Café A Brasileira, Historic coffeehouse in Santo Ildefonso, Porto, Portugal
Café A Brasileira is a historic coffeehouse on Rua Sá da Bandeira featuring marble surfaces, embossed leather seating, and crystal decorations visible through its iron and glass facade. The building also contains a five-star hotel with 90 rooms spread across six floors, each themed after Portuguese maritime spices.
Founded in 1903 by Adriano Soares Teles do Vale, this establishment introduced Porto to the social custom of drinking coffee in public spaces. The place became instrumental in transforming local attitudes toward coffee consumption.
The coffeehouse became a meeting place for writers, artists, and journalists who gathered here to discuss ideas and current affairs. This creative presence shaped how people in the city viewed coffee drinking as a social and intellectual activity.
The establishment is readily accessible and visitors can enjoy the coffeehouse for coffee and refreshments or stay in the hotel. It is advisable to check opening hours in advance, as this is a popular destination that can get busy.
For its first 13 years, customers received a free cup of coffee with every purchase of coffee beans. This clever sales approach helped establish coffee drinking as a widespread habit in the city.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
