Malabarista Café
Anjos · Lisbon · Steep Index 8.5/10 · Steep Pick

A small, casual Anjos cafe that the neighbourhood actually uses, with serious coffee and a food menu kept deliberately short.
The Steep Index
The coffee and the room carry this. The espresso is properly made and the staff are the sort who remember people, which is most of what a neighbourhood cafe is for. The food list is short, so treat it as a coffee stop that happens to feed you, and note that it shuts at five and all day Sunday.
- Coffee / Drink Quality: 8.9/10
- Atmosphere: 8.8/10
- Solo-Friendliness: 8.6/10
- Value: 8.2/10
- Staying Power: 8.0/10
- Overall: 8.5/10
Perfect for: espresso pilgrimage, people watching
The Space
A small, casual room on Rua Maria, vibrant in a way that has nothing to do with how it is decorated. Easy to end up in conversation with the next table.
The Coffee
The espresso macchiato is properly made and the better order than anything longer. The cinnamon rolls are good, and the rest of the menu is short enough that the coffee should be the reason you came.
Order the macchiato and talk to whoever is sitting next to you.
The Vibe
Great staff and genuinely friendly service, in a room full of people who live nearby rather than people passing through. Takeaway if you would rather keep walking.
The Verdict
Come on a weekday morning, order the macchiato, and stay long enough to talk to somebody. It shuts at five and does not open Sundays, so do not leave it late.
Practical information
- Address: R. Maria 66B, 1170-213 Lisboa, Portugal
- Price: €€
- Type: specialty
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