Do you want to know a secret? How about 4 of them? Older folks usually say one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and considering the hidden gems behind many of our city’s unsuspicious façades, one can agree with them. We’ve already had the pleasure of introducing you to a previous list of 5 hidden trendy places in Porto before, but there’s no reason to settle for a single post when there are so many amazing secret restaurants and coffee shops located all over the city!
HERE ARE YET ANOTHER 4 HIDDEN COFFEE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS YOU MUST VISIT IN PORTO
BFG – FERRAGENS & DECORAÇÃO
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Ladies, do you know how much men like to complain about how bored they get when shopping for home décor with you? Yet, they never seem to recognize it’s the other way around whenever they drag you into a Home Depot or a DIY shop. Well, that’s no longer a problem! At BFG – a store that’s been open for over 100 years – you’ll be able to find the best of both worlds. As your man wanders around picturing himself as the Property Brother’s lost triplet, you can carefully look into every single decoration item for over 10 minutes (we have to admit this stereotype has a bit of truth in it!). Once you’re both finished, you can meet at Pátio Bonjardim, their secret café and back garden where you can try one of their delicious toasts, salty crepes or cheese boards. BFG is open from Monday to Saturday between 9h30am and 7pm.
READ ALSO: Discover the Secret Backyard Gardens of Porto
CAFÉ RIVOLI
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Although this sleek-looking café calls home a grand theater – which stands as one of the most popular buildings in the city – it’s quite amazing how many people still miss it! Located on the 3rd floor of the iconic Teatro Rivoli – and boasting a pretty cool view of the surrounding area – having a Matcha Cake slice or a full-on weekend brunch buffet at this coffee house may well be the best pre-show you’ve ever been a part of! For something completely new, try out their Russian desserts trilogy, a sugar bomb crafted by the Latvian model/pâtissier (rarer than a unicorn) Maria Pugovka. Café Rivoli is open from Tuesday to Sunday between noon and 7pm.
READ ALSO: Five Cute Porto Bakeries You Can Go to For Cake
OPENBOX PÁTIO CAFÉ
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
As a progressive, liberal cultural organization, OpenBox is an institution where people get to express themselves freely and display how passionate they are about their artistic work. Their headquarters – located within the Miguel Bombarda Art District – is split into two different sectors: Espaço Galeria, where you can take a look at their independent art gallery; and Espaço Pandora, where they put together a lovely and very secluded café. Even hardcore Antifas need to eat, right? At OpenBox Pátio Café, all recipes are vegetarian (to the surprise of absolutely no one), with a rotating menu that is announced every week on their FB page. The Pátio Café is open from Tuesday to Saturday between noon and 8pm.
READ ALSO: 13 Free Things To Do Which Makes Porto A Great City For Summer
CAFÉ PORTAS DO OLIVAL
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
For the last entry on our list, we bid you farewell with a humble run-of-the-mill local café which hides one of the city’s best kept secrets. Although locals instantly think of the likes of Majestic or Confeitaria do Bolhão when discussing Porto’s oldest cafés, very few know Café Portas do Olival was actually the very first of its kind in the city, serving generation after generation since 1853. Better yet – Café Portas do Olival was actually built along the old city wall (Muralha Fernandina), and encompasses an ancient city gate from where Philippa of Lancaster entered Porto for her marriage to King John I. Why is this important? It marked the start of the oldest official diplomatic alliance ever registered. A deal (Treaty of Windsor) signed in 1386 which stands to this day! Now that’s what we call a friendship! Café Portas do Olival is open from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 10pm.
Rua Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 126
Now these are secrets worth spreading! But it’s your time to share… are you aware of any other hidden restaurant or coffee house we should know about? Let us know on the comments section!
