Café a Brasileira, Lisbon

The service was abysmal! The restaurant counts on its historic past to keep people coming in the door. They must realize that many are tourists and the staff feels comfortable speaking in abusive ways to customers. Our waiter did not enter an order - when the mistake was realize there was no apology just screaming at us. If he had simply said. I am sorry let me get an order in right now there would have been no problem. Instead he yelled at us. Then we asked to see a manager -- he told us he was the manager. Later we found out this was not true, but the attitude of the staff was basically - we don't care. There are wonderful restaurants with great service in Lisbon. This restaurant needs new management if it is going to carry on its historical tradition. Eat here at your own risk - if the staff makes an error they will feel comfortable yelling at you. It was despicable.

Favorite Dish: None -- you don't really enjoy your food when the waiter screams at your entire family when he serves all but one of you.

A Brasileira is one of the traditional coffee shops that line the Rua Garrett. I won’t hide the fact that it is almost always filled with tourists, but as a Belle Époque café, it is one of the great sights of the city’s heart and is worth a stop, just to be able to say you’ve had coffee here. The café was opened in 1905 and has been in operation since. The prices are not bad, especially if you have it at the counter, plus you get to have the Brazilian women working there size you up – that’s half the fun. Another part of the fun is also the bronze Fernando Pessoa (a famous Portuguese poet) sitting at one of the tables, as every tourist always feels the need to have a picture taken with him.

Favorite Dish: The coffee here is, obviously, Brazilian and therefore excellent. The Pastéis de Nata are also tasty, although not the best of the city.

For those who dont know Fernando Pessoa is one of the best Portuguese Poets, and he is my favourite of all. I have made a couple of works about him because that man goes above all interpretacions. So at first I would advice who doesnt knows him to buy a book of him. He wrotte historical poems, banal poems, he wrotte with many names, with many souls, with many everything :) There are some books of him translated in English and French and perhaps some other languages, take ur time :)

So now about the coffee. Brasileira is a coffe in center of city (leave in chiado metro stacion) the cakes there are ok so is the coffe. The chairs arent very confortable because they kept the Design and stylle from the time of Fernando Pessoa, he used to go there to writte.
This is a coffe i personally like and go often once is so close to my university but its not very cheap in the splanade.
Anyways.. I would advice you to drop by, sit in the spanade and apreciate the good company and view.

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Like most European cities, Lisbon has an old cafe that was the haunt of the literary and artistic set of the 1920's and 30's. The Cafe a Brasileira has a charming ambience of that period and is particularly noted for its "pastel de nata," a delicious custard tart. (Almost as good as the ones at Belem's Pasteis de Belem, but not quite). There is even a statue of poet Fernando Pessoa in front of the cafe so you always have intelligent company. His poetry is said to have been partially fueled by large amounts of absinthe, and here is a sample:
The poet is a pretender
Who's so good at his act
He even pretends to be pain
The pain he feels in fact

Favorite Dish: We enjoyed a light lunch of simple grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches and of course did have to finish with a pastel de nata and a bica (good strong Portuguese coffee). There is a terrace outside, but you should really go inside just to take in the paneled and mirrored bar and cafe.

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Cafe a Brasileira is reputably Lisbon's most famous cafe. It opened in 1905 and was known for the intellectuals who used to stop by on a daily basis.

The interior still has its fabulous art nouveau decor for locals and tourists alike to enjoy. There is also a terrace at the front making the perfect spot for some people watching when the weather is fine.

Understandably busy, the staff were nevertheless smiling and friendly and we enjoyed the experience.

Favorite Dish: Due to our busy schedule, we didn't have the time to relax on the terrace, deciding to just have a coffee at the counter.

So, of course we had a bica and you can guess what I ate....yep, a custard tart....well, when you're on a good thing! And I must say it was the tastiest one I ate in Lisbon.

This is one of the oldest surviving coffeehouses in Lisbon. It has done virtually nothing to change the opulent but faded Art Nouveau decor that has prevailed since it became a fashionable rendezvous in 1905. Once a gathering place of Lisbon's literati, it was the favored social spot of the Portuguese poet Bocage.
Patrons sit at small tables on chairs made of tooled leather, amid mirrored walls and marble pilasters.
A statue of the great Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa sits on a chair amid the customers.

Favorite Dish: Well, nowadays I don't drink coffee! Long time ago, I drank here the strongest coffee in my life.

One of the most popular cafes in Lisbon and always packed with people! If you're lucky enough to find a table you can enjoy in bica (portuguese short&strong coffee) and maybe some pastries too!
Outside you can find the statue of Fernando Pessoa, one of the most famous portuguese poets, sitting at the table! :)

Located in the heart of the "Chiado" quarter, this is another of those historical places that has become more of a tourist attraction that anything else.
However, it is a nice Café and you should take a look at it if you happen to be in the area (but don't waste time looking for it though).
Prices are higher that in most other cafés, but should you happen to find a free table outside, it is nice to sit and watch people go by.
Famous poet Fernando pessoa was a regular here and there is even a statue dedicated to him outside the café.

The sitting bronze statue is a frequent customer, poet Fernando Pessoa, who must have had such good service and decided to stay a little bit longer, lol!!

Favorite Dish: Must say that a 12cl glass wine aperitif was a bit expensive...

No matter what time of day you pass by A Brasileira, the infamous coffee shop is always packed. As one of Lisbon's oldest cafes, it gained recognition as a favorite hang out for the famous yet crazy poet Fernando Pessoa. Known as a man who drank copious amounts of absinthe, he spent countless hours drinking the hallucinogenic alcohol here to produce creative flows from his mind. Thus, in his dedication there is a bronze statue of him sitting outside the cafe.

The outdoor seating is almost always full, merely because it is the perfect place to people watch. Centrally located in Chiado, right at the top of the Metro stop Baixa-Chiado, this tends to be a popular meeting point for friends going out at night to Bairro Alto. Drop inside, stand at the bar, have a bica (short, black coffee, almost espresso-like) and a pastry. Or, sip on some sherry while chatting to the waiters in pretentious-looking attire.

Although this is a great meeting place and attains an ever-bustling atmosphere (seeing as it is open 8 AM to 2 AM), prices here are a bit steep. I shouldn't say a bit, I should say very! Head to the coffee shop next door for cheaper deals. Somehow I don't care to pay 4 times as much for a bica than I would pay elsewhere. Plus, when it is crowded, service is rather poor.