Porto Eating places and Locations to Eat Porto

The no-frills meal: Gazela

The bakery: Manteigaria

New chef hangout: Cozinha Das Flores

The most popular seat on the town: Taberna dos Mercadores

The place the locals actually eat: Augusto

The tour price reserving: Taylor’s port home

The desk with a view: My Espresso Porto

The brunch spot: Rosa et Al

The meals market: Mercado do Bolhão

The microbrewery: Catraio

Native neighbourhood highlight: Bombarda artwork district (NW Cedofeita)

Base your self in Porto’s arty community of cobbled streets brimming with impartial outlets, tavernas and bars. Ebook a room at boutique resort, Rosa et Al, away from the vacationer crowds however nonetheless inside strolling distance of the must-visit websites. Calm down over breakfast within the resort’s walled backyard, pop subsequent door for espresso at Senzu Espresso Roasters or mooch up the street to fashionable brunch spot, Hakko. Browse the neighbourhood’s galleries earlier than in search of out sunny terraces to absorb the vigorous environment – an olive tree offers shade for locals catching up over a glass of wine at Aduela, whereas Restaurante a Taska serves a great-value set lunch of hearty Portuguese conventional dishes beneath the jacaranda timber, which bloom brilliant purple through the spring months. No-frills bistros within the quieter residential streets embody Adega Do Carregal and Lareira – Baixa, or chef Pedro Braga’s Mito has a fancier really feel for up to date sharing dishes. Gap-in-the-wall Generosa Pão e Pizza churns out hunky cinnamon rolls and pizza slices all day, to supply sustenance earlier than a night of wines by the glass at native hub Genuíno wine bar.

The place to remain in Porto

Rosa et Al Townhouse

This six-room resort is a lesson in boutique design. Rooms blessed with authentic picket floorboards, cornicing and sash home windows that result in balconies are made much more stunning with claw-footed baths, up to date furnishings and native artwork. There is a stylish meals store that doubles with a reception desk. For breakfast and brunch, 50 jars of tea (some made with herbs from the backyard) cowl a big serving desk; you possibly can select your individual Portuguese tinned cod or sardines; and there’s a dinky walled backyard out again the place you possibly can sit round tiled tables, consuming eggs with spruced-up sides and ingesting freshly squeezed orange juice within the sunshine.

Doubles from £111, examine availability at reserving.com.

Our decide of Porto’s greatest eating places, cafés and bars

Manteigaria – for custard tarts

Followers of Lisbon’s cult custard tart store, Manteigaria, will likely be happy to know that Porto has its personal department now. Watch cooks work with spirals of butter and pastry (the kitchen partitions are made completely from glass), reworking them into crisp wheels which might be then stuffed with cinnamon-spiked custard. Stand on the counter and down an espresso, or head to the adjoining minimalistic canteen to savour your tart with a glass of port.

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A Casa Guedes – for sandes de pernil (Portuguese pork sandwiches)

Queue alongside locals for this conventional tavern, if just for the crunchy bread rolls full of juicy roast pork leg and a one euro glass of Portuguese wine (strive the ever-so-slightly-sparkling vinho verde). Perch on certainly one of 4 stools on the tiled counter and watch your roll come to life: the bread is reduce and stuffed with a thick slice of cheese, then handed all the way down to the tavern proprietor, who carves the pork and heaps slices of the stuff instantly into your sandwich, with loads of roasting juices. There’s a patio across the facet for solar worshippers. fb.com/a-casa-guedes

Flor dos Congregados – for conventional tavern vibes

At Flor dos Congregados, each dish is cooked with ardour. Strive the terylene sandwich, a double-layered roast pork and ham affair that takes a full day to prepare dinner; or a slice of sericaia cake (a form of egg pudding) and a glass of chilled port. 11 Travessa dos Congregados, 00 351 222 002 822

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O Paparico – for high-quality eating with locals

At O Paparico it’s a must to knock on the door as you’ll at a buddy’s home. Beautiful presentation and complicated cooking trace at Michelin aspirations, that locals stored secret so long as they might. Strive the octopus ceviche with olive oil, onion and coriander.

