This is a list of the best cafes to work in Porto, but check also my article on top coworking spaces in the city.
The common denominator of these cafes is that they all provide free wi-fi connection, as these days it is impossible to work without it.
I hope you find this list useful!
Moustache coffee house
Praça Carlos Alberto, 104 | Porto
Moustache is a trendy cafe in Porto, so it is usually crowded with tourists. But it is also a very popular place among students in Porto, because it has a room (it looks like a cave really) where everyone gets together to study.
Besides serving a wonderful 100% Arabica expresso, they have a nice selection of teas as well as sugary delicacies, like red velvet cupcakes.
I must warn you though, that it does not have a lot of sockets, so if you need to constantly charge your laptop, Moustache might not be the right choice for you.
How to get there: the subway station Aliados is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Duas de Letra
Passeio de São Lázaro, 48 | Porto
I really enjoy Duas de Letra, as it is a quiet yet trendy place in my beloved Bonfim neighborhood. There you can get fabulous home-baked cakes and light sandwiches, as well as a delicious lunch menu (either fish or vegetarian) for a pretty reasonable price.
Duas de Letras has a small room at the entrance (the one you see in the photos), as well as a larger room upstairs and a tiny balcony in the backyard.
In case you need to take a break they have Legos – yes, those Legos from your childhood! – for you to play (how cool is that?!).
How to get there: the subway station 24 Agosto is 5 minutes walking distance.
Mesa 325
Avenida de Camilo, 325 | Porto
Mesa 325 is a lovely café outside the touristic area, that is usually crowded with students from the Faculty of Beaux Arts. Therefore, make sure you arrive early in the morning or you definitely won’t find a place to sit down.
There are two things I don’t like about Mesa 325 though: one is that it doesn’t have many sockets, another one is that the owner sometimes is really rude and unpleasant when he pressures people to keep ordering food.
How to get there: the subway station 24 Agosto is 2 minutes walking distance.
H
Bar dos artistas
Casa da Música (ground floor) | Porto
Usually people forget about the café at the famous Casa da Música, but it is a fairly good cafe to work in Porto.
Besides the amazing location, it is a quiet place with plenty of room to “set the tent”. And you can always have a chat with the musicians that hang out there (this is how I met Bernardo Sassetti, a famous Portuguese pianist, many years ago).
Sometimes Casa da Música organises concerts at this cafe, so make sure to check its agenda.
How to get there: the subway station Casa da Música is 5 minutes walking distance.
Café Vitória
Rua de José Falcão, 156 | Porto
Although it is located at the heart of the nightlife district, Café Vitória it is one of the coolest cafes to work in Porto during the day, as it has several spacious rooms (and a nice esplanade on the inside).
Please keep in mind that, as it is allowed to smoke on one of the rooms, the tobacco smell is quite intense at Café Vitória.
How to get there: the subway station Aliados is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Arcádia
Avenida da Boavista, 1046 | Porto
As I have told you on a previous post, Arcádia is the oldest chocolaterie in the city as well as one of the best cafes to work in Porto (the Arcádia in Avenida da Boavista).
It is quite spacious, comfortable and everything you order is to die for – from the hot chocolates to the almond cake!
However, there are two things I don’t like about Arcádia in Boavista: one is that it has a smoking area, the other is that sometimes the service is quite slow.
How to get there: the subway station Casa da Música is a 10 minutes walking distance.
Library of Serralves Contemporary Art Museum
Rua D. João de Castro, 210 | Porto
The librarySerralves Contemporary Art Museum is a hidden gem on this list of the best cafes to work in Porto, with a nice view towards the gardens and free access to a large amount of books and documents (most of them art related).
In this place, silent is mandatory and the tables are quite large, which is always nice if you are going with friends.
Once there, take an hour or so to visit the Museum – it is one of the best in Porto! If you’re thinking about visiting the museum, you can get the online ticket to Serralves.
How to get there: there is no direct subway connection but there are several buses that stop nearby, namely buses 201, 203 and 502.
Almeida Garrett’s public library
Rua de D. Manuel II | Crystal Palace gardens
Almeida Garrett’s public library, at the Crystal Palace gardens, is very popular among students. Besides the wide selection of books of the most varied topics, it provides both national and international newspapers and magazines to keep you updated.
There you will find large tables (enough for 10 people) as well as individual tables for those of you who prefer to work alone.
And, whenever you need to take a break, you can go for a coffee or, even better, take a quick walk in the gardens.
How to get there: there is no direct subway connection but there are several buses that stop nearby, namely buses 507, 601, 200, 201, 207, 208, 303 and 501.
Atmosfera M
Rua Júlio Dinis, nº 158 / 160 | Porto
This place is highly unknown by the locals but it is such a great place! Besides the library, it has a cafe where you are invited to pay for the next person’s coffee, a space for exhibitions, rooms for workshops and an auditorium.
Montepio, the bank behind this project, positions this place as a citizenship project, which provides cultural activities as well as volunteering experiences. It’s definitely worth paying a visit!
How to get there: São Bento train station is a 15 minutes walking distance.
Save this article for later:
