Zenith Brunch & Cocktails in Lisbon, Portugal

Zenith Brunch & Cocktails, located off Avenida da Liberdade, is one of the best places in Lisbon for brunch. Its menu features French toast, eggs benedict, pancakes, and bagels. Besides its food, the all-day brunch spot is famous for its handmade cocktails and hip, modern interior.

In 2017, the first Zenith location opened in the heart of Porto. It soon became a must-visit brunch spot for both locals and tourists. After their success in Porto, a location in Lisbon opened in 2018.

As in Porto, the Lisbon location became one of the best places for brunch in the city. Eventually, locations opened in Madrid, Barcelona, and Matosinhos.

So why brunch in Lisbon, a city with great Portuguese food? Because sometimes you need a good Bloody Mary and eggs. Zenith Brunch & Cocktails is one of the best spots in Lisbon for just that.

If you are looking for more information about Porto and Portugal, I highly recommend picking up a guidebook such as Rick Steves Portugal.

Interior

It was a rainy, gloomy day in Lisbon when I visited Zenith. And, the weather had me a little down. I thought it was always sunny in Portugal. But, everything seemed to change the moment I walked into the restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant was much larger than I was expecting. There were two dining areas. One on the ground floor and a balcony dining area above, decorated with fake green plants. Its tall ceilings and assortment of lights made the space feel bright, open, and spacious. I forgot all about the rain outside.

The décor was industrial. You had exposed air ducts and electrical cables, utilitarian chairs and tables, brick walls, and a black ceiling. The ambiance was lively and boisterous with the sounds of guests, workers, and music playing in the background.

Enjoy taking photos? The avant garde décor was the perfect backdrop for Instagram photographers.

Zenith Brunch & Cocktails Menu

The menu at Zenith Brunch & Cocktails, Lisbon, Portugal — The menu at Zenith Brunch & Cocktails

The menu at Zenith Brunch & Cocktails had everything you would want at a brunch spot, and more. Menu sections included brunch, pancakes, eggs, tapiocas, salad bowls, tacos & nachos, toasts, and smoothie bowls. You had all the classics like french toast and eggs benedict along with specialties such as shakshuka.

Popular items included the Zenith Burger and Eggs Zenith. There were also plenty of vegan and gluten free options along with lighter choices. I know I say this often, but there was something for everyone on the menu.

As for drinks, you had coffee, lattes, tea, fresh juices, soft drinks, cocktails, mocktails, wine, and craft beers.

One more thing to mention was the Cocktail Hour, available Monday through Friday, 3:00PM-7:00PM. During Cocktail Hour, you can get two cocktails, sangria, or gin for €10. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

Eggs Zenith

One of the best-selling items on the menu, which I ordered, was the Eggs Zenith (€9,50 or about $10.35). This unique version of eggs benedict had a lot of components. You had two breaded poached eggs on sourdough toast topped with serrano ham, avocado, crispy onions, cherry tomatoes, chives, and hollandaise sauce. On the side was a simple salad.

For an extra €1, you could swap out the serrano ham with smoked salmon. While not the most exquisite plate I have ever seen, there was a lot of food. And it was colorful.

The first thing that caught my attention was the poached eggs. I have had eggs benedict countless times but never had breaded poached eggs. When I cut through the first egg, there was no yolk. There was only egg white with the consistency of chicken breast. Confused, I cut through the second egg.

Luckily, the second egg exploded with a bright, rich yolk. Coating each egg was a thin, crunchy layer of breading. When mixed with the breading, the crispy onions gave the breading a rich, delicious flavor. This flavor reminded me of an onion ring.

Garlicky and Thick Hollandaise Sauce

Close up of the breaded poached eggs, Zenith Brunch & Cocktails, Lisbon, Portugal — Close up of the breaded poached eggs

Also covering the eggs was a thick hollandaise sauce. The viscous sauce, thicker than your average hollandaise sauce, had a distinct garlicky flavor. My only complaint with the sauce? I wanted more of it.

While serrano ham is great, I opted for the smoked salmon (€1 or about $1.16). A lot of salmon was on the plate, a pleasant surprise with how expensive seafood can be. The fresh smoked salmon was thick, tender, salty, and smoky. Its texture reminded me of sushi. While salty, the salmon complemented the rich yolk and garlicky hollandaise sauce.

The final component of this dish might have been the most important. And that was the sourdough toast covered in fresh smashed avocado. The simple bread was thick and tasted homemade. Its crust was crunchy, while the inside was soft and fluffy. The bread held up to the last bite, even covered in avocado, sauce, and yolk.

Served on the side was a simple green salad. Drizzled over the top was a balsamic and oil dressing. With each bite, I could taste bits of the crunchy breading and crispy onion that fell off the eggs. I got a surprise of crunchy, oniony goodness in every bite. While fresh and delicious, the simple salad was forgettable compared to the rest of the dish.

Service

The Zenith Brunch & Cocktails service was friendly and straight to the point. The moment I sat down, I was handed a menu. My server always seemed to be around when I needed anything. I appreciated her awareness of when I needed help or not.

Also, my food arrived quickly and correctly, which was surprising given how busy the restaurant was. After finishing my meal, I paid at the front with the cashier.

Conclusion

Lisbon is a city with great restaurants and even better food. But, when I think of the must-eat foods in Lisbon, brunch and breakfast aren’t the first that comes to mind. After days of eating pastéis de nata, francesinha, cod à brás, and bifanas, I felt like something different. And that was brunch.

With its all-day brunch menu, local beers and handmade cocktails, and industrial interior, I would add Zenith Brunch & Cocktails to the list of the best brunch in Lisbon.