Coffee with a Douro view
Coffee with a Douro view in Porto
My Coffee Porto — Escadas do Codeçal, Escadas do Codeçal 22, 4000-173 Porto
Why visit Escadas do Codeçal
Escadas do Codeçal is where My Coffee Porto began in 2019 — a small café perched on the historic stairway that climbs from the Ribeira riverside towards the cathedral district. From the outdoor tables you look straight over the Douro River to Vila Nova de Gaia, with the Dom Luís I Bridge just a couple of minutes' walk away. It is the kind of view most visitors only find from a viewpoint, paired here with proper specialty coffee made from 100% Arabica beans. Come in the morning for a flat white and a pastel de nata before the crowds reach the bridge, or pause mid-afternoon on the climb between the Ribeira and the Sé. The menu covers our full range of espresso drinks, hand-brewed filter coffee, brunch plates, açaí bowls and fresh pastries. Because the café sits on a stairway, reaching it involves a fair number of steps — worth knowing if you have limited mobility or a pushchair. If you need step-free access, our Rua Chã café is nearby and fully wheelchair accessible.
Reached by a considerable number of stairs, so step-free access is limited.
Visit us
Get DirectionsThe view from Escadas do Codeçal
The best time to visit
Mornings are the quietest — arrive between 09:00 and 11:00 and the outdoor tables are usually free, before the day's foot traffic reaches the Dom Luís I Bridge. Late afternoon is the best light on the river and on Gaia opposite, though it is also the busiest stretch of the day; if you want a table with the view then, come before 16:00. The terrace is uncovered, so a wet or windy day is better spent inside.
How to get here
From Ribeira riverside
Walk east along the riverfront to the foot of the Escadas do Codeçal, then climb the stairway — about 5 minutes uphill.
From Dom Luís I Bridge (lower deck)
From the Porto end of the lower deck, head towards the Guindais funicular and take the stairway up. Roughly 2 minutes.
From São Bento station
Head downhill past Porto Cathedral towards the river and join the Escadas do Codeçal — around 10 minutes on foot, all descending.
Accessibility
The café is on a historic stairway and there is no step-free route to it: expect a long flight of uneven stone steps from every direction. It is not suitable for wheelchairs, and hard work with a pushchair. Our Rua Chã café near the cathedral has level entry and is fully wheelchair accessible.
What's nearby
Dom Luís I Bridge
about 2 minutes' walk — the lower deck entrance is just below the café
Ribeira riverside
5 minutes down the stairs to Porto's riverfront square
Funicular dos Guindais
the funicular's lower station is a short walk away
Porto Cathedral (Sé)
roughly 8 minutes up the hill
Menu highlights at Escadas do Codeçal
The full My Coffee Porto menu is served at every location. Favourites here include:
Frequently asked questions
Does the café really have a view of the Douro River?
Yes. The café sits on the Escadas do Codeçal stairway above the Ribeira, and the outdoor seating looks directly over the Douro River, the Dom Luís I Bridge and Vila Nova de Gaia on the far bank.
How close is it to the Dom Luís I Bridge?
About two minutes on foot. The café is one of the closest specialty coffee shops to the bridge's lower deck, making it a natural stop between the Ribeira and Gaia.
Is there step-free access?
Not really — the café is reached by a considerable number of stairs, so step-free access is limited. If you need wheelchair access, our Rua Chã café near the cathedral is fully accessible.
What time does it open and close?
We are open every day from 09:00 to 18:00, so you can catch both a mid-morning breakfast and a late-afternoon coffee with the view.