Cafes

Solar da Madalena

4.8 839 reviews 07:00 AM - 10:00 PM R. da Madalena 228, 1100-325 Lisboa, Portugal

Discover this place

Located in the heart of Lisbon at R. da Madalena 228, Solar da Madalena is a cozy café that beckons locals and visitors alike with the promise of authentic Portuguese cuisine. Known for its traditional Bifana sandwiches, this café offers a delightful culinary experience at a fraction of the cost, with generous portions starting at just €3.

Customer reviews highlight the café's inviting atmosphere and quick service. Many patrons rave about the juicy and tender pork cutlets that dominate the Bifana, although opinions vary on seasoning—some find it flavorful, while others find it a tad plain. Enhancements like fried eggs or cheese for an additional euro have proven to elevate the dish for many, with moments of creamy perfection reported by satisfied diners.

Visitors appreciate the warm hospitality of the staff, who are eager to assist even with limited Portuguese. With an array of options like prego no prato alongside the Bifana, Solar da Madalena crafts an appealing menu that resonates with both taste and price.

In short, if you're looking for a genuine taste of Lisbon, Solar da Madalena presents an enticing blend of comfort, quality, and affordability—making it a must-visit café for any food lover.

Photos

Amenities & More

Service options

Outdoor seating
Onsite services
Takeout
Dine-in
Delivery

Highlights

Great coffee
Great dessert

Popular for

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Dining options

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities

Bar onsite
Restroom

Atmosphere

Casual
Cozy
Quiet

Crowd

Groups
Tourists

Note: Amenity details are aggregated from verified visits, the venue's website and Google. They may change without notice. We recommend confirming key details (pet policy, accessibility, reservations) directly with Solar da Madalena before visiting.

Reviews for Solar da Madalena

4.8

839 reviews

100%

14%

Review highlights

Based on 839 reviews

Solar da Madalena is widely appreciated for its authentic Portuguese sandwiches, particularly the traditional bifana, which customers praise for its generous portions and flavorful, tender pork. The café's cozy atmosphere and predominantly local clientele contribute to a genuine dining experience. Reviewers note the affordability and quick service as notable strengths, with options to customize sandwiches adding to the appeal. While some find minor room for improvement in seasoning or meat slicing, the overall feedback highlights the balance of quality, taste, and value. Flexible opening hours may require some patience, but the warm, attentive service consistently enhances visitor satisfaction.

Barilly Li

Sep 02, 2025

Came to try the Portuguese signature dish - Bifana - essentially toasted bread sandwich filled with loads of pork cutlets. A traditional Bifana was only priced at €3 but came in such big portion - very good deal for sure. You can also add a fried egg or some cheese to the Bifana for an extra 1 euro or so. Wasn’t a big fan of the Bifana as I found the pork cutlets to be quite plain and the amount of pork they put inside the sandwich simply makes the whole thing a bit too meaty… My friend went for the Bifana with fried egg and she seems to enjoy it a lot, so guess it’s just a personal preference.

Julia Lakomkina

Aug 20, 2025

A small cozy place where you can try traditional sandwiches. I know only a few phrases in Portuguese, but even this was enough for the team to start smiling and helping us. The meat was very tender and juicy. The food is simple but tasty. The cafe is full of locals and the team brings ready orders very quickly.

Annika Shi

Aug 19, 2025

Tried plenty of bifana in Lisbon and this was the best. Juicy, flavorful, and tender pork that’s not overly salty, the egg added a perfect creaminess to the burger, so good Their open time is p “flexible” though likely won’t open at the time they say they open

Monica Vela

Jul 08, 2025

I wish the pork with sliced thinner similar to a beef sandwich from Chicago. The mustard and piri sauce were nice additions. The sandwich was really hot and pair well with beer.

Gabriela De Freitas

Jun 26, 2025

Amazing food and really good price. We had a soup, a "prego no prato", a "bifana no prato", a "bifana tradicional" and a "bifana com queijo". Everything came quickly, the service was amazing and the flavours really good. We loved our food. We highly reccomend this place!

Radostina Lazarova

May 22, 2025

Tender, flavourful pork in a crusty roll, simple, juicy, and absolutely perfect bifana. Paired with a cold beer, it’s the ultimate Lisbon snack. Quick service, great vibe, and amazing value. A must-try!

Sara Govero

May 09, 2025

Solar de Madalena: This cozy little Lisbon spot serves up bifanas, Portugal’s porky pride, with a side of Inquisition-era tension. So we were told, back in the day, eating pork was how you proved you were a good little Catholic convert. No pressure! I passed on the meat sweats and opted for the fish sandwich, which, thankfully, didn’t come with 500 years of interfaith drama. Cute place. My fish sandwich was excellent. I’m a sarcastic ahole but I had to.