Lisbon’s Kiosks – A popular tradition that you will love

Kiosks in Lisbon

One of the joys of Lisbon is sitting on a terrace at a food kiosk on a sunny day with friends enjoying the outdoors and a coffee, a glass of sangria, or some other refreshment.

There are dozens of kiosks in Lisbon. They often look like little Arabic or Baroque-styled gazebos, and usually sit in the middle of a terrace in a park, or a popular square, or at a miradouro (golden viewpoint).

Maybe you just order an espresso (uma bica), or a sangria. Truthfully, sangria will probably be the most expensive thing on the menu – more than pizza, a panini, cod cakes, a bagel, or the prato do dia – the meal of the day. You can definately fill your stomach at most of these kiosks for under 8€. And there is one near you!

Quiosque do Carmo

Qiosque do Carmo, a refreshment kiosk in front of the Convento do Carmo Ruins in Lisbon.  They serve refreshments, there are tables, chairs, andstreet musicians.  The place is always busy.

This is the first kiosk I discovered as a tourist in Lisbon. I wanted to stay all day. Sangria and street musicians in front of the Convento do Carmo Ruins.

Quiosque Portas do Sol

Quiosque Portas do Sol at Lisbon's Miradouro Portas do Sol oversees one of the most beautiful belvederes in Lisbon

Quiosque Portas do Sol oversees a huge terrace at one of Lisbon’s most beautiful scenic viewpoints, or miradouros. From this terrace, you have views of the Alfama neighborhood, the Tejo River, the National Pantheon, and São Vicente de Fora church. For more information on Lisbon’s miradouros, read my Lisbon’s Best Miradouros and Scenic Viewpoints – A visitor’s guide

Miradouro da Graça kiosk

Refreshment kiosk at Lisbon's Miradouro da Graça scenic viewpoint

This is not one of the traditional Moorish or Baroque-style kiosks, but this little stand does serve refreshments to 50 or so tables in a beautiful setting, and in my opinion, Miradouro da Graça is the best sunset in Lisbon!

The sun will soon set at Lisbon's Miradouro da Graca.

Quiosque da Santa Catarina / Adamastor

The kiosk at Lisbon's Miradouro de Santa Catarina, a popular place to watch the sunset

A few blocks west of Chiado, near the Largo da Calhariz (the upper stop of the Ascensor da Bica), you can take a left and head toward the river. Just past the Museu da Farmacia is this awesome little Miradouro, or scenic viewpoint.

During the day, people come with their laptops and use the wifi and enjoy a cheap meal at the Adamastor kiosk. Every night people gather here to watch the sun go down over the river. To learn more about the Santa Catarina viewpoint, read my Ultimate guide to the Miradouro de Santa Catarina viewpoint

Quiosque Lisboa at Praça Luis de Camoes

Quiosque Lisboa at Lisbon's Praça Luís de Camões

This kiosk sits at a very busy intersection on the border of the Bairro Alto and Chiado neighborhoods. Discover Lisbon’s Praça Luís de Camões

Quiosque São Roque

A kiosk in the humble square in front of Lisbon's São Roque Church

Not far from the Carmo Convent and Church ruins, the Quiosque São Roque kiosk sits in the mundane Largo Trinidade de Coelho square, in front of the humble-looking Igreja de São Roque Church.

But that church is not so humble on the inside. I consider it to be one of 11 Hidden Gems in Lisbon

And there are also some good deals to be found in this sleepy square.

Quiosque São Paulo

Kiosk at Largo de São Paulo, Lisbon

This cute little red kiosk is in the shaded plaza known as Largo de São Paulo. You can find it between the Time Out Market, the lower entrance to the Ascensor da Bica, the bars of Pink Street, and the Cais do Sodré transportation hub.

The shaded terrace at Largo de São Paulo, Lisbon

Time Out Kiosk

Kiosk located in the square west of Lisbon's TimeOut Market

This kiosk is located in the park next door to the Time Out Market on Avenida 24 de Julho. There is a children’s playground in this park. It is very close to Cais do Sodré station.

Seating at lisbon's Time Out Kiosk, next door to the world-famous Time Out Market

Near Cais do Sodré Metro Station

Quiosque Cais do Sodré, Lisbon, Portugal

Menu and prices at Lisbon's Cais do Sodré kiosk (2022)

Across from Cais do Sodré

Mr. Chips Kiosk across the street from the Cais do Sodre metro station, Lisbon, Portugal

Across from th Cais do Sodré transportation hub, this little kiosk is a great spot for your morning coffee or an afternoon beer.

Quiosque Praça Municipal

This kiosk is an oasis of shade on the sunny Praça Municipal Square in Lisbon.  It is surrounded by beautiful black and white Portuguese pavement mosaics, and tucked into a corner across from the Lisbon City Hall.

Surrounded by a beautiful calçada Portuguesa mosaic, this kiosk is tucked into a corner across from Lisbon’s city hall.

Praça Municipal is just west of Praça do Comércio.

Quiosque Belém

Quiosque Belém, Lisbon

This kiosk sits on the edge of a small park between the National Coach Museum and the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém neighborhood.

