Café Majestic

Café Majestic is a Belle Époque cafe on Rua de Santa Catarina in central Porto, opened in 1921 and widely counted among the most beautiful cafes in Europe. The interior is a showpiece of Art Nouveau design, with carved woodwork, gilded mirrors, marble tables, crystal chandeliers and tall painted ceilings, and a pianist often plays in the main room. It stands a short walk from the Bolhão market and the Avenida dos Aliados, and sits on one of Porto's busiest pedestrian shopping streets. The menu covers coffee, a formal afternoon tea service with scones and pastries, cakes, light lunches and the Porto classic, the francesinha, a layered sandwich of cured meats and steak covered in cheese and a beer-based sauce. Hot chocolate, Port and Portuguese wines are also served. The atmosphere is grand and unhurried but also very popular: the room attracts a steady line of visitors, and queues form at the door, particularly in the afternoon and at weekends. Prices are higher than at typical Portuguese cafes, reflecting the setting, so a coffee and pastry cost noticeably more than in a neighbourhood cafe, and afternoon tea is priced as a set menu. Service is formal, with waiters in traditional uniform. The cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to midnight and is closed on Sundays. Reservations are recommended, especially for afternoon tea and for groups, and booking is the surest way to avoid waiting outside. Smart casual clothing suits the room, although no strict dress code is published. Visitors who prefer a calmer experience usually go in the morning, soon after opening, or in the evening. It is a good stop for travellers interested in Porto's architecture and cafe culture.