LISBON - coworking in cafes and enjoying lunch in parks (daily routes)

What makes Lisbon such an enjoyable city for nomads has a lot to do with it’s walkability and quality of outdoor spaces - the great weather, small scale of the city and diversity of spaces. From working mostly in cafes and having lunch in parks for several months we enjoyed some routes even more than others.

Here is a list of daily routes, which all:

✓ Include cafes which have a great environment for spending some hours on focused work

✓ Include cafes that have plenty of plugs and a stable Internet connection (if not stated otherwise)

✓ Are in a walking distance from a great outdoor space to have picnic lunch as it rarely rains in Lisbon

DAY 1 - Rossio/Chiado: Eight health lounge - Topo Chiado sunbeds - Casinha Boutique Café

DAY 2 - São Bento: Selina Secret Garden restaurant - Selina Secret Garden rooftop - Hello, Kristof

DAY 3 - São Bento: Nomad goods - Jardim da Estrela - Café Boavida

DAY 4 - Cais do Sodré: COA Café da Ordem dos Arquitectos - Jardim dom Luis - O Botanista

DAY 5 - Intendente/Avenida: Padaria Portuguesa - Jardim do Torel - Banana cafe

DAY 6 - Alfama: Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery, Santa Clara - Jardim Botto Machado - Tazza in Giro

DAY 7 - Chiado/Cais do Sodré: COMOBA - Miradouro Santa Catarina - Biblioteca Camões

Get the Google map list from HERE

DAY 1 - Rossio and Chiado

Eight-The health lounge - Topo Chiado sunbeds - Casinha Boutique Café

MORNING: Eight-The health lounge - Vegan! Not so common with nomads so far but has a (usually) quiet and relaxing space on the second floor with a comfortable reading corner with a sofa and a lot of natural light.

Opened: 9am - 8pm (Fri 9am-3pm, closed on Saturdays)

Expresso: decaf Lattes 3,7€ (has a great coffee place next door tho)

Plugs: 1 per table of 4 - plenty

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

Notes: In the winter it’s one of the places where it’s warm.

LUNCH: Topo Chiado sunbeds - access from 51 Rua do Carmo - there’s a public elevator inside of a small store that takes you up to the level with the bar and sunbeds. The sunbeds are separated from the bar - you can easily enjoy some time off.

AFTERNOON: Casinha Boutique Café is an adorable cafe in the center of the city with a beautiful interior and super friendly people running the place. It’s located in a lively courtyard with restaurants so on the walk there you’ll cross the crowded main street but the place itself is calm and well divided. (Also has a wonderful breakfast and brunch menu.)

Opened: 9am-9pm

Expresso: 0,7€ (If you’re into sweets and caramel coffee, you’ll love this place)

Plugs: mostly 1 per table

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

DAY 2 - São Bento

Selina Secret Garden restaurant - Selina Secret Garden rooftop - Hello, Kristof

MORNING: Selina Secret Garden restaurant - If you happen to pass by and their coworking spots are sold out (with coworking you also get the access to the pool) you can comfortably get some work done in this awesome restaurant/cafe. It’s also connected to the courtyard which has outdoor seating.

Opened: 7am - 4pm

Expresso: 1€ (They also make a wonderful cappuccino.)

Plugs: plenty

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

Note: Definitely one of the best spots for networking and getting in touch with the community.

Selina hosts several events in the evenings from talks to workshops and casual gatherings - ask from the bar or check Facebook.

LUNCH: Selina Secret Garden rooftop - heaven for laptop lifestylers. A huge rooftop with a beautiful view to Lisbon architecture and most of the days it’s the sunniest spot to be in. A lot of sofas and smaller and bigger tables. Their rooftop bar is opening after the summer.

AFTERNOON: Hello, Kristof - Smaller café for a cosy coworking day with great coffee and inspiring space. Has a light Nordic-ispired interior and a great selection of coffee beans and international magazines.

Opened: 9am - 6pm (Closed on Sat, Sun)

Expresso: 1,2€

Plugs: a few

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

Note: See the previous note!

DAY 3 - São Bento

Nomad goods - Jardim da Estrela - Café Boavida

MORNING: Nomad goods is a lifestyle store and a cafe in the charming Sao Bento area. But, honestly, it’s so much more. The owner Natalia is so sweet in welcoming people and opened to ideas for collaborating with small groups using the space. On daily basis she has the most enjoyable playlists for background music that will lift your workmood without a doubt. It’s a really cosy space and you’ll get plenty of work done.

Opened: 10am-6pm (Closed on Mondays and Sundays)

Expresso: 2€. Bonus treat: banana bread.

Plugs: Plenty

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

LUNCH: Jardim da Estrela

A highlight of Lisbon. An extremely enjoyable park where you’ll see plenty of people on blankets solely enjoying the sun. There’s also a cafe and a qiosque for grabbing snacks and coffee.

AFTERNOON: Café Boavida is a relatively large cafe with a mezzanine floor. There are always laptops on the table therefore has a coworkish vibe most of the time. Pretty much everything in Boavida is made from scratch which makes it a brilliant place to gran a snack!

Opened: 10am-7pm

Expresso: 0,8€

Plugs: Plenty

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ EDIT: the cafe doesn't provide wifi access anymore. (09.2019)

Comfy seats: 50/50 (seats on the second floor don’t have a backrest)

Notes: has a kindergarten next door - schedule focused work to another location or rely on your headphones.

