Café A Brasileira
Being there
One of Lisbon's remaining classic cafés, with a restaurant in the basement; despite renovation, not much has changed since the 1920s. The café was Fernando Pessoa's favourite place, and a statue of the poet/philosopher stands outside the main entrance on the terrace.
The story
The Café A Brasileira ([kɐˈfɛ ɐ βɾɐziˈlɐjɾɐ]; "Café The Brazilian"), previously spelled as A Brazileira, is a café located in Lisbon, specifically at 120 Rua Garrett, in the civil parish of Santa Maria Maior. Opened in 1905 by Adrian Telles as a shop for import and sale of Brazilian coffee, it is now one of the oldest and most famous cafés in the old quarter of Lisbon.
In the 1920s, the café became a popular meeting place for Lisbon’s intellectuals, artists, and writers. Among them was Fernando Pessoa, who often spent time there. A bronze statue of Pessoa sitting at a table is installed beside the terrace outside the café.