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    Café Santiago

    4.1 (158 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, French
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Café Santiago Photos

    CAFÉ SANTIAGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Café Santiago

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    Road side entrance
    Ray N.

    Helpful tips There are 2 lines you can wait to be seated. One is on the main road and the other is on the back alley. We arrived from the back alley and had a good 30 mins before getting seated (for 2). The back alley has some outside tables whereas the road entrance did not. Ordered the Francesinha Santiago. Can't go to Portugal without trying their famous sandwich. Definitely for me was meal overload which I was prepared for and sadly couldn't finish. Took 30 mins sitting before I got my francesinha. Got to be honest- it was okay. Definitely had a lot of flavors with the beef steak, ham, sausage within the bread topped with cheese and egg. Now that I've tried it, I don't think I'll need to order that ever again. 4 stars Service - our waiter just took our order and came only when dropping our order. 4 stars Price - 5 stars. Price was reasonable. Considering the wait time, not sure it was worth the wait and hype

    Francesinha c/ batata
    Laurie V.

    My ex pat friends took me here while I was on a layover. Not a long walk from my hotel, we arrived at 7, before it got very busy. It was a perfect night temperature-wise so we sat outside. We all had the Francesinha c/ batata and a traditional Porto beer. The sandwich is quite rich and hearty, consisting of steak, ham, and cheese on toasted bread, covered in melted Portuguese cheese, with a beer-based sauce. It was really good. But also very filling. I had half of my sandwich left over for a midnight snack at the hotel, when I couldn't fall asleep. They do charge a nominal amount to take your leftovers to go, which I found a little odd, but not a huge deal. Service was efficient and friendly. Oh, and don't forget to dip the fries (batatas) into the sauce.

    Legionary bifanas. Português sliders
    Craig G.

    I'm not sure what to say? I've not met a bifana I didn't like yet. And this place was literally empty on a somewhat rainy Tuesday early afternoon. I figured it would be packed for lunch. I asas the lonely diner. I suppose which one is best is simply subjective. But definitely like the spicy oil you can add in this case. The bread soft as a pillow, the meat spicy tender and juicy And abundant. Simple eats simply the best!

    Janet F.

    Waiter was nice, tables are all squished together. Unfortunately, the couple sitting right next to us were nonstop coughing. Both dishes were extremely salty, but at least the francesinha sandwich had some more flavor to it. Not spicy at all!

    Neil G.

    It's Porto's signature sandwich and this is the place to enjoy it. Just the right amount of clinking plates and employee's bustle set the cafe's ambiance. We sat at the counter with no wait (but there was a healthy line by the time we left). Service is friendly and attentive, and the red wine was a healthy pour. Not sure when we'll be back, but would definitely do it again.

    Nick C.

    This francesinha was bursting with flavor and it was so savory! I ordered the francesinha top (came with fries) and it was a monster dish. I just about ate the whole thing & the fries because it was too good. The inside had delicious meat, it was covered with gooey cheese and absolutely smothered with this fantastic broth. After going to Gazela eating a cachorrinho and then eating this, I was able to not eat for the rest of the day or night. Amazing value and the staff was friendly.

    Franchesina
    Lauren N.

    Cute little diner serving up comfort Portuguese dishes. When in Portugal, you have to try franchesina and we were told this is the place! It did not disappoint. Being close to the main Porto attractions, it was mostly tourists. My mom and I shared the Santiago franchesina ($16). And this was enough for 2. Loaded with sirloin steak, ham, cheese, etc all smothered with a delicious gravy. It's not a fancy meal, but an experience. You have to try it at least once in Porto :) Waiters here were quick and efficient. Also, spoke perfect English with was greatly appreciated.

    Inside
    Min Z.

    Highly recommend by our guide for its local signature sandwiches Francesinha. We went out of our way to try it though it wasn't our usual diet. We went as soon as the door was opened and the room was almost full already, and soon there was a long line waiting outside. If you want to try Francesinha, this is the place. We ordered: 3*Francesinha Santiago-Bife do Lombo: the Portuguese sandwich Francesinha was loaded with everything you can think of, including bread, bologna, fresh sausage, red sausage, Sirlin beef steak, ham, cheese, fried egg, fries and francesinha sauce: It tasted a bit crunchy at first but as the sauce was soaked soon by the Francesinha, the crunchiness was gone. So my recommendation is to eat it as soon as it is served to achieve the best texture. Like I said it isn't our usual diet, it's too fattening and unhealthy, but definitely worth trying it when visiting Porto, Portugal. 3*Bacalhau à moda de Braga: fried cod with chips, onions and olives: it was ok, nothing memorable.

