This article reviews the recent progress made in asymmetric catalysis in the nanopores of mesoporous materials and periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs). Some examples of chiral catalysts within the nanopores show improved catalytic performance compared to homogeneous catalysts. The factors including the confinement effect, the properties of the linkages and the microenvironment in nanopores, which affect the activity and enantioselectivity of asymmetric catalysis in nanopores, are discussed.