Our History
It all began with live cows inside the shop, selling milk and producing butter.
In the heart of Lisbon, Leitaria da Anunciada has been a cherished institution since 1927…
- Founding Year
The shop was founded on January 8, 1927, but it was already used for selling milk in 1903. It was called “Vacaria Andrade” and supplied fresh milk directly from the cows kept on-site: one brown, one black, and one black-and-white spotted cow.
- Early Years: Fresh Milk Service
In the early days, Leitaria da Anunciada was one of the many places in Lisbon offering fresh milk directly from its source. Customers brought their own containers and filled them with milk from our cows, which also supplied butter and cheese to the local community.
- Transition to Café and Pastry Shop
By the mid-20th century, health regulations seeking to remove animals from central Lisbon, together with the advance of refrigeration, transformed the dairy into a café and pastry shop. The name became “Leitaria da Anunciada,” honoring its location. It became a popular meeting point for coffee, cakes, and light meals while preserving its dairy origins.
- Family Ownership and Legacy
For generations, Leitaria da Anunciada has remained a family-run establishment. A unique tradition passed ownership from father-in-law to son-in-law, ensuring continuity, care, and a deep personal connection to the restaurant’s soul.
- Iconic Azulejos (Tile Panels)
In 1933, the façade gained colour with blue-and-white tile panels illustrating rural life and dairy work. The original 1933 tiles were painted by António Costa, one of the leading artists of the Fábrica de Cerâmica Lusitânia. These tile panels became a symbol of Lisbon’s cultural and artistic heritage.
- Mid-Century Changes and Growth
In the mid-20th century, we expanded our offerings beyond dairy to include classic Portuguese pastries like pastel de nata and bolo de arroz, as well as sandwiches and milky coffees. This period cemented our place in Lisbon’s culinary identity.
- The 1974 Carnation Revolution Impact
During the Carnation Revolution, Lisbon experienced social and political change. Despite the unrest recorded in the city that year and the following years, Leitaria da Anunciada managed to keep its doors open. It remained a welcoming meeting place for locals and visitors, witnessing history while continuing to serve its familiar flavours.
- Renovation and Restoration of Azulejos
In 2017, part of the historic tile façade was vandalized and stolen. The remaining panel was carefully removed in 2019 by the building’s landlord, EPAL - Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres, S.A., for restoration. PVC replicas were placed in its location while awaiting the return of the tile panels.
- Reopening After Renovation
Around 2018, we felt the need to strengthen and protect traditional Portuguese cuisine. Investing in a menu that recalls memories and recovers traditions, serving as a testimony and calling card for all. Dishes such as codfish, octopus, oven-roasted shank or francesinha are essential for those who visit us.
- International Recognition
By the 2020s, Leitaria da Anunciada had gained international recognition for its authenticity and quality. Welcoming travelers from around the world, we proudly represent Lisbon’s culinary heritage on a global stage.
- Sustainability and Community Engagement
In 2017, we launched sustainability initiatives focused on local sourcing, reducing food waste, and supporting community causes. Our partnerships with local farmers and producers ensure every ingredient carries a story of care and responsibility.
- International Recognition
In the 2020s, Leitaria da Anunciada gained international recognition for its authenticity and quality. Welcoming travellers from around the world, we became a true emblem of Lisbon’s gastronomy on the global stage.
- Unique Architectural Heritage
In 2026, Leitaria da Anunciada joined the route of the 15th Open House Lisboa, an initiative promoted by the Lisbon Architecture Triennale Association as part of Open House Worldwide, an international network founded in 1992 by Victoria Thornton. The theme of this 15th Open House Lisboa was the capital’s food landscape.
Who we are
It all began with three partners from the Oliveira do Hospital region, a Portuguese city in the Coimbra district, part of the former province of Beira Alta and the Central Region. The hard life of the interior led them to the capital. They knew life would be difficult, but they did not fear Lisbon’s challenges. Their determination and resilience in conquering the great city wrote the rest of Leitaria da Anunciada’s story. After a century, Leitaria da Anunciada is visited daily by local and international customers, building its reputation through the work and dedication of the generations following the founding partners.
We have more than a hundred years of history, but our commitment remains. Delight in the heart of Lisbon, in a relaxed and refined atmosphere, is our mission. Gastronomy is an interaction without borders. The pleasant Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, which in the 15th century was one of the entrance gates to Lisbon, stands out with a uniqueness that attracts many lives and where many worlds cross.
In the continuation of Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, in front of the Lavra Funicular, which takes us to the Torel Garden, we culminate in Largo da Anunciada.
It is in this location that stands out, at number 1, the facade of a building that displays, both on the right side and on the left side, three tile panels, where you can read 'Leitaria da Anunciada'.
Leitaria da Anunciada was an establishment that in 1927 sold milk directly from dairy cows, milked on site according to each customer’s needs and preferences. There were three different dairy cows — one spotted, one black, and one brown. Customers brought their own containers and chose the milk from the cow they liked best.
Later it became a restaurant that tastes and gives a taste of the flavors of Portuguese cuisine, both to Portuguese and to foreigners who visit this house every day.
It is a centenary building, with stories to tell and many treasures to discover. Alongside the dairy products it once sold, its story tells how successive owners were the sons-in-law of the original owners, becoming the new owners after marrying their daughters.
Today, Leitaria da Anunciada preserves its essence and history, combining tradition with modernity and welcoming each visitor with the same spirit of family and hospitality that made it a symbol of Lisbon.