    Kyleigh D.

    really loved trying out their francesinha! it was delicious and surprisingly less heavy than i thought. if you sit outside, you may have to tell people selling things to leave you alone a few times.

    David K.

    Cafe Santiago is a friendly diner in Porto known for their Francesinha, a monstrous sandwich made of bologna, sausage, beef steak, ham, and cheese in between two slices of white bread, topped with melted cheese, a fried egg, and a spicy, vinegary Francesinha beer sauce! Whoever invented this must have been looking for a hangover cure, as this salty, meaty, cheesy sandwich was as decadent as could be. On the side, we had a mixed salad of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and onions, which added a refreshing contrast to the sandwich; as well as the Caldo Verde, a creamy local soup made with kale and potatoes. Overall, the food at this casual restaurant was simple but tasty and came at a good value, and the service was super friendly too!

    Stephanie M.

    We didn't want to have Francesinha more than once in Portugal as we didn't want to clog our arteries too much so we settled for this place. The Francensinha is MASSIVE. It's hearty and hard to finish by yourself. I would say pay extra and just share one Francensinhas as that is an option at this restaurant which is great. We got the calde verde which I must say was my favourite. It was creamy and had lots of the collard greens in it. Wasn't overly salty and reminded me of home. The pork with potatoes I would pass on next time. It was dry and hard to stomach. Overall get the calde verde and share the francensinha with someone. The service is okay. Kind of slow when trying to get the bill but other than that no big issues

    Amanda C.

    Came to get Porto's famous francesinha! If you want to avoid a wait, come on a weekday before they open. We arrived 5 minutes early and it looked like some people were already seated and eating already! We found the service friendly and quick, it's easy to use English here. Lots of tables inside and outside. Ask for the wifi password and you'll get it! As for the francesinha, I think you'll like it or you won't, it's that kind of food lol. I went for the cultural experience and while it was a bit heavy - layers of bread, ham, beef, sausage, cheese, sauce etc - I thought it was pretty good (I'm a cheese lover). They add a bit of spice automatically so if you can't take spicy let them know ahead of time. My husband on the other hand thought it was too saucy - he is not a saucy person when it comes to things like bread or rice. Balanced out the meal with a side salad and soup. Was as expected!

    The sandwich!
    Safia S.

    Wonderful place offering non-pork and even vegan sandwiches! I walked in and the kind staff seated me quickly. The sandwich is massive so coke with an appetite!

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    Café Santiago Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Café Santiago

    This was our first meal once we arrived in Porto, and of course the attraction was trying their Francesinha.

    Mentioned in 66 reviews

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    Café Majestic

    Café Majestic

    3.6(194 reviews)
    0.2 km
    €€€

    5 for beauty, zero for prices!! What a tourist trap. I walked in on a quiet morning wanting a small…read morecup of coffee or drink prior to an appointment I was early for. I was absolutely shook at the prices. 7€ for a pingo? (A sip of expresso with a drop of milk and the cup is slightly bigger than two or three thimbles. To compare, you can go most anywhere else and pay about 1€ for a pingo.) 8/9 euros for a hot chocolate? You can get cup of milk for 3/4 euros though, at the store you can get a whole liter for .89€ Listen, I am 100% sure being in this cafe is a dream for some potter fans but it is sad that the prices are that insane, but... clearly people pay them. I politely excused myself and I walked across the way and had two pork rissóis and a cup of coffee (not a baby pingo- think cappuccino size) for 3€... and for free, the real Portuguese experience with locals. The people I engaged with were lovely and kind here. This review is for the prices. Not the food, drinks, or service. Let's be real, of course ambiance is off the chart gorgeous. So if you don't mind a 50€ tab for 3-4 baby, baby coffees maybe just take a picture from the outside and call it good. There are more local and authentic things to do in Porto than pay 7€ for an orange juice or pingo.

    Delicious food and amazing service. My husband and I shared the club sandwich, cheesecake, port…read morepairing, and the Oporto Passion cocktail. The environment is upscale and welcoming with live piano music. The only downside was the tourists actively wandering around filming the patrons and staff. Recommend for a drink, but a little pricey for the area.

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    Café Majestic
    Café Majestic
    Café Majestic - Not busy on a Monday night

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    Not busy on a Monday night

    Café Santiago - cafes - Updated May 2026

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