Portuguese Phrase
Tem uma boa cafeteria por aqui?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether there is a good coffee shop nearby. It’s a casual, everyday question you might hear while wandering a city or neighborhood.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re looking for a place to grab a coffee, need a quiet spot to work, or simply want a recommendation for a good café while traveling or exploring a new area.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temumaboacafeteriaporaqui?
Existential "ter"
"Tem" is the third‑person singular of "ter" and is commonly used like English "there is/are" to ask about the existence of something.
Indefinite article
"uma" is the feminine singular indefinite article, matching the gender of "cafeteria".
Adjective agreement
"boa" (good) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies – feminine singular here.
"por aqui"
A colloquial way to say "around here" or "nearby"; literally "by here".
🗨In Conversation
Tem uma boa cafeteria por aqui?
Is there a good coffee shop around here?
Sim, tem. A da esquina é ótima, e tem Wi‑Fi grátis.
Yes, there is. The one on the corner is great, and they have free Wi‑Fi.
✕Common Mistakes
Tem um boa cafeteria por aqui?
The article must match the feminine noun "cafeteria"; use "uma".
Tem uma bom cafeteria por aqui?
Adjective must agree with the feminine noun; use "boa".
Há uma boa cafeteria por aqui?
"Há" is correct but changes the nuance to a more formal, written style; keep "tem" for casual conversation.
↔Alternatives
Existe uma boa cafeteria por aqui?
Is there a good coffee shop around here?
Você conhece uma boa cafeteria aqui perto?
Do you know a good coffee shop nearby?
Tem algum café bom por aqui?
Is there any good café around here?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "cafeteria" and "café" are both used, but "café" is more common in everyday speech. When asking strangers, a friendly tone and a smile go a long way. If you want to sound a bit more formal, replace "tem" with "há" (e.g., "Há uma boa cafeteria por aqui?").