Image by Erik Lassche

Royal Café is a nice, almost hidden, place to have breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. The setting is modern and clean, without being distant. In the back you can find a (rather tiny) terrace.

The main specialties are natural- and biological products. They have a good assortment of salads, sandwiches, fresh juices, various teas and infusions.

It is not cheap, compared to your average Portuguese pastelaria or snackbar, but nothing scandalous, especially if you’re used to Northern European prices.

I like to come here to have lunch or a snack when spending time in Chiado. It is just 100 meters away from the main street in Chiado, but a lot more quiet and less touristic. And it is open on Sunday!!

If it is full try Vertigo.

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Royal Café | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich & juice € 9.00
Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 29 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213469125
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 00:00, Sun 10:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Erik Lassche

Hidden away next to the picturesque Largo do Carmo, Vertigo is one of the more trendy places in Chiado. It’s a perfect spot to have lunch or a cup of coffee in the afternoon. Or have a drink here before going for dinner in Bairro Alto!

The menu is rather healthy and features lots of salads, sandwiches, fresh juices and more exotic offers. (Not that easy to find in Lisbon, trust me!). The interior is very cozy yet stylish.

The area around Vertigo is becoming more and more interesting, with lots of cafés, shops and restaurants opening. Check it out.

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Vertigo | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich & juice € 8.00
Travessa do Carmo 4 | Chiado & Baixa | +351213433112
10:00 – 00:00 daily

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Image by Claudio Carneiro

Pão Doce stands for sweet bread, which is a very nice name indeed. Why exactly would I speak about a bakery? Well, because Portuguese have something to do with good bakeries around the world, and that’s not for any reason, Portuguese are really good bakers, and this bakery is the perfect example of this ability.

Actually the owner is Brazilian, of Portuguese descent. The bakery is always crowded, basically around the time the bread is still smoking, which is early morning and late afternoon. But even if there is a line, it is worth waiting, since there is nothing better than a just cooked bread. I cannot list all the types of breads they make, the variety is immense and I haven’t tried even half of them. There is the “tiger bread”, the grandma’s bread, the dark bread, the eight cereals bread, the Spanish, the German…it’s exhausting!

My favorites are the yummy scones, the perfect croissants and the pies they make are really delicious. I am always amazed by the huge bags full of breads people carry with them out of Pão Doce.

The surrounding area was all renewed last year, with the front street becoming a lovely promenade. And, of course, making a good esplanade possible for snacks and even lunches. Now no one can resist!

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Pão Doce Bakery | Coffee & tea, Snacks
Av. Duque Ávila 56 – D | Avenidas | +3513141068
Tue – Sun 08:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Claudio Carneiro

Home made ice-cream have been the latest trend in Lisbon lately, Artisani is one of them, and a very good one. This shop is also the factory shop, where you can watch their delicious ice-creams being made. They only use milk “vigor”, the best Portuguese milk ever, and water “luso”, so its all Portuguese.

The flavours go from “caipirinha” to lemon with basil, cinnamon and honey to orange with cardamom and a lot more. They do sound strange, but also taste delicious! Every two weeks there is a special and different favour to try on. I love most of them, but my favourite is the light chocolate, because it really taste like chocolate! They also have lollipop and sandwich ice-creams. And for variety, they serve huge toasts and many types of cakes.

The shop is clean white, and the fun part is that some tables have swings as chairs. The bad side is that this is an invitation to children and noise… But Estrela’s Garden is meters away if I want to eat my ice-cream peacefully and surrounded by green.

When in doubt which flavour to choose, a symptom I have very often, ask to try as many as you wish, they are really cool about that.

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Artisane Home made Ice-cream | Coffee & tea, Snacks | 1 Scoop two flavours € 2.90
Av. Alvares Cabral, 65 B | Estrela | +351213976453
10:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Veronica

Imagine an old Parisian café, with little wrought-iron tables, old leather armchairs and vintage black and white pictures hanging on the walls.

Now you can transfer this image into Lisbon’s Bairro Alto, and add a touch of 21st century modernity – a wi-fi internet connection, Chill Out or Bossa Nova ambient music, some seriously delicious snacks, which mix Italian, French and Spanish ingredients – and you have Les Mauvais Garçons!

When we first found this spot it was love at first site – this is one of the cosiest bistrôs in town! In the same space you can find groups of friends having after-work drinks, couples in a romantic date and mysterious loners reading a book or surfing the web.

In its crowdest periods, it can be quite noisy as its different influences bring people from all over the world there – sometimes it can seem like the Tower of Babel!

But most of the times this is a top spot to go to, with a nice wine selection, famous appetizers and desserts and a trendy atmosphere!

Vee’s favourites – Amazing Desserts.

Rita’s favourites – Vintage leather armchairs, bruschettas and pan tomaquet (crusty bread with a spicy tomato sauce)

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Les Mauvais Garçons | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Wine € 2.50
Rua da Rosa 39 | Bairro Alto | +351213433212
12:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Veronica

Santini is a traditional italian icecream shop, that has been in business since 1949! They started operating in the “Linha” – around Cascais and Estoril, but finally decided to open a store in Lisbon in 2010. And what a wonderful idea it was! Sometimes there can be a line at the door but it is worth the wait! Trust us!

Santini creates the best flavoured ice-creams in the world They use real fruits, no crappy fake stuff and always fruits that are in their season. After I lived in Italy for a semester, I can assure that Santini icecreams are just as good as (or even better than) the ones you find at the best Gelaterias in Milano!

