Café Guarany

Café Guarany opened on Avenida dos Aliados in 1933, at a time when the city's grand avenue was lined with cafés where business people, artists and musicians met. Its interior was designed by the architect Rogério de Azevedo, working with the sculptor Henrique Moreira, whose high-relief sculptures in marble decorate the room. Music has been part of its identity from the start, earning it the nickname of the café of music.

When Agostinho Barrias took over the management in 1994, he restored the café while keeping its original furniture, lamps, marble and metalwork, and added large paintings by the Portuguese artist Graça Morais depicting the lives, hopes and struggles of Amazonian peoples. The combination of 1930s design and later artworks makes the room one of the most distinctive on the avenue.

The menu covers coffee, pastries and cakes as well as meals, so it works both as a café and as a place to eat. Live music has long been part of its character; check what is on if you would like to hear a performance. Prices are moderate given the central location, and service is at the table.

Guarany is a useful stop at almost any time of day thanks to its long opening hours, and it can be a calmer alternative to the Majestic Café while offering a similar sense of history. It suits couples and families, and it is a good place to rest during a walk along the avenue. Take time to look closely at the marble reliefs and the paintings, which are easy to miss when the room is full, and ask for a table near the artworks if one is free. The room is spacious, so it also works for small groups meeting for coffee. Window tables give a view of the Aliados and the City Hall at its northern end.

The café is on Avenida dos Aliados, a short walk from Aliados and São Bento metro stations. The City Hall, the Praça da Liberdade and the InterContinental Porto are all within a few minutes, and Livraria Lello and the Clérigos Tower are a short walk uphill. It makes a natural pause between sightseeing in the Baixa and dinner in the Ribeira below.