I'm thinking about going with my daughter this weekend to one of those trendy cafés that have expensive brunches. I've never paid that much for a breakfast and I'm wondering if it's actually worth it or if it's just hype.
A 30€ brunch in Porto usually includes quite a lot - main course, drink, dessert, coffee - so maybe it's not that different from going to a regular restaurant and paying 15€ for food and 5€ for coffee separately. It's worth it if the place has a good reputation and people who've been there recommend it to you, because sometimes it really is about quality and atmosphere, not just hype. The real question is: will you and your daughter actually enjoy the experience and is the food genuinely good, or are you just going because it's trendy? If it's the latter, there might be cheaper alternatives that would make you both just as happy.
What nobody's really talking about is that these trendy brunches tend to be super Instagrammable but the portions are tiny, like those plates packed with decoration and barely any actual food. Then you leave still hungry and end up spending more on a coffee or a snack because you didn't get full. It's worth it if you're really going to enjoy the vibe and take photos with your kid, but if the goal is to eat well and feel satisfied, maybe a regular restaurant in Porto would give you better value for money.
It really depends on whether you're counting the whole experience or just the food. I agree the portions are ridiculously small at some places, but what nobody mentions is that you're guaranteed to be hungry by mid-afternoon afterward - your kid will want a snack two hours later and then you'll end up spending more. If it's a café that lets you hang around for a few hours without pressure to order more, maybe it's worth it just for the atmosphere and food quality, but I'd recommend checking Google reviews to see if people actually complain about being hungry afterward.
Don't go expecting to leave completely satisfied - that's the biggest mistake. What nobody's mentioned is that a lot of those trendy spots in Porto charge 30€ but then the space is so cramped and loud that you lose half the experience, and you're left with the feeling you paid just to be there taking photos instead of actually enjoying it. If the kid is small, she'll get bored waiting, which makes the whole thing less relaxing. It's only worth it if you two really like that kind of atmosphere and food, and if you can go at a less chaotic time - otherwise for the same price you'll find somewhere quieter where you actually eat better.
If the kid is small, check beforehand whether the place is family-friendly or if it's one of those cafés where everyone's taking selfies and you end up uncomfortable with her messing with the food - that makes all the difference. €30 per person is really expensive for Porto, but honestly if it includes a drink and dessert it's not unreasonable; the big "gotcha" is asking the specific place whether the portions are actually small (like, go on Instagram and check reviews with photos from other people) because that varies a lot between places, and there are some that make up for it with quality and quantity while others are pure hype, honestly.
Log into answer.
