The Patio at Majestic Cafe Porto Portugal GRK4611_01302023

by Greg Kluempers

Title

The Patio at Majestic Cafe Porto Portugal GRK4611_01302023

Artist

Greg Kluempers

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Photograph - Photography

Description

The Patio at Majestic Cafe Porto Portugal
Splendor of the "Belle Époque"
The origins of the Majestic Café date back to 17 December 1921, the day on which the private limited company Café Elite was founded by a group of merchants from Oporto. On that same day, a rental contract was drawn, concerning the ground floor of a building, 110-116 Santa Catarina Street, “for the purpose of operating as a café and beer house”. The contract would commence on 1 June 1922.

Nearly one year later, on 2 December 1922, the “dazzling and magnificent Majestic Café” opened its doors. Its structure was “planned by the Architect José Pinto de Oliveira (...).

in: Commércio do Porto newspaper, “ The great establishments in Porto. The opening of the “Majestic-Café”, 2 December 1922.

Maintaining the name, Majestic Café, since its opening, on December 4, 1924, the Café Elite Society its owner is replaced by the Majestic Café Ltd.

On 30 July 1925, a request was lodged at the Porto City Council for the “construction of a Bar (…) facing Passos Manuel Street, in which Port Wine will be sold. The Bar’s design will follow the style of our regional architecture” **. Architect João Queiroz was the project’s author.

** Request for licensing of works, made by the Café Majestic company and signed by Architect João Queiroz, on 30 July 1925. Licence stamp nº 1319, 27 September 1925. Works Archive of the Porto City Council.

It was located in Santa Catarina street, a pedestrian walkway for shopping and for the finest members of society, then and now. The café enlightened the street with its Art Nouveau decoration, by Architect José Pinto de Oliveira.
Inside, the scent of leather upholstery and varnished wood is joined by the magnificent vision of the plaster-decorated ceiling and of the endless Flemish mirrors, is an ensemble that marvels all senses. Add in the combination of marble and metal and it becomes truly exquisite. At the back of the café, nature rules in the conservatory, which connects Santa Catarina street to Passos Manuel street.
https://www.cafemajestic.com/en/Majestic-Cafe/History.aspx

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February 28th, 2023

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