[Lisbon]

Our first stop last fall on my maiden trip to Lisbon was the Copenhagen Coffee Lab.
Tucked inside the charming hilltop neighbourhood of Principe Real, we trekked our way through steep sloping sidewalks, vibrantly tiled and pastel-hued buildings and beautiful little parks to get to this cosy and familiar place.
Here, we refueled, relaxed and tried to come up with the best strategy for exploring hilly Lisbon given our limited time.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab was also our first stop the year before, this time in its namesake city of Copenhagen. Meandering through cobblestone streets, elegant squares and canals, we found the café underground, hidden underneath a stately townhouse off a quiet alley street in the city centre (they’ve since moved from that location).

Friends who live in the cities recommended the cafés, it was a bit of a coincidence but really good recommendations nonetheless. While it isn’t uncommon to find the same coffee shop chain at a street corner in every city, a small specialty roastery serving up great coffee in both Copenhagen and Lisbon is quite unique. Lisbon and Copenhagen are distinct cities, except both are effortlessly laid-back with an exceptional food and art scene.

There’s some comfort in familiarity when you travel, and sometimes you discover something really special on your travels that you cannot find anywhere else. Kanelsnurrer was that thing for me in Copenhagen. I’m not even ashamed to admit that during my short stay in Copenhagen, I had these delicious twisty cinnamon buns every morning with my coffee and sometimes for lunch too; so imagine my joy when I found them again in Lisbon!

My main reason, however, for not hesitating to check out Copenhagen Coffee Lab again in Lisbon was the coffee. Tasty with rich caramel notes and no burnt taste to it, the coffee is excellent. I also love that they offer non-dairy milk since this is a rare find in European cafés. And any coffee shop making silky smooth almond milk lattes with amazing latte art has a fan in me for life!

Both cafés are good for leisurely breakfasts; the décor is minimalist and staff friendly. Their locations were an ideal starting point for exploring the cities as well.

[Copenhagen Coffee Lab – Lisbon, Portugal]

[Copenhagen Coffee Lab – Copenhagen, Denmark]

[Copenhagen]