If you’re hungry and/or thirsty in Porto, you’re going to be spoilt for choice. We’ve rounded up our pick of the best bars, bakeries, cafes and restaurants with everything from port cocktails to pasteis de nata. I hope you’re feeling hungry!
For Authentic Portugese Food – Taberna Dona Antonia
Come here to experience deliciously fresh Portugese food and warm Portugese hospitality in a cosy, relaxed setting. This place is super popular and reservations are highly recommended. We come straight from the airport on a Sunday evening and miraculously score the last table. Result!
That Ryanair flight has worked up quite an appetite so we start with some small plates – padron peppers, ‘alheria’ and some black pudding – before moving onto the recommended ‘Lagareiro’ Octopus. Now we know why everyone raves about it!
We wash it all down with a fabulous (and very reasonably priced) bottle of local wine and finish things off with some very generous glasses of port and some wafer cake.
The menu has a good range of meat and fish dishes and although the taverna doesn’t seem to attract the long queues of some of it’s neighbours, it is incredibly popular so it’s worth booking ahead and noting that it’s closed Monday and Tuesday.
Tip! Book ahead to avoid disappointment. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday.
For Fine Wines and Incredible Views – Arco Des Verdades
Come here for the fine wines and stay for the magnificent views of the River Douro and Nova de Gaia. This place is an absolute gem and is a real highlight of our trip – it’s so Porto.
Arco Des Verdades comes highly recommended from a Porto loving friend and we’re so glad we seek it out… Even if I do have to walk up a gazillion stairs! On arrival, I’m a ‘little’ red in the face and the kind staff bring me a folding fan to cool down. This sets the tone of our visit – the service here is five star.
There’s a full range of Brittanica encyclopedias which patrons are welcome (even encouraged) to peruse and if you fancy a change of tune, head on over to the stereo and pick a CD of your choosing.
Even though the window seats are taken, we can still appreciate the view from our high top and we appreciate the wine too. The wine list is largely from northern Portugal and the staff are both passionate and knowledgeable about their wines. We’re a bit peckish so we grab some artisanal bread and dips – these really hit the spot. A visit here is more than just having a drink, it’s an experience.
For the Best Pastel de Nata – Castro
Come here for the creme de la creme of Pastel de Nata. I totally take one for the team and try a number of different Portugese custard tarts in Porto and I can safely say that the tarts from Castro are the tops!
The Pastel de Nata are baked on site and they’re best enjoyed warm – we just can’t get enough of that smooth creamy custard in the flaky pastry shell. So good!
The staff here speak good English, the coffee is decent and you can eat in or take away. The seating is quite limited though so be prepared to get your tarts to go.
For Fresh and Fabulous Produce – Mercado Del Balhao
Come to this two storey market for fresh produce, meat, cheese, flowers, gifts and coffee – it’s a must visit! The market originally opened in 1914 but has had a facelift in recent years and reopened in 2022. The new improved Mercado del Balhao is clean, sleek and bright.
The market is open 6 days a week (closed Sundays.) On the upper level are sit down restaurants and eateries and downstairs there are a good range of well priced food and drink options making the market a great choice for a brunch, lunch or early dinner. However, we only have eyes for the cheese cones!
Fancy a sneaky wine while you browse? Why not?! There’s a number of wine merchants at the market with really varied selections. If you prefer not walk around with your wine, there are plenty of places to perch with your wine at the entrance to the market.
For the Best Brunch – Floresta Cafe by Hungry Biker
Come here to this family run cafe on the Rue de Flores for a brunch with a difference, served in a relaxed and rustic setting. We arrive 30 minutes after it opens and there is already a queue. In fact, now I think about it, there is almost always a queue here! Don’t worry though, the queue moves quickly and it’s definitely worth the wait.
The cafe is inspired by nature, was built with natural and reused materials and there’s a super relaxed vibe. I go for the burrata waffle served with roasted eggplant, salad leaves, pesto and of course a big burrata on top. It’s a good pick.
David goes for the Hangover Waffle covered with cheddar cheese, bacon, fried eggs and Francesinha sauce. It’s not for the faint hearted!
This place is popular for good reason – it’s great value, portions are generous, service is lovely, coffee is on point the food is super tasty. If that’s not enough to tempt you, there’s a decent choice of vegan and gluten free options too. Plus it’s pet friendly!
For Tapas and Natural Wines – Taberna Folias de Baco
Come here for wonderful service, farm to table deliciousness and natural wines in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s cash only and the bistro is quite bijou so bookings are essential.
We choose the meat set menu (there’s a vegetarian one too,) which includes bread and olives, a plate of cured meat, a plate of cheese, a grilled sausage (there’s a choice of 3) 2 torricados, coffee or herbal tea and a bottle of water. The torricados (like open sandwiches) are a stand out.
The set menu is excellent value at €35 for two people but we add in an octopus salad for good measure. It’s made with black beans, roasted peppers, red onion, parsley and lemon juice and served with a side of crusty bread. Everything here is so fresh and delicious.
We thank our past selves for booking ahead because this is a really delightful and memorable dining experience. Service is fabulous, our server is so enthusiastic about the food and the wine. All the wine served here is grown in their organic vineyard, harvested by hand and processed with minimal intervention in their winery. We try a few different wines and they’re all very good indeed.
Tip! Book ahead and take your wallet, this place is cash only.
For Scrumptious Steak Sandwiches – Prega
Come here for the speciality a la maison – steak sandwiches (although there’s burgers, salads and sides on offer too.) The dark, moody interior (is not ideal for photos, LOL!) suggests a restaurant that serves much more than sandwiches but sandwiches are what it does best.
We both choose a sandwich – I go for the chicken with lettuce, tomato, mayo and cheese while David goes for the traditional – tenderloin steak with cheese and ham. We add a side of fries each – these are so crispy and delicious, I wouldn’t want to share – these come with a choice of sauce.
The sandwiches are not huge but the meat is top notch and cooked beautifully. There’s a laid back vibe, service is efficient and friendly and the staff speak good English. It’s worth noting that inside, it’s almost all high tops and bar chairs and there are no reservations here so just rock up and wait, the queue moves pretty quickly.
Tip! There are no reservations at Prega so be prepared to wait in line. It’s worth it!
For an Authentic Francesinha – Lado B
Come here to try Portugal’s most famous sandwich, the Francesinha. Lisbon might claim the Pastel de Nata as it’s own but this sandwich is Porto born and bred (Ha! See what I did there?!)
It’s true the Francesinha really did originate in Porto and is apparently one of the top ten sandwiches in the world! The Francesinha is made up of layers of toasted bread stuffed with meat and cheese and swimming in a tomato and beer sauce called Molho de Francesinha.
Lado B has a reputation for serving some of the best Francesinha in town and it’s easy to see why. Their sandwich is filled with rump steak, fresh sausage, spicy sausage, ham, mortadella, cheese and sauce. We add the free extra egg and pay for a side of fries. Portions are absolutely huge – we share one and are more than happy to pay the €1 surcharge for the extra plate! Even sharing a sandwich feels like we’re in our own edition of Man vs Food!
There are 2 branches of Lado B and this one has a relaxed cafe/bar vibe. If Francesinha isn’t your thing, there’s a full menu with burgers, sandwiches, salads and steak specials as well as an extensive wine and beer list.
Tip! If you feel that a whole Francesinha may defeat you, ask for an extra plate and share with a friend!
For Port Tasting and People Watching – Quinta Do Noval
Come here to Quinta Da Noval to enjoy an excellent range of ports and local wines which are all very well priced too. Service is great and if you grab yourself a seat outside, the people watching is fabulous. We enjoy our time here