Café Nicola, Historic coffeehouse in Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal
Café Nicola is a coffeehouse on Praça Dom Pedro IV in Lisbon featuring Art Deco architecture with wooden carvings, wrought iron fixtures, and chandeliers throughout its rooms. The interior combines skilled craftsmanship with geometric elements from the 1930s.
An Italian entrepreneur named Nicola Breteiro founded the original Botequim Nicola in 1787, which was later renovated and renamed to Café Nicola in 1929. This transformation introduced the Art Deco features that now define the building.
The café has long served as a meeting place for writers and thinkers, with a statue of poet Bocage standing before its entrance. The spaces inside carry the memory of literary conversations and intellectual gatherings that have taken place across generations.
The café is located at Praça Dom Pedro IV numbers 24-25 and serves Portuguese dishes including traditional steaks and seafood specialties. Its location on Rossio Square makes it easy to reach and a natural stop while exploring central Lisbon.
The café displays oil paintings by Fernando Santos depicting scenes from poet Bocage's life alongside silver tableware from the 1930s. This artistic collection offers a personal connection to the literary history of the place.
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