Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog

I visited one of Lisbon’s most photographed breakfast spots – Etma Bakery, which is part of the Neptune Commune group owning several other popular cafes and bistros in the city. Etma itself started quietly in December 2024 as an in-house bakery supplying bread and pastries to other venues, before the team finally opened a standalone bakery-café in October 2025. What began as a neighbourhood project for locals has since gone viral on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, pulling in a steady mix of tourists and loyal regulars.

On the exterior, two large windows wrapped around the corner and opened fully onto the street, framing the bakery’s icon and centrepiece: a marble-topped pastry counter with a grey linen skirt that was topped with a spread of baked goods. I highly recommend going in the morning if you would like to choose from their full selection of pastries as the selection was noticeably smaller (than in other photos I saw on social media) when I went in the afternoon.

Inside, the space was intimate, with tables closely packed together with seating available for perhaps at most 20 pax. The décor had a Scandinavian feel – clean lines, warm tones, neutral colours and plenty of natural light pouring in through the corner windows.

I headed to the counter and picked two pastries for my afternoon treat. Underneath the flaky layers of the Cruffin (EUR4.9) were a just-subtly sweet vanilla custard and a tangy raspberry jam, the flavours intertwining seamlessly.

Meanwhile, the Poppy Seed Bun (EUR3) was soft, generously topped and filled with poppy seeds. I was expecting a distinctive taste from the poppy seeds, however in reality they did not have a strong taste but just a faint nutty taste.

I ordered a Cappucino (EUR3.8, +EUR0.6 for oat milk) and Matcha Latte (EUR5) as accompaniment to the pastries.

For something more substantial, there was a food menu which offered all-day breakfast dishes such as omelettes, scrambled eggs, open-faced toasts and sandwiches.

With a huge following and queues that form early in the day, beware of the crowd and waiting time if you’re visiting especially on weekend mornings. As for me, I skipped the morning crowd and instead enjoyed a slow, unhurried mid-afternoon in the café – albeit with fewer pastry options.

R. Silva Carvalho 64B, 1250-255 Lisboa, Portugal

8.30am – 4pm daily

My first coffee stop in Lisbon was Dramático. Tucked on a quiet stretch between Avenida da Liberdade and Príncipe Real, the café required walking up a steep incline to get to, and was easy to walk past.

Inside, white walls and minimalist decor gave the space a sleek, modern feel, and the coffee bar was located at the narrow, pointed end of the shop, with large windows running the length of the café flooding part of the space with yellow hues of sunlight in the early morning.

The cafe was tiny – just 14 square meters – with a genuinely homely feel, with a steady stream of tourists and regulars popping by for a coffee to-go or dine in. One practical note for anyone planning to work here: no wifi, no laptops.

Coffee was clearly the focus. During my visit (and re-visit), Dramático was serving exclusively coffee from Denmark’s April Coffee. There was also a selection of teas on the menu, including Matcha Latte (EUR5.7). I had both the Flat White (EUR4.5) and Cappuccino (EUR4.5), with no extra charge for oat milk. The coffee was undeniably smooth and well-balanced.

On the food side, don’t expect a full menu. Alongside the coffee, there were Croissants (EUR3) and Cookies (EUR4.3) displayed on and behind the counter. I had the Croissant which had the same standard as one from a French boulangerie – airy, flaky and buttery.

In the city of Lisbon where café culture could sometimes feel like it’s chasing trends, this small nook on Rua da Alegria stays focused on doing one thing exceptionally well: serving thoughtful, precisely brewed coffee in a space stripped of anything unnecessary. It was a small, deliberate pause in the middle of a hill climb that was worth every step up.

Rua da Alegria 41E, 1250-006 Lisboa, Portugal

Mon to Fri 8.30am – 2pm

Sat 9am – 2pm

Sun closed