Café Guarany, Porto
Located on the ground floor of the classic Hotel Aliados on Avenida dos Aliados in central Porto, Café Guarany dates from 1933.
History
The cafe has architecture by Rogério de Azevedo and sculpture by Henrique Moreira. The interior has a South American Indian theme, a reference to the coffee growing countries that fueled Porto's coffee boom back in the day. Café Guarany serves full meals and is also a venue for live music (fado and Cuban) and other events.
The café's interior is a masterpiece of refined 1930s design lovingly restored in 2003.
Guarany is known for its delicious, filling breakfasts, full course meals as well as speciality sandwiches and high tea.
Entertainment includes nightly Fado and Cuban music.
Another classic cafe in the city is Cafe Majestic on the fashionable shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina.
Nearby
Avenida dos Aliados is a grand, north-south boulevard running from Porto City Hall (Câmara Municipal do Porto) down to Praça da Liberdade and Rua dos Clérigos. It was first planned by the influential English architect and urban planner, Richard Barry Parker (1867-1947) and completed by several French and Portuguese architects in a Beaux Arts style.
The avenue is lined with grand buildings among them a number of banks, insurance companies, hotels and cafes. The central section contains several art works including the bronze, equestrian statue of King Pedro IV by French sculptor Célestin Anatole Calmels and the Fonte dos Aliados by Henrique Moreira.
Hotels
The classic three star Hotel Aliados lies above the cafe. Also nearby are the Hotel Universal and the budget Rivoli Cinema Hostel in a restored 1930s Art Deco building.
Access
Avenida dos Aliados, 85/89
4000-066 Porto
Tel: 223 321 272
www: cafeguarany.com
Hours: Daily 9 am-10 pm
The cafe is a short walk from Aliados Station on the Porto metro. The 5M and 11M Porto buses also stop close by. Numbers 207, 303 and 400 are also convenient.