DAY 4 - Cais do Sodre

COA Café da Ordem dos Arquitectos - Jardim dom Luis - O Botanista

MORNING: COA Café da Ordem dos Arquitectos - Has both a terrace seating and an indoor seating with a really relaxed vibe. For daily inspiration there are usually exhibitions in the building. Near to COA is also an university cafe: Nomad spot that can also be a great(saver) option and is warm(yes!) in the winter.

Opened: 9am - 2am ( Sat 6pm - 2am, Sun closed, Mon 9am - 6pm)

Expresso: 0,8€

Plugs: a few (In the back by the bigger table and in the exhibition space)

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

LUNCH: Jardim dom Luis - a busier park by next to the market Time Out but has grass space as well as benches to enjoy your packed meal. In case of not being so prepared: Minipreço (smaller local market chain that also sell fresh orange juice with bottles) is a 3-minute walk away, Time Out market has plenty of food stalls and Kebab Palace has a great falafel.

AFTERNOON: O Botanista - Vegan! Such a gem in the centre of the city with a cosy and green interior filled with plants. Their menu is renewed pretty often but is always absolutely amazing.

Opened: 12pm-12am (Closed on Sundays)

Expresso: 1€ (Great selection)

Plugs: a few (By the longer tables in the back)

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

Note: Mostly warm in the winter and has amazing fresh cakes!

DAY 5 - Intendente/Avenida

Padaria Portuguesa - Jardim do Torel - Banana cafe

MORNING: Padaria Portuguesa - With the kickass breakfast menu (coffee, sandwich and fresh orange juice) for 2,75€ the pastry chain is without a doubt a saver option for grabbing food and getting some work done. Be prepared for some local tunes and older couples enjoying their retirement.

Opened: 10am-9pm

Expresso: 0,65€

Plugs: 1 per table

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: ✓

LUNCH: Jardim do Torel - with a beautiful view over the city it’s a really enjoyable spot and has several wooden seats spreaded across the park but not so much grass space. For enjoying the sun on the blanket head to the park nearby - Campo Martines da Pátria.

AFTERNOON: Banana cafe - A beautiful qiosque overlooking the city. Compared to cafes it's definitely smaller but has the quality of sitting in the shade while also breathing the warm air that comes through the opened glass-facade. Has a few tables inside but there’s also a big terrace with tables and a few couches for relaxing.

Opened: 11am-7pm

Expresso: 1€

Plugs: a few

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: 50/50

DAY 6 - Alfama

Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery, Santa Clara - Jardim Botto Machado - Focaccia in Giro

MORNING: Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery, Santa Clara - Another edition from the Coffee Lab chain where a lot of nomads work on a daily basis. This one is small and usually not too crowded but on Tuesdays and Saturdays there’s a fleamarket on the square - the whole are can get pretty busy. (Also check the newly opened CCL in Cais do Sodre: )

Opened: 8am - 6pm

Expresso: 0,95€

Plugs: only one - charge your laptop beforehand

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(Have had a few breaks, but overall solid connection)

Comfy seats: ✓(Has a great seating area with lots of pillows in the back)

LUNCH: Jardim Botto Machado

Such a great park to relax and lay on a blanket. There’s also a qiosque with coffee and fresh juice and has a great view over the riverside.

AFTERNOON: Focaccia in Giro - Vegan and vegetarian! Really charming but small spot with a lot of colours and wonderful food. Has also an outdoor terrace for reading a book.

Opened: 9am - 4pm

Expresso: 1€

Plugs: a few

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: 50/50

Note: has this ventilator in the middle of the space that you’ll love in the summer for sure and a great menu.

DAY 7 - Baixa-Chiado - Cais do Sodré

COMOBA - Miradouro Santa Catarina - Biblioteca Camões

MORNING: COMOBA - Café that’s always alive and filled with people. And music! They have divided the space in two - smaller seats for eating and bigger tables in the back for laptop users. It’s also next door to Outsite which occasionally hosts some interesting panel discussions and other gatherings in the evening.

Opened: 7:30am - 7:30pm

Expresso: 1,4€ (Highlight: beetroot latte)

Plugs: a few (In the back under the tables by the wall)

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: 50/50

LUNCH: Miradouro Santa Catarina - Once the highlight of Lisbon which was filled with music and people throughout the day. For now the spot is surrounded by a fence but still has a qiosque there for enjoying coffee and the view of the bridge.

AFTERNOON: Biblioteca Camões - A public library for some focused work. Has plenty of different rooms with several seats so you’ll most likely find a seat even on the busiest of days. For a wonderful lunch head to La Piadina.

Opened: 11am-6pm (Wed 2pm - 6pm, Sat, Sun closed)

Coffee: x (has pastry spots nearby)

Plugs: plenty

Wifi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy seats: 50/50

In addition to your laptop take a blanket with you and ENJOY!

If you have any insights or other recommendations, please comment below.

EDIT: Additional recommendations from Lisbon nomads:

Cafes: Cafe de Finca, WISH Slow Coffee, Amelia, O Gambuzino, Cafe Dede's

Parks: Miradouro de Santo Amaro

With love,

The Borderless team.

Lisbon / 08.2019