alto, Noobai has one of the finnest views over Lisbon with it’s red rooftops and Tejo river side. The ambience is relaxed and comfy. It’s an excellent place for a lazy afternoon, to relax on a cold winter day under the fleece blankets on the terrace.

Kaffeehaus – Another excellent Austrian café, this one is tucked in the middle of Chiado (map). It’s a good choice for a break, wether at breakfast or for a drink at night. They serve yummi stuff in a Vienese style café and they seem to always have something new…

Fábrica dos Pasteis de Belém – Althoug quite obvious, Fábrica dos Pasteis de Belém, at Belém (map), is one I cannot leave out. Not for the atmosphere, which is generally a bit too crowded for me, but for their Pasteis de Nata (cream custurd pies). It’s just a must do, and there are quite a few obvious reasons for that.

Café Nicola - A institution in Lisbon, this is a meeting place for locals, tourists, artists, and fashion designers. Right at Chiado (map), it’s quite pleasant whether you sit inside or out, although a bit expensive. Café Nicola is one of the most historic cafés in town, founded in 1787. It has shiny 1930s Art Deco features with white marble tables and a terrace where you can sit side-by-side with Fernando Pessoa… Well, his bronze statue…

A Chaleira – At Carcavelos, this tea house serves delicious cakes, scones and many other things. It’s a family shop where you will fell like home. The place to go to if you’re around Carcavelos area (map).

Gregório – This is still one of my favourites pastry houses. Everytime I go to Sintra (map), I make sure to stop here. It’s small, very cosy, familiar and… everything is delicious. Check their vicious almond pie. And take one of those plastic bags filled with cookies. In fact, you’ve better take too… Otherwise they won’t make it far…

Piriquita – Another favourite in Sintra (map), everyone like to go for their excellent travesseiros (cake). They have two shops, the second a bit further up the road. Go for this one, since the first is always too crowded…

Photo Credit: Alexandre Kühl Oliveira

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