eat > cafés

Maria, the current owner of Casa Costinhas, welcomes us as long-standing friends and gives us an insight into this family business (started and maintained only by women!) which is already in its fifth generation.

The conventual pastries of this place are the most famous and traditional of Guimarães, and Maria tells us their story with great affection and immeasurable pride.

A family member of Maria, a nun in Convento de Santa Clara (now the City Council of Guimarães) took in two nieces who were orphaned early. However, after the establishment of the Republic, they were no longer allowed to live in the convent with their aunt. In order not to leave the little ones alone in an unknown world, she decided to find a house two steps away from Convento de Santa Clara, where she felt really good.

In Casa Costinhas - (Costinhas House) so called because they all had the surname “Costa” and they were known as “the Costinhas” - there was a business that helped them rebuild their lives: with the knowledge that they brought from Convento de Santa Clara, and as gifted women they were, they started to make the sweets that quickly became famous in Guimarães.

Initially, Casa Costinhas worked behind closed doors - it was not open to the public, and worked on demand - but in 2007 this changed: now you can get in, have a seat and enjoy a slice of Torta de Guimarães or Toucinho-do-céu - the original recipes were maintained, and Casa Costinhas is now an iconic place in Guimarães, where all the pastry maintains the authenticity in the cooking.

More than a tourist site, Casa Costinhas is a place to visit if you wish to introduce someone to Guimarães’ typical pastries.

Cool Tip: At Casa Costinhas we found several relics of the past. Among them are photographs and a box dating back to the beginning of the business, that a client carefully returned, at the time.