Be a dare devil and create your own double scoop.

Vee’s favorite – passion-fruit and coconut

Rita’s favorite – strawberry, strawberry and strawberry!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Santini | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Double scoop € 2.50
Rua do Carmo 9 | Chiado & Baixa
10:00 – 00:00 daily

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Image by Rita

Since it opened in 1986, Pavilhão Chinês has increased its popularity. Named after a grocery that existed in that same place, it is a very unique spot in Lisbon, with 5 different rooms and all over-decorated.

Here you can find all types of objects lying around from mugs, caricatures, flags, medals, little lead soldiers, Majolica pieces from the artist Bordalo Pinheiro, mixed with a very big sense of an almost organized chaos.

You can just relax, enjoy a little conversation and listen to music (if not overcrowded), or play some pool if the tables are available.

They have over 100 cocktails and all are done perfectly. Also do not hesitate to try their sandwiches and tapas. If you’re in the mood for a tea, they have a wide selection to choose from.

This spot has a completely different atmosphere from the overcrowded streets of Bairro alto and the commotion it brings.

Don’t miss out on anything here. Even the menu is a work of art, designed by the owner.

If you are in the mood for a tea, go early and enjoy the company of other tourists, it can get sometimes a bit crowded with some tour-buses (not always though – mostly during the week), however if you want a real local feel, the later the better! Fridays and Saturdays are the best, from 23:00 until they close you can’t go wrong!

Vee’s Favourites: Hot dog with Dijon mustard.

Rita’s Favourites: The crazy décor is just so rad!

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Pavilhão Chinês | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cocktails € 7.50
R. D. Pedro V 89 | Príncipe Real | +351213424729
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 02:00, Sun 21:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Veronica

This is definitely my local spot. Rita makes fun of me all the time, saying I spend more time here than I do at home. But I can’t help myself. Everything here is really good.

We tend to come here more for afternoon snacks than for lunches or dinners, but if the weather is right, it’s just amazing!

Do try out their home-made lemonade and their scones. To die for.

It’s really the neighbourhood cafe with a gourmet twist.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pão de Canela | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Afternoon Snack € 5.00
Praça das Flores 25-29 | Príncipe Real | +351213972220
Mon 07:30 – 20:00, Tue – Sun: 07:30 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Open in 1946, and still running by the same family, Pastelaria Mexicana is located at Praça de Londres in a building in ”Soft Portuguese“ architectural style. Commonly known as “New State Style” because it was designed during Salazar authoritarianism regime (1932-1974). In the area, there are still some impressive buildings from the 40′s and 50′s in perfect shape, so I definitely recommend you a long stroll in the neighbourhood.

Pastelaria Mexicana is famous in the area for their own old style cakes, for its retro decoration and, of course, for some famous visitors – Actors, politicians, writers and musicians. Inside, there’s a big ceramic panel by Portuguese master Qerubim Lapa and a jail bird at the corner with some birds – Poor fellows, since I remember they are there… don’t ask me why. 

The place was a meeting point for several artists from the Surrealism to Neorealism movement, but even nowadays you can still feel that’s something going on. Mexicana is well known for it’s cakes and pastry: “Bolo Rei” (Christmas Cake), Palmiers (Palm Trees), Croissants, Jesuites, Bola de Berlim (Berliner) Ducheses, Cupcakes and other sugar bombs… The place is usually crowded with locals all day long. From the early morning coffee or tea to the daily traditional lunch or the afternoon toasts or scones… here you’ll find a good place to enjoy real life of Lisbon in a upper middle class neighbourhood where old ladies still wear formal clothes and tons of jewels.

With it’s own production of delicious pastry, fine service that will not cost you a small fortune… Chose a cake and gain some weight, ask me how!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pastelaria Mexicana | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Portuguese) | Cheese croissant € 1.90
Avenida Guerra Junqueiro, 30 C | Avenidas | +351218486119
08:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon

Image by Nuno Lopes de Paula

Created in 1948, the Portuguese Cinematheque is working since than as an institution dedicated to preservation and promotion of Cinema. Inside the building there’s a small cinema, an archive, a bookstore, a library, a cosy restaurant and the Film Museum. The place is located in a 19th century well preserved building in Art Nouveau style with an impressive Neo-Mudejár atrium, right next to Liberdade Avenue in central Lisbon. It’s a great place to go for a good “night at the movies” and also a pleasant place for a coffee or a snack – don’t miss the open-air terrace if you go there on a sunny afternoon!

The museum is divided into 3 rooms: The Cupid Room, the Oak Room and the 6×2 Room. Here you’ll find relics that tell the story of Cinema from magic lanterns to Lumiére projectors or other cinematographic objects like film reels, books and photographs.

If you love a good old story, check your favorite director’s tribute at these cosy small cinema. Sessions start in the afternoon – the so called Matinés - at 15:30h screening movies from great directors: Ford, Bergman, Polansky, De Sicca, Vidor and Ridley Scott. There are also retrospectives of the most acclaimed film directors and actors.

Here, there’s only a short list of Hollywood movies. European, Experimental and Author Cinema can be hard to follow sometimes, but forget blockbusters for a day and give these guys some credit… You won’t be sorry. And… cut!

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Cinemateca | Art & culture, Cinemas, Snacks | Cinema Ticket € 3.00
Rua Barata Salgueiro, 39 | Liberdade | +351213596200
Mon – Sat 14:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Lisbon