Lisbon abounds with sleek bars – places like Lux, owned by John Malkovich, that have widescreen views over the water. But my favorite places to drink don’t have any windows at all.

Miradouro is the Portuguese word to describe a scenic viewpoint. In most cities, such spots are designated by a sign, maybe a pair of coin-operated binoculars. In Lisbon, miradouros are adorned by cafés. Like decoration on a batch of cupcakes, these spots are sprinkled atop the city’s seven hills and nestled in crannies overlooking the water. The open-air terraces serve a multitude of functions, as I discovered on a recent mirodouro crawl.