Penta Café — Restaurant in Lisbon

One of my favorite cafes in Lisbon. I can't go back home from work without making a "pit stop" in this cafe.

Locted near Baixa-Chiado's metro, as evidenced by the location on the map, you have a small taste of their selection and the sheer size of the cakes and pastries right outside the cafe, displayed plainly on a tilted shelf protected by a glass casing, in an angle that makes it very easy to ascertain their proportions.

The interior is a nice and cozy place, with tables and chairs distributed in a way that does not impair movement, with the only downside being that this cafe does not have a television, if that's what you're seeking to watch while eating, but where this cafe truly shines and what makes it different from most cafes in Lisbon's downtown is the amazing hospitality provided by the hosts. You will feel immediately welcome, and they make sure to take their time to check if everything is ok with your orders, in both taste and if you enjoyed it, and throw a little gossip every now and then, but not in an intrusive way.

But now the important part: the food. Allow me to tell you something beforehand, so you don't feel intimidated by the size: everything they sell will be gigantic: from palmier size, to donuts, cakes and toasts. If you order a cake or a toast, your order will literally be made by the meter, if you choose to do so. The waiter/waitress will provide a wooden ruler with sizes as you're making your order, to help you get the ideal size of your order.

Their main speciality and the reason this cafe is so well known in Lisbon's downtown is their toasts, cakes and natural juices.

Which brings to the next point: the taste.

The toasts are made with an incredible amount of ingredients and blend really well together, there will not be an ingredient that you won't be able to identify as soon as you take your first bite. You can ask the waiter/waitress for the ingredient list, with the Action toast being the one that has the most ingredients packed within.

The cakes are made daily and every day has different types of cakes displayed inside the cafe. The cakes are usually two tiered and very moist, which will make you slow down to truly appreciate the taste.

Inside, and right next to the cakes display, similar to the glass display outside the cafe, you will find a shelf with the huge variety of fruits, which you can select to make your juice.

Overall, it's a really nice cafe, with a great location, hospitality, selection and taste to match. Could not...

On the very last day of our epic European food tour (aka our vacation), I was on a mission: find the perfect sandwich in Lisbon. Naturally, I turned to my all-knowing travel buddy, ChatGPT, who pointed me to this place like a GPS for hunger. And wow—10/10, would trust again.

My wife—who has dined like royalty in London, Barcelona, Porto, and Lisbon—announced this humble sandwich was her favorite meal of the entire trip.

We went for the famous Tosta Mista, which they serve by the centimeter. That’s right—by the cm. They even brought out a measuring stick like we were choosing lumber at a hardware store. We each ordered a 15cm… but I’m convinced they gave us the deluxe 20cm version because those sandwiches were chonky.

Spoiler: we couldn't finish them. We probably should’ve split one. But hey, go big or go home, right?

Highly recommend. Come hungry. Or bring a friend with a strong appetite and a...

Could not be more pleased! Recommended by a very friendly(and talkative) taxi driver as a place where he and other locals go. Did not disappoint. Family run place, the owner could not have been nicer came out to chat and joke(in good Italian, as we were 3 Italians and 1 English with only a few words of Portuguese between us). I asked for whatever he recommended and it was a delicious mix of cheese,meat, veg and egg all toasted together. When asked how big a meter stick was brought out! The cakes were also delicious and moist and the freshly juiced fruits(of your choice) were a great accompaniment. The prices were also very cheap for the amount and quality! We went twice in the 5 days we were in Lisbon. Right in the center so very easy to visit, they also do takeaway. A must if you are in Lisboa...