One of Lisbon’s most talked-about brunch spots, regularly ranked among the city’s top cafés by both locals and travellers, is Seagull Method café. It is part of the Neptune Commune group, which also owns other popular establishments including Heim Café, Pomme Eatery, and Etma Bakery. I visited the café twice during my few days’ stay in Lisbon.
The café occupied a narrow, corner building with an understated red-and-white facade, its windows framed by trailing ivy that softened the edges of the street. I reached slightly ahead of opening time to avoid the queue and crowd and was second in line.
At 9am, I was led in and served by a team of attractive and attentive service crew. Inside, the space felt cozy and unpretentious — whitewashed and raw brick walls, mismatched wooden tables, and large windows letting in plenty of sunlight in the morning. Pothos plants effortlessly decorated the interior, and soft music played in the background, giving the cafe a relaxed, homely feel. It was a small space, and tables were parked close together, so it can feel snug once the crowd fills in.
The café offered both a solid specialty coffee (and matcha) menu and an all-day brunch menu, with pastries from Etma Bakery displayed at the counter.
Both times I opted for the Matcha Latte (EUR5, +EUR0.6 for oat milk) which was decently good and well-balanced.
The Sunday Morning (EUR14) was what I wished I could indulge in every Sunday morning for breakfast. Served on a thick slice of soft brioche were smashed avocado, halloumi, scrambled eggs and marinated onions. The tanginess of the onions balanced the savouriness of the cheese, eggs and avocado.
The other savoury item I had was the Sunny Bowl (EUR 12), which caught my eye on the menu due to the turmeric yogurt listed in the ingredients. Though I didn’t quite taste the turmeric, the yogurt made a substantial dish with sauteed seasonal vegetables, poached egg, milk bread toast and slices of salmon which I added on for EUR4.
There were 2 sweet brunch options (apart from the Granola & Yogurt Bowl) – the French toast and pancakes. Of which, the Spice Girls Pancake (EUR11) won me over, with its generous serving of just subtly sweet caramel cream made to cascade the stack of fluffy pancakes. The stack was topped with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and pistachio bits. There were also banana slices hidden between the pancake layers which added to my satisfaction.
Meanwhile, I found the French Mirage (EUR10) to be a tad greasy and heavy as it was battered and fried, though the toppings of lime and honey mascarpone, blueberry compote and blackberries helped to balance some of the greasiness.
At roughly EUR20-30 per pax for a full brunch, I found the portions to be generous, and very value-for-money.
For a slow, sun-lit morning in Lisbon accompanied by high quality brunch fare, I highly recommend this cafe — just come early, and come hungry.
Rua da Palmeira 23, 1200-311 Lisboa, Portugal
9am – 6pm daily
