Hanging out with Francisco Amaral,
The founder of COMOBÅ.
We caught up with Francisco, owner of Comobå, a food.coffee.matcha.bar close to the +351 flagship store, where the team likes to hang out and where the employees wear their +351 t-shirts with pride. On a sunny Lisbon morning, alongside a matcha latte, Francisco told us why he started it all, where he got inspired, and where he hopes to see his brand grow.
Can you tell us your story and why you started COMOBÅ?
Initially, my idea was more about matcha on a smaller scale, but it ended up making perfect sense to include a restaurant and breakfast component. This was important to me, as I'm a morning person. I love mornings, and in Lisbon at that time, there weren't many options open early. I also kept seeing many people with suitcases in the morning, waiting for the bakeries to open. It made sense. The project evolved more based on the space and location. It was a set of circumstances and the result of the energy of the people I was surrounded by at the time. That's when I created the Comobå brand. I opened this place because I felt the need to have something in Lisbon that reflected my image and aesthetic and felt like a place away from home, too.
What are the next steps?
There is a different scale out there, and there is a risk of saturation or not innovating as effectively if we start expanding here. I also believe that brands should maintain and protect their community because there are people who really enjoy the experience of being in our space—it gives them a sense of relaxation, of being in a bubble. So, it doesn't make sense to create too many bubbles. I love our community, and I want to preserve it. Like in life, when you find a place you like and enjoy, you wish it was close to home. Opening elsewhere is an interesting exercise we can carry out. Bit of a disclosure, but we'll soon be opening in a new location in Europe, and we're looking forward to sharing more details about it.
Best spot in Portugal?
What does style means to you?
The question of style has been present in my life since I was young. It's a natural exercise for me to reflect on style, observe people and places, and understand the context and logic behind these spaces and individuals. Details and unique characteristics define brands, and, for me, they give a brand style and originality.
What is the band / music artist that inspires you?
As fellow Cais do Sodré neighbours, what do you think of changes the street is undergoing?
Photography by +351.
