O Melhor Bolo de Chocolate do Mundo (The Best Chocolate Cake in the World) opened in 2011 a small and cozy space in downtown Porto. It all started when Carlos Braz Lopes tried to recreate in his restaurant, former Mercado Santa Clara, a recipe he had tasted in Paris.
The result was not very close to the original, but the success was such that customers who tasted eventually dubbed the creation of “the best chocolate cake in the world”.
Layers of meringue wrapped in french chocolate mousse topped with a chocolate ganache – these are the traits that make this cake a unique experience. No wonder this delight has already reached such distinct points of the globe as Spain, Brazil, Australia and Angola.

Situated in the street with the same name, the Padaria S. Dinis is a hot bread establishment, with fresh bread served daily. For this reason alone, it would already deserve the attention of our senses. However, the Padaria S. Dinis is much more than that, it is also known for its varied pastries, having Berlin balls (the Berlin ball is a traditional German cooking cake, whose recipe arrived in Portugal during the Second World War by Jewish refugees, becoming an immediate success. It is sprinkled with sugar, but while the Berliner is garnished with mainly red sweets (strawberry, raspberry, etc.), the Berliner ball is filled with a yellow sweet called pastry cream through a side blow and is always visible. With the exponential sale of this product, the flavours of the filling have also increased. The Berlin balls are fried before being stuffed with the pastry cream. Their German counterparts have a slightly smaller diameter and are usually sprinkled with powdered sugar. In Portugal, you can find Berlin balls in most bakeries, which sometimes also have them without filling. They are consumed a lot on the beaches from north to south of the country during the summer), cream pastries, various versions of éclairs and croissants, just to mention a few, as well as for its daily meals, based on the tradition of Portuguese, regional and local cuisine, with modern versions of some well-known dishes and having its version of the famous Francesinha (a sandwich from the city of Porto, consisting of sausage, fresh sausage, ham, cold meats and beef steak, covered with cheese later melted; it is garnished with a tomato, beer and piri-piri sauce and can be served with French fries as a side dish), and ‘Tripas à moda do Porto’ (the most representative dish of Porto that dates back to the time of the Portuguese Discoveries is cooked with tripe and fat meat, accompanied with thick slices of dark bread; today instead of bread white beans are used). The service is attentive and personalised and the space is welcoming, having a family atmosphere.

A Xícara, in operation for about 25 years, offers simultaneously tearoom valences, cafeteria, restaurant and snack bar services.
It is a space characterized by its familiar and cozy atmosphere, where you can enjoy a tea, a coffee or a cake as well as choose a light meal or one of the various menus available.
If you choose to dine or have lunch at A Xícara, the menu offers essentially unmissable dishes of Portuguese cuisine, such as “Caldo Verde”, “Rojões”, “Bacalhau à Brás” (codfish), “Jardineira”, or “Tripas à Moda do Porto” (guts), while you can also count on other options. If you want to eat well in the comfort of your own home, choose the takeaway service.