I was not expecting to get my favorite drink, an oat milk chai latte with expresso shots — and then I stumbled upon Nau Coffee, a little specialty coffee shop in a nondescript square outside our Airbnb. Here is Francisco, owner and founder, along with girlfriend Maria, who have opened this first coffee shop, who work tirelessly 12 hours a day, and are determined to not only serve excellent coffee but also be different. How different? It was the first place we’ve seen that did not have pastels de nata, the ubiquitous egg custard tarts of Portugal, serving brownies and croissants instead for breakfast, hummus and toasts for lunch. They serve gin and tonics and expresso martinis, great to enjoy before heading out to dinner.
We’ll be back. In fact, we may never leave.
Where does the name “Nau” from? It’s the ship that brought coffee to Portugal, says Francisco. And the type of ship that Vasco de Gama sailed. It preceded the...
Read moreSince finding out about this coffee place a bit over a month ago, I immediately got hooked. Besides being strategically located next to many tourist attractions and Polo 1 of the University of Coimbra, they have affordable prices considering the quality of their foods and beverages.
Their matcha latte, lemon and red berries chesecakes are by far my favorites and "must-trys" for newcomers, alongside their mythically good pistachio croissant, which never lasts until the weekend.
I'm already friends with most of the employees (namely Mara, Milena, Dario, Higor, Michelle and Margarida), which already know my usual order and make it automatically once they see me - which happens daily.
Not only it's a perfect spot to study or have a brunch with friends, at saturday nights, they have many board and card games available for customers until 10PM.
Love this place and...
Read moreNau has a great and relaxed atmosphere, ideal for relaxing and reading a book, studying, or catching up with your friends, perfect for a ssummer morning or a rainy day, as there are indoor and outdoor sitting areas and hot or cold drinks. They offer a great variety of tasty drinks and snacks, as well as unique signature blends so you can prepare a cup of coffee from the comfort of your home. The staff is very friendly, caring and welcoming which makes it my 10/10 place to come to whenever I want to have something special. It’s said coffee is a hug in a mug and this place...
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