Choupana Caffé — Restaurant in Lisbon

A good quality, stylish caffé with affordable prices.

I've been a customer of Choupana Caffé for quite some time now.

My first visit was back in 2020 (shortly before Covid) in this very same location i'm writing this review.

All my other experiences with them have been in their other establishment with the same name in Parque das Nações.

Right out of the gate, they're completely different.

The one located in Parque das Nações is smaller and less busy, and you get served almost instantly.

This one is super busy and crowded (the fact that it was sunday, afternoon obviously didn't help), and i had to wait 10 minutes do get a table, and 10 more minutes to get a croissant and a cappuccino brought to me.

The caffé functions more like a restaurant than a typical caffé because you ask for a table first, then ask for the food and you pay afterwards.

Because of this it can get a bit confusing for newcomers, specially on busy days.

When you arrive, you usually have 2 rows:

1. The first one leads to the counter that faces the entrance and it's for take out orders.

2. The second one (usually leading down the stairs to the left) is where you must go to if you want to ask for a table. Afterwards, you are taken to a designated table and are given a menu.

The payment is done in the first counter that's facing the entrance door.

The food is great. The red velvet croissant is probably their best signature 'dish' and, quite honestly, it's hard to find an alternative that's equally as good in the city (not to say there isn't any!).

The cappuccino was well presented and tasted good (nothing to lose your mind over).

I'm gonna give 4 stars for the quality of the service and the fact that they can make offer a quality service for a still affordable price tag.

The long waiting time made me consider give 3 stars, but since it was sunday afternoon, i guess it should be expected.

The staff was very nice and friendly.

A must stop for...

I recently visited Choupana Caffe in Portugal for breakfast, and while the experience had its ups and downs, it was memorable in its own way. I enjoyed the chill atmosphere and the nostalgic 2000s hits playing in the background, even though they were covers rather than the original artists. The open, relaxed vibe of the place made it a pleasant spot to start my day.

I had avocado toast each morning, and while the first day's offering was quite good, the subsequent days fell short. On day two, the toast was burnt, and on day three, it was overly seasoned. I appreciated that they always provided honey on the side, although I was taken aback when I was charged 2 euros for a small amount of honey with an attitude on the last day.

The croissant, which I had hoped would be a delightful treat, turned out to be more reminiscent of a gas station Danish, leaving me wondering if perhaps I missed out on fresher options by not arriving earlier.

Despite the warm service from most staff members, my last day was marred by a rushed feeling and less-than-friendly interaction with the same lady who had previously charged me for honey. This final impression left me feeling less inclined to return. Overall, while Choupana Caffe offered a charming atmosphere and some enjoyable moments, the inconsistent food quality and service left me with mixed feelings about...

I had an extremely unpleasant experience at the restaurant due to the rudeness of one waiter, specifically the guy with the pigtail. Despite the overall kindness of the rest of the staff, our usual breakfast order took more than 30 minutes to arrive. When we approached the waiter, he dismissively claimed he was busy with other orders and showed no intention of addressing the issue. Even after informing him of a group that arrived later but was served before us, he displayed arrogance and refused to take responsibility. When I suggested speaking to a manager as it was not the way I wanted to be treated by anyone, he responded with arrogance and disdain to go ahead and that I could talk to whoever I wanted. Dissatisfied, I informed the checkout girl of the incident. As a paying customer, I expect respect and basic courtesy to say the least. Unfortunately, this particular waiter's behavior suggests a lack of understanding of fundamental principles in his chosen profession. Despite being a regular customer, this experience has deterred me from returning or recommending the place to anyone, as it reflects poorly on the...