Quiosque Belém sits on the edge of this little park in Lisbon's Belém neighborhood

Esplanada Cafe, Jardim do Principe Real

Esplanada Cafe, Jardim do Principe Real, Lisbon, Portugal

In spite of the sign, the Esplanada Cafe is still in business. Thank goodness! It’s one of the best spots in Lisbon to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. You will find this cafe in the heavily shaded Jardim do Príncipe Real, off of Avenida Dom Pedro IV. A great place to stop after checking out Shopping Embaixada, on the corner across from the garden.

Quiosque Principe Real

Lisbon's Quiosque Principe Real

Located at Praça Principe Real, this kiosk is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. From 7 am – 10 pm, on weekdays you can enjoy a fresh sandwich and a cold beer.

Gingibre da Estrela

Kiosk in Lisbon's Jardim da Estrela

Located in near the kids’ playground in Jardim de Estrela. Quiosque Gingibre da Estrela is open from 8:30 am until midnight. They welcome pets, and unlike many kiosks, they accept credit cards, debit cards, and even apple pay.

Jardim da Estrela, Banana Cafe

Banana Cafe in Lisbon's Jardim da Estrela park

This is one of two Banana Cafe food kiosks in Lisbon. This one is located in the very green Jardim da Estrela park. Tram 28E stops near by, and the park is a five minute walk from the Rato metro station (yellow line). The other Banana Cafe kiosk is located on Avenida da Liberdade.

And this little guy

There are a few kiosks around Lisbon that are shuttered, waiting for an investor to restore them and start doing business, such as this little kiosk in Jardim da Estrela

Lisbon’s kiosks were hugely popular at the beginning of the 20th – century. There were hundreds of them – in all different sizes and colors.

The 1930s saw the beginning of the dictatorial regime of Prime Minister António de Oliveira Salazar in Portugal that lasted for much of the 20th – century. People were discouraged from gathering in public, and many of the kiosks were abandoned and fell into disrepair.

The tradition was revived when journalist and entrepreneur Catarina Portas, a native of Lisbon, and architect João Regal started pushing the Lisbon City Council to restore and reopen some of these forgotten kiosks in the late 90s. Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/01/485228299/history-horchata-and-hope-how-classic-kiosks-are-boosting-lisbons-public-life

Locals began to support them again, and in the early 2000s tourism was booming in Lisbon. While there are several kiosks around town that are not operating today (like the one pictured above), this revival has been a great thing.

Quiosque Ribeira das Naus

Ribeira das Naus, Riverside kiosk serving refreshments in Lisbon, Portugal

This is my favorite kiosk in Lisbon. There are lots of tables, but it is always crowded on a warm day. Located on the Ribeira das Naus promenade, a two-minute walk west of Praça do Comércio.

Approaching the seating area of the Ribeira das Naus kiosk, on the Ribeira das Naus riverside promenade,, Lisbon.  Shallow steps descend into the river.

Some of the tables are shaded. Others are in full-sun. They even have lounge chairs overlooking the river.

Shaded seating at the riverside Ribeira das Naus kiosk in Lisbon, Portugal.  Enjoying a sunny summer day on the Tejo River.

Banana Cafe – Avenida da Liberdade

Banana Cafe Kiosk, Avenida Liberdade, Lisbon

Quiosque O Melhor Bolo do Chocolate do Mundo

Located on Avenida da Liberdade at the intersection of Rua Manuel Jesus Coelho, this kiosk is operated by the shop of the same name, which translates to … The Best Chocolate Cake in the World.

They also have paninis, pastéis de nata, natural juices, sangria, and cocktails.

Official website: https://www.facebook.com/QuiosqueOMelhorBolodeChocolatedoMundo

Quiosque Ribadouro – Avenida da Liberdade

This kiosk on Avenida da Liberdade is very close to the Avenida metro station.  The kiosk is run by Cervejaria Ribadouro, a Lisbon seafood house that has been open since 1947

This Ribadouro kiosk is located on Avenida da Liberdade near the Avenida metro station (blue line). The kiosk sits on the mosaiced sidewalk (Calçada Portuguesa) in an area known for luxury shopping and hotels.

Quiosque Ribadouro is run out of the nearby Cervejaria Ribadouro, a seafood house that has been open since 1947

Quiosque 28 End of the line in Prazeres

Quiosque 28, not quite open for business on this day, at the last stop of Lisbon's Tram 28E at Prazeres.
Getting set up for the day. The Tram 28 terminus is right behind this kiosk.

Quiosque 28 serves refreshments to passengers who have taken Tram 28 all the way across town. The last stop on the route is right in front of this kiosk, across from the Prazeres Cemetary. For more information on Tram 28, including a map, read my article Where does Tram 28 stop? All you need to know about Tram 28

Quiosque 28 runs out of a train car.  This is the view of the kiosk from the Prazeres Cemetary in Lisbon, Portugal.  Tram 28 ends its route next to the kiosk.
Quiosque 28 operates out of this old freight car.

Thank you for reading about Lisbon’s kiosks. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I am not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned on this page.