Epoca is a veg-forward haven in the heart of Porto. Just ever so slightly out of the way from the main touristy city center, it’s a special daytime cafe that attracts a trendy local crowd for casual lunches and coffees throughout the day. Natural wines line the wall, and seating feels welcoming to all: from communal tables to bar seating to small tables, perfect for mingling, a solo lunch or a quick coffee catch up. While compact, Epoca is a beautifully designed space for gathering, with simple branding, a lot of light, and plenty of pretty indie magazines to go around.
The menu is well-curated, a selection of vegetarian bites that are better than average cafe fare. Think: colorful plates and bowls full of seasonal produce and generous on the spices. Also, just because they have some (beautiful) salads on the menu, doesn’t mean their breads and pastries aren’t up to snuff. Whether it’s a quick breakfast, casual lunch or even just a coffee to go, Epoca is a place to stop by anytime you’re in town.
the details
| Address | Rua do Rosário 22, 4050-522 Porto |
| Website | http://epocaporto.com/en/about/ |
| Tripadvisor | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g189180-d12451441-Reviews-Epoca_Cafe-Porto_Porto_District_Northern_Portugal.html |
| @epocaporto | |
| Hours | 9:00-17h Tuesday – Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday |
| Price | $-$$, pretty much about as expected for a trendy cafe spot like this, but given that the cost of living in Porto is lower than other European or American cities, it ends up seeming cheaper. Most things are <€10 |
| Aesthetic | bright, airy, minimalist (is vegan an aesthetic?) |
good to know
Go here for: a healthyish lunch to break up the heavier meals I know you’ll be gorging on (and rightfully so)
Order this: something with veggies, but then also maybe something from their pastry selection to balance it out
Amount of time to spend: service is pretty fast, so you can definitely be in and out within an hour for a quick meal, otherwise takeout is always an option (especially on a nice day, you can walk over to the garden around the corner.
When to come: it gets pretty busy at lunchtime (we had a short wait around noon), but if you get there on the early side or a little deeper into the afternoon, there shouldn’t be a wait
Getting here: you’d probably be walking over from downtown anyways, but the closest is by bus (a lot of lines have nearby stops), but also accessible via tram (v touristy) or a short walk from the metro (closest stations: São Bento or Aliados, both about 1km ~13 min walk away).
Other things to note:
- They occasionally do special dinner events with natural wine pairings (check out their Instagram to see if you can catch one)
- The counter at the front is for takeout orders, if you’re dining in, they’ll take your order at the table.
Last visited: May 2019
Last updated: May 2020
