1. A Brasileira café – Lisbon

A Brasileira in Lisbon is one of the oldest cafés of the Portuguese capital. It was established in 1905 by Adriano Telles, who was born in Brazil and wanted to promote Brazilian coffee in Portugal as an ode to ones who introduced the bean to his country. It is interesting to know that this café was the first to serve “bica”, a black coffee, very popular in Portugal. The history of this famous café is associated with the bohemian life of the early 1920s where artists and writers frequented it on a daily basis.

One of the most famous Portuguese writers in the world, Fernando Pessoa, was among them. An homage to this amazing poet sits outside the café in the form of a bronze statue on a bench. The Art Deco interior of the café A Brasileira has remained unchanged since its opening in 1905, with wooden booths, mirrored walls, brass fittings, and a long oak bar. Don’t miss a chance to see this bohemian paradise if you find yourself in Lisbon. And be sure to drink the infamous “dark tar” bica as it is known in Portuguese society.

The interior of the A Brasileira Cafe in Lisbon with customers

2. Majestic café – Porto

Never has a name gone so well with a place! This unique café has been named one of the most beautiful cafés in the world and was a favorite of J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter, at the time she lived in Porto. In here is where Rowling spent many hours working on the first three chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, along with an outline for the whole series of Harry Potter books.

It started in 1921 on Santa Catarina Street, the main pedestrian walkway in the city of Porto. Originally it opened with the name of café Elite, a private club, but when it was restored after WWII, it became open to everyone.

With a beautiful and comfortable area outside and magnificent interior decor, it’s like no other café you’ve seen before. Once you step inside, you feel like you have been transported back in time. The unique elegance of that era is reflected in this café, with a romantic decor that included high, chandeliered ceilings. Such as A Brasileira, the Majestic was frequented by writers, politicians, and artists. With music from a live piano performance resonating across the café, it is still a very romantic setting. Having a cup of coffee in this café is like being in the set of an old movie — or magical story.

The interior of the Majestic Café Porto in the daytime

3. Pois café – Lisbon

Pois café in Lisbon is located in Alfama, one of the oldest and most picturesque areas in the capital. It has become one of the trendiest cafés in town, with a hipster vibe of crushed velvet sofas, rickety old tables, mismatched chairs and bow-legged shelves crammed with hand-me-down novels and out-of-date travel guidebooks. The building, the decoration and the ambiance are truly amazing and original. To keep you company while you are sipping coffee and enjoying delicious, healthy food are interesting art pieces and books.

Due to its popularity, it’s always busy, especially on the weekend, so don’t be surprised to share a table with other people! Customers can pop in and browse the secondhand library over a perfectly brewed bica, or lounge around over something more substantial, like one of the café’s delicious homemade soups followed by quiche and green salad. It’s a really fun and cool way to meet new people, locals, and other travelers.

Customers enjoying the Pois Café Lisbon

4. Pastéis de Belém café – Lisbon

This café has great coffee, but is best known for its amazing pastries. The most famous is the pastéis de nata, a typical Portuguese custard tart that has captured the hearts of travelers around the world. The story of this small little pastry shop is also wonderful as it is next to one of Portugal’s oldest monasteries, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.

Till this day, the café makes the tarts in a traditional method dating back centuries. In the early 19th century, there was a sugar cane refinery right next to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and since the area of Belém was considered far from the city center at that time, it was only accessed by steam-boats. After a liberal revolution, all the convents and monasteries were shut down in Portugal and all the laborers lost their job. It was merely a means of survival that a person from the monastery started selling these sweet pastries in the shop attached to the refinery.

At the same time, the grandeur of the monastery and the Torre de Belém attracted visitors who soon grew used to savouring the delicious pastries originated in the monastery. This pastry became famous and was christened as Pastéis de Belém, as we still call it today. Visiting this place and eating a pastéis de nata is truly a quintessential Portuguese experience.

A busy time at the Pastéis de Belém Café Lisbon
A close up of the egg tart dessert of Portugal, Pastéis de Nata

5. A Brasileira café – Braga

In the north of Portugal is Braga where a second A Brasileira opened in 1907. It quickly became one of Braga’s most iconic spots in the city. Initially run for 30 years by Adolpho de Azevedo, a businessman from Porto and Vice-Consulate of Brazil in the city of Braga, he famously offered a coffee to every customer who bought a kilo of it.

In the beautiful and historical city of Braga, this place delights connoisseurs not only because of its delicious drip-brewed coffee but also for its ambiance. People of the town, young and old, stop there to meet with friends, have a cup of coffee or tea, or to read and write. It occupies a very special place in the heart of the locals.

A view of A Brasileira Café in Braga during the daytime

A Piece of Portugal in your Home

Since 1922, Amalia Home Collection has been developing luxurious, artistic home textiles and linens, made in Portugal. Inspired by the rich Portuguese history of beautiful cafés, art nouveau, port wine, and our distinct Portuguese traditional patterns, our products are woven by our culture. Like your neighborhood café, we want our Home Collection to make up the fabric of your lives.

As a fourth-generation family business, Amalia Home Collection is the culmination of almost 100 years of experience and heritage in the textile industry. Its roots can be traced back several generations to around the same time of the poets and grand cafés of the 1920s when some of the original mills of northern Portugal began to manufacture products that personified the European quality and craftsmanship. Today, many of those same methods and techniques used for decades are combined with modern innovation, resulting in a luxurious high-end product.

Our home is your home, with furniture and linens for bed and bath, we are a lifestyle brand in sync with our heritage and the everyday modern luxuries that enrich our lives. Can you imagine infusing your home with the inspired look and feel of vibrant Portuguese colors and patterns?

Check out our linen collection here. Feel the vibrating soul of Portuguese through our curated music playlist here. And discover other aspects of Portuguese life and culture we love here.

Amalia Home Collection Bed Linens in shades of blue

Visit our USA Online Store to discover our collections. Contact us if you’re a retailer or a wanting to learn more about our OEKO-Tex and Egyptian Cotton Gold Seal certified products.