Best Cafes in Porto
Padaria Ribeiro
Padaria Ribeiro was my first stop in Porto, and it came highly recommended by locals. When I arrived at the square, the long queue outside made it easy to spot. Unfortunately, the outdoor seating was unavailable due to the rain, and the indoor tables were all occupied, leaving snacking while standing as the only option. Initially, I planned to get a croissant, but once I crossed into Portugal, it only felt right to try their famous nata instead.
I had breakfast at the counter in the patisserie, enjoying croissants and coffee. The croissant reminded me of homemade pastries, with a delightful yeasty flavor in the dough. It was soft and delicious, though it didn’t quite fit the classic croissant category. I decided to take a nata with me for later, but it lasted less than 10 minutes before I gave in and ate it. The cream was incredibly delicious, and the outer dough was perfectly crisp, though there was a faint hint of egg in the flavor. Compared to the natas I’ve tried in Istanbul, where the egg scent is much stronger and the cream less tasty, this one was far superior.
Cafe do Cais
One of my favorite cafes in Porto—I’ll share the other one soon! While strolling along the river, we were drawn to the stunning view from this cafe. At first, we hesitated to sit down, thinking we might find more cafes ahead. However, most turned out to be restaurants that were already full. We even considered the hotel cafe in Ribeira Square, but a road construction vehicle parked right in front of it completely obstructed the view. Plus, the prices were on the higher side. After some back-and-forth, we finally decided to settle at Café do Cais, and it turned out to be a great choice.
This cafe had already won our hearts with his stylish wicker-looking chairs, and we were even happier when we found a seat in the front row, at least until it started raining. Moreover, the prices were more affordable than the hotel cafe. Our view of both the bridge and the river was quite enjoyable. It was also a suitable spot to watch people passing by and take photos.
Mesa 325
n our last day, we had breakfast at Mesa 325. Finally, I reunited with my beloved croissant and coffee duo—how I missed them together! The decor here is quite interesting, featuring a table arrangement that resembles a school classroom, seemingly designed for people to work. Fortunately, the seats near the entrance were just our style and were luckily available.
The true star of the cafe, however, was a charming dog who loved gazing outside. He had the best spot in the place, complete with his own pillow. From time to time, he’d step out for an “inspection” and return to his pillow when tired.
As for the croissant—it was absolutely delicious. After devouring the first one myself, I couldn’t resist buying a second to share with my friend. I only wish I could convert her to the magic of croissant breakfasts!
Chocolataria Equador
This chocolatier came highly recommended by locals, and it didn’t disappoint. The shop is small but stylish—just stepping inside and soaking in the smell of chocolate is worth it. What intrigued me most was that you could buy chocolates individually, not just in pre-packaged boxes. Naturally, I had to try a few, and luckily, my friend agreed with my decision (with a little encouragement from me 😊).
I usually stick to chocolate with marzipan or pistachio and even lean towards chocolate desserts rather than plain chocolate. But here, the fruit-filled varieties caught my eye, and I decided to step out of my comfort zone with passion fruit and raspberry. Wow—what a flavor explosion! I had a feeling they’d be good but wasn’t entirely sure if I’d chosen the right ones. Of course, the selection depends on your personal taste, but these two were an absolute delight for me.
Do Norte Hungry Biker
You’ll find Hungry Biker cafes scattered around Porto, and we stumbled upon their Northern-themed location. It immediately caught our attention, perhaps because its vibe felt distinct amidst the warmth and charm of the south. After a short wait, we found seats at a shared table. The decor—featuring northern-inspired objects hanging on the walls—set the mood. My friend Semiha, who missed a trip to Oslo due to her friends’ change of plans, joked that this was her mini-Oslo experience in Porto.
I ordered a coffee, and Semiha opted for a mimosa— citrusy drinks aren’t my thing. My coffee arrived quickly, and we got lost in conversation. But when I finished my drink, Semiha’s mimosa was still nowhere to be seen. Eventually, we decided to cancel it as we were about to leave. Just as we stood up to grab our coats, the staff approached us with two glasses of mimosas. “If you’re leaving, take these with you as our treat. We’re very sorry,” they said.
That small gesture completely won us over. I wouldn’t have written a bad review anyway, but it was such a nice way for them to handle the situation. And honestly, it left us smiling all the way out the door. 😊
Fabrica Nata
Nata Lisboa was on my friend’s list, but while we were walking along the shopping street, I couldn’t help but mention how crowded Fabrica Nata always seemed whenever I passed by. My friend noticed it too, but since our plan was to go to Nata Lisboa, we headed straight there. And guess what? The place was completely empty—no one in sight! That’s when Fabrica Nata quickly made it to our list. Do we regret it? Not at all! Was the nata delicious? Absolutely!
After all that pastry and dessert indulgence, you might think we’re full… but nope, there’s more coming soon. We really enjoyed Fabrica Nata in Porto, but I’ll save my thoughts on the Lisbon one for another article. So, where was the best nata we had in Lisbon? Stay tuned for the flash, flash, flash reveal… 🙂
Santa Gloria Cafe
If you have read my Spain articles, you may remember this cafe. There is a huge Santa Gloria Cafe in one of the most central points of Porto, very close to the famous bookstore. The ones in Spain were not this good, to be honest. In addition to its size, the variety of seating arrangements is also extensive.
I was not hungry after breakfast in Padaria Ribeiro in the morning, I just wanted to rest. I bought freshly prepared carrot orange juice to give me some energy. I had my juice accompanied by pigeons wandering around from table to table not just outside but inside the cafe as well. It is obvious that pigeons are accustomed to visiting tables in Porto, just like the seagulls in Istanbul.
Leitaria da Quinta do Paço (The one we didn’t like :()
Portugal’s famous éclair shop. We decided to taste the classic small eclairs at Leitaria da Quinta do Paço, next to Ribeiro Patisserie. Of course, there are many varieties other than the classic here. When we eat the classic, we wonder whether it would be different if we tried the others, but don’t think so. It did not suit our taste at all, it was way too sweet. In Istanbul, even a mediocre eclair would taste better than this, I’m sorry. It’s best if you leave eclairs to their homeland, France. You are in Portugal, just eat nata for God’s sake.
You might also like my post on best restraurants we visited in Porto.
