Breakfast ideas

The best five best ways to start your day

While the famous phrase ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ turned out to be just a marketing slogan to sell Kellog’s cereal, there’s no doubt a good breakfast replenishes your glucose levels, giving a much-needed boost to your energy and alertness.

Although we don’t serve food in our guesthouse, our location means there is an amazing selection of fantastic eateries right on our doorstep where you can grab a bite to eat and set yourself up for the day ahead. Here are some of our favourites.

1. Época

Just a short hop from the Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis is this boutique, Scandinavian-looking, minimalistic café that showcases some of the best of what local producers can offer, including cakes, olive oil and wine. Customers flock here for the incredible scrambled eggs, Turkish eggs, pancakes, home-made sourdough and chai latte, sitting around the large central sharing table or engaging in people-watching from one of the window seats. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, an easy-going and animal-friendly atmosphere and a great location make this one of the best places in Porto to start your day.

2. Nicolau

A bustling, busy corner café that’s part of a chain from Lisbon, Nicolau is one of the most popular brunch places in Porto and with very good reason. The winning formula of great looks, a cool, laid-back vibe and healthy, mouthwatering food that has worked brilliantly in Lisbon has been repeated here in Cedofeita. And it works. We recommend the açai bowl, mascarpone pancakes or shakshuka, but there are many other delicious dishes to discover, including vegetarian and vegan options.

3. Moustache

Iconic, laid-back eatery just off the Praça de Carlos Alberto where visitors can enjoy healthy breakfasts, brunches, lunches or evening meals, great coffees and a wide selection of other beverages including cocktails, beers and wine. Recently taken over by new management, Moustache is cool place in a great location that can get busy, so plan on taking things slowly.

4. Zenith Brunch & Cocktail Bar

At the end of the Rua de Cedofeita is the delightful Praça de Carlos Alberto, home to Zenith, one of Porto’s most Instagrammable restaurants according to TripAdvisor. The first of a chain of five on the Iberian peninsula, Zenith Porto combines warehouse chic and indoor and terrace seating with all-day brunch, healthy breakfasts (including vegan and gluten-free options), great coffee and even cocktails should the mood take you. We recommend the famous Francesinha’s pancakes, Eggs Zenith, fruit granola and the golden latte with turmeric.

5. Vogue Café

Dine out in the lap of luxury at this chic, elegant place in the heart of the city. In surroundings that look more at home in the pages of the magazine from which this upmarket eatery takes its name, you can soak up the atmosphere and choose from a delicious, exquisitely presented range of breakfasts, brunches, lunches or evening meals at surprisingly reasonable prices. Open from midday until midnight (and beyond at the weekend), Vogue Café is a place to see and be seen whether indoors or on its delightful terrace. If you’re looking to start the day in style, look no further.