One of the most celebrated cafes of Lisbon, the Café A Brasileira at 120 Rua Garrett in the Chiado district has provided a haven for caffeinated beverages to Lisboans since 1905. It was unique at the time in serving its namesake coffee (Brazilian) imported from the state of Minas Gerais.
In the early 20th century the Café A Brasileira was a favorite hangout for Portuguese intellectuals, artists, and writers. Among the most notable was the poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935), who was immortalized in 1988 by the placement of a bronze statue outside the café. Pessoa would chain smoke and drink absinthe and bica, similar to espresso, while writing or reading at the cafe. He was influenced by a multitude of literary sources, including the English classical poets (Shakespeare, Byron, Tennyson). Pessoa believed himself to be a medium of multiple persons, and would revert to different personalities of alter egos as they possessed him, perhaps as a result of consuming a large quantity of absinthe. He published poems and articles under four different names that included his alter egos as well as himself.
The street that the cafe is on is named for João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett (1799-1854), an important figure in the promotion of Portugeuse poetry and theater.
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