Where It All Began

I was born and raised in Portugal to Cape Verdean parents, and I’ve always carried both cultures with pride. During the week, I was immersed in Portuguese life—school, daycare, and friendships—but weekends were all about Cape Verdean traditions: music, family, food, and warmth. I feel lucky to have grown up in both worlds. They gave me perspective, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging

A Dream Across Countries and Careers

At 24, I moved to England as a single mother. I earned a degree in Travel and Tourism Business Management and started working in the hotel industry. I was on the path to management, but something deeper was calling me. I used to tell my friends, “We need to open a Portuguese restaurant!” That idea never left me.

When I moved to the U.S., those feelings only grew stronger. Aside from my loved ones, what I missed most was the food—the flavors, the energy, the joy of a good restaurant. For over six years, I’ve worked at Restaurante Cesaria in Dorchester, where I became deeply connected to the Cape Verdean community. I listened, observed, and realized something was missing: a place that felt like home, that brought people together through food and culture.

Turning a Passion into a Business

Lisboa Café & Mini-Market wasn’t a spontaneous decision. It started with a detailed business plan—pages and pages outlining my vision: the concept, brand, menu, market research, financial projections, staffing structure, and long-term goals. That plan became my north star. Every meeting with banks, city officials, architects, and consultants started with it.

The process was far from easy. There were late nights, early mornings, and personal challenges along the way. But I kept going—because this wasn’t just about opening a restaurant. It was about building something meaningful, something lasting.

We made it!

Lisboa Café & Mini-Market is opening soon at 1078 Dorchester Avenue. And when you walk through those doors, I hope you feel what I’ve felt throughout this journey: joy, culture, community, and love. This café is more than a business—it’s a piece of my story, a reflection of my heritage, and my way of giving back to the city that welcomed me.

This isn’t just a restaurant. It’s home.