Taylor’s port home – for port tastings

Clamber up the steep, cobble road on the Gaia facet of the Douro river (accessed by crossing the Luís I bridge) to succeed in Taylor’s port home and its peaceable, rose-filled courtyard. Pull up a chair (thoughts the resident cockerel, who likes to make his voice heard often) and order the Introduction to Taylor’s tasting flight – 5 ports starting from easy white to easy-drinking LBV, brown tawny (fashionable amongst Brits) and a sought-after 20-year outdated classic. taylor.pt

Sol e Sombra Bifanas – for bifana sandwiches

You most likely gained’t have the ability to order something particular at this bar, perched on certainly one of Porto’s many hills, until you converse fluent Portuguese. However belief within the heat proprietor. He’ll deliver you severely low cost bifana bread roll sandwiches, stuffed with pork steak and cooking liquor – which simmers fortunately within the window, luring clients inside – flavoured with garlic, chilli and secret spices. Bacalhau (croquettes of salted cod) are pre-made and served chilly, and even if you happen to ordered a spherical of vinho verde (like we did), or bottles of Tremendous Bock beer, you’d nonetheless have change from a €20 euro notice. Look out for the caracóis (aka Portuguese snails), too! fb.com/Sol-e-Sombra-Bifanas

Taberna do Largo – for pre-dinner drinks and snacks

At fashionable ingesting gap Taberna do Largo, the menu takes you on a journey by means of Portugal through a few of the nation’s greatest small-scale producers. Native wines, cheeses, meats, olive oils and even teas are lined… order a Porto tonico when you select. 69 Largo de São Domingos, 00 351 222 082 154

Cafetaria da Bolsa – for a conventional Portuguese meal

With an unassuming frontage, aside from a blackboard with that day’s specials, this small, family-run restaurant is the right spot if you would like merely cooked fish and seafood at nice costs. The tiny open-plan kitchen occupies one nook of the room, and from it comes large prawns, nonetheless of their amber coats of armour, which arrive combating for house on large plates alongside hunks of garlic and bay leaves. Candy clams, clattering of their fairly ivory shells, come cooked in garlic, chopped herbs and olive oil. Strive the sardines, grilled and tender, with new potatoes, grilled peppers and onions, and chips on the facet (as a result of if you happen to can’t double carb on vacation, when are you able to?). And, for one thing a bit of extra uncommon, strive the salted codfish mashed with potatoes, boiled egg, black olives and loads of herbs. Largo São Domingos 23, 4050-253 Porto

Rosa et Al Townhouse – for brunch

For those who’ve already sorted your lodging, it’s price absorbing Rosa et Al’s stylish and cosy vibe over brunch. 50 jars of tea (some made with herbs from the backyard) cowl a big serving desk; you possibly can select your individual Portuguese tinned cod or sardines; and there’s a dinky walled backyard out again the place you possibly can sit round tiled tables, consuming eggs with spruced-up sides and ingesting freshly squeezed orange juice within the sunshine. rosaetal.pt

PROVA – for wine

There’s extra to Portugal’s wines than port. Discover the distinct qualities of every of the nation’s wine areas at this cosy bar, kicking off with a glass of dão and a rigorously paired collection of cured meats. prova.com.pt

Cantina 32 – for a classy dinner

This laid-back restaurant is fashionable amongst younger, stylish locals, with two sittings (one at 8pm, the opposite at 10pm to mirror the Mediterranean lifestyle) round massive communal tables and smaller spots for 2 or 4 individuals. Begin with recent, heat bread and banana butter, earlier than diving into massive terracotta sharing dishes, together with roast octopus with candy potatoes. There are fashionable twists on traditional Portuguese plates, too – strive recent pink tuna with pineapple, seafood and chorizo stew, and cheesecakes disguised as plant pots. cantina32.com

Padaria Ribeiro – for conventional bakes

Get some vitality for sightseeing alongside Porto’s cobblestone streets with breakfast at Padaria Ribeiro, open since 1878. Order the pirilampos (little worm-shaped crunchy biscuits), or a lanche – a sandwich-like snack stuffed with ham, sausage and bacon. padariaribeiro.com

Mercado do Bolhão – for market buying

The juxtaposition of the Douro river and the Atlantic ocean make for some spectacular sunsets, particularly within the Foz district. On the Parque da Cidade, this bakery is known for its bolas de Berlim (custard-filled donuts) and ocean-view terrace. confeitariatavi.com

Tascö – for pestiscos (tapas)

With its trendy décor, nice music, top-notch workers and conventional Portuguese meals, this bar is wildly fashionable. Petiscos – tapas-like parts of bigger dishes – are the factor right here. Strive the pataniscas (just like a frittata, with cod or octopus), or moelas (stewed gizzards in a spicy tomato sauce). soldoutarena.com

Written by André Apolinário in 2016. Up to date by Alex Crossley in August 2023 and Laura Rowe in March 2019

Pictures by Getty, Alex Crossley and Laura Rowe