Café Nicola

This is one of the most celebrated cafes in Lisbon, and its prime position overlooking Rossio Square also makes it one of the most popular. Once the haunt of the city's late 19th-century literary set, the cafe's interior of polished marble and Art Deco furnishings is further enhanced by a series of remarkable canvases depicting scenes from the work of 18th-century Portuguese poet Manuel Barbosa du Bocage. Nicola also serves as a restaurant — diners are occasionally serenaded with a performance of fado. During the day the outdoor terrace is perfect for people-watching over a bica (expresso) and the atmosphere is pure European café society. Incidentally, Nicola is named after the company that imports the rich dark beans from Brazil and the African island nation of Sao Tome e Principe — one of the world's premier coffee producers.