Santos Coffee Museum (Museu do Café)
Rua Quinze de Novembro 95, Centro, Santos, São Paulo, 11010-150
At the Santos Coffee Museum (Museu do Café), you can discover the history of the world’s favorite caffeinated-beverage. The Coffee Museum is housed in what used to be the Coffee Stock Exchange, where Brazilian coffee was weighed and traded before being sent through the Santos Port and overseas.
The basics
Santos Coffee Museum’s architecture is a highlight of a visit. High ceilings with stained-glass skylights soar above ornately designed marble floors on the Exchange’s main trading room. Two floors of exhibitions explain the historical and cultural significance of coffee in Brazil and across the globe, through photos, paintings, and antique coffee-farming tools. A visit to the Coffee Museum is a typical stop on sightseeing tours of Santos, along with attractions such as the Botanical Gardens and the Pelé Museum.
Things to know before you go
The Coffee Museum charges admission. Children five years and younger visit for free.
There is free admission on Saturdays.
The museum is wheelchair-accessible.
Large bags and backpacks are not permitted inside but there are lockers at the reception.
A downstairs café serves hot and cold coffee, and sells some of the country’s best coffee beans.
How to get there
Located in Centro, the historic center of Santos, the Coffee Museum is easy to get to from anywhere in the city. It’s within walking distance of major hotels and attractions, including the Pelé Museum, and a 10-minute drive from the Port of Santos. Numerous public buses stop close by, including the 4, 17, and 20 lines.
When to get there
The Coffee Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from morning until early evening (the café is closed on Sundays). During the summer months, opening hours are extended and it’s also open on Mondays. Ticket sales end one hour before closing. As there is free admission on Saturdays, that’s typically the busiest day.
Admire the Clock Tower and Roman deities
The building is topped with a 120-foot (36-meter) clock tower, whose opulence embodies the wealth generated by the coffee trade. In the Coffee Stock Exchange’s heyday, the clock summoned people to the bidding sessions and its chimes were a feature of everyday life. Sculptures of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, and Mercury, god of commerce, look out from either side of the entrance.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!