The 5 Best Cafes in Porto You Need to Try

Are you looking for the best cafes in Porto? This is your guide.

Porto has many things to offer (historical and cultural places, beautiful views, incredible beaches…), but its food is one of the best things ever, and if you’re a foodie like me, you’ll want to enjoy the tasty Portuguese food.

During my trip to Porto, I tried as many cafes and restaurants as possible. My friend, who happens to be from Porto, recommended many of these cafes.

So if you love visiting cute cafes and delicious local restaurants, keep reading to discover the best coffee shops and restaurants in Porto.

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The Best Cafes in Porto

1. Nicolau Porto

Nicolau Porto is Porto’s famous cafe! It’s a Portuguese cafe chain that is very instagrammable. From the moment you enter the cafe, you’ll see beautiful lush green plants hanging from the roof and pictures of a sausage dog.

As you can imagine, the cafe gets very busy, especially on weekends. The first time I went to have brunch was on a Sunday, and there was a massive queue waiting to be seated.

So I decided to leave it for the next day, and it was much quieter. We didn’t have to wait to be sat, and there was a relaxing atmosphere inside. 

I ordered the banana milkshake and the French toast to start with. The banana milkshake was a bit thicker than I expected, but it was full of flavour. The French toast was the best, and the way it was presented was nice, too. 

I also ordered an almond milk hot chocolate, and it was incredible. It was smooth and creamy.

2. Majestic Café

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You can’t visit Porto without going to the Majestic Café. Not only does it have beautiful architecture, but it also has delicious food.

Interestingly, this cafe was founded in 1921, but it wasn’t until a year later that it started to operate as the cafe it is today.

The architecture of the cafe takes you back to the Belle Époque era!

At Majestic Café, you can enjoy anything from breakfast to tapas and dinner. However, if you’re after something sweet, you need to try the “Rebanadas Majestic”.

It consists of French toast wrapped in a creamy custard with dried fruits.

3. The Lazy Breakfast Club 

The Lazy Breakfast Club wasn’t on my list, but I gave it a go since other cafes were absolutely packed. 

It stands out because of its pink facade; it’s a small place but cosy! Although we had to wait a bit, we sat within fifteen minutes.

I ordered orange juice and a vegetarian breakfast, which included a spinach omelette, tofu, grilled mushrooms, two slices of bread and some fruit. The juice was freshly squeezed and so tasty (you can tell Portugal has nice oranges!).

The vegetarian breakfast was much better than I expected, too. The tofu was cooked properly, and the omelette was fluffy, just how I like it.

My partner ordered the non-vegetarian breakfast, which came with two poached eggs, bacon, two slices of bread, beetroot and fruit. It was quite good too.

The staff was friendly, and I recommend the place despite being a bit slow, but it was full, so it’s a bit understandable.

4. Negra Café Baixa

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Located close to the Chapel of Souls, Negra Café Baixa is an excellent choice for breakfast and brunch.

They serve a good variety of food – from delicious breakfast bowls and eggs Benedict to sweet and fluffy pancakes. But I can’t forget to mention their homemade cakes and croissants.

The atmosphere at Negra Café is lovely, the staff is friendly, and they have an outdoor seating area where you can enjoy a sunny day in Porto.

5. Mesa 325

Coffee lovers must try this cafe; it’s the best cafe in Porto to enjoy a good cup of coffee. However, that’s not all; you’ll also find on their menu anything from delicious bagels and sandwiches to healthy fruit bowls and cakes.

It’s a cosy and lovely cafe to fuel your body in the morning before sightseeing in the city or to start doing some work. If you’re a digital nomad, you’ll love to know that there is plenty of indoor seating.

My food recommendations are to get the delicious fruit bowl with granola or cheese and ham with tomato, spinach, and oregano if you fancy something savoury.

They also have delicious pastel de natas and amazing matcha lattes!

The Best Restaurants in Porto

Cruel Restaurante 

My friend recommended going to Cruel Restaurante since everybody was telling her it was worth it. Also, reviews on TripAdvisor are brilliant.

The restaurant is located in the centre, and it’s easy to spot. As you enter, you’ll see its elegant black decoration. 

They have three amazing menus. The first menu is based on traditional Portuguese food, the second is a mixture of Portuguese and international food, and the third is modern cuisine.

The good thing is that you can choose meals from different menus, so you don’t have to pick only from one menu. 

My partner and I had patatas bravas with aioli sauce and stuffed mushrooms with goat cheese and red pepper jam for starters. Then, charcoal salmon with quinoa and cod with potatoes, caramelised onions and bacon for the main course. Finally, we had chocolate cake and rhubarb crumble for dessert.

All the food was delicious and cooked perfectly. If you want to try something traditional, then I would recommend the cod! 

Also, the staff was very friendly and checked to see if everything was okay. It can be a bit pricey in comparison to other restaurants, but it’s totally worth it.

Brasão Cervejaria Coliseu

My friend took us to this restaurant, which you must book in advance because it’s always full. 

They open three different times a day, and it’s still busy. I went for dinner (7 pm), and I arrived before they opened, and guess what? People were already waiting too.

Once we got in, we were immediately served some delicious bread and capers as well as some thin flatbread with a spicy sauce. I have to admit that the staff was very friendly and attentive. 

I highly recommend trying this place if you’re after traditional Portuguese food. They have different dishes such as the typical francesinhas, bacalhau or steaks with some Portuguese sauces.

I ordered Francesinha without the fried egg, and it was huge! I haven’t expected such a hearty meal, and if you don’t want to be stuffed, you’d better ask for the half francesinha or share it with your friend or partner. 

I wanted to try their desserts too, but I didn’t have space for more.

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Conclusion on the best cafes and restaurants in Porto

These are some of the top restaurants and cafes you can’t miss in Porto. I wish I had spent more time and tried out many other places I spotted on social media, and that my friend told me to.

Also, don’t forget to try pastel de nata! These Portuguese custard tarts will blow your mind, and the best thing is that you can find them anywhere in the city because there are plenty of bakeries. It’s difficult not to be tempted to try other fresh pastries and cakes.

Enjoy your foodie journey in Porto!

Love,

Cristina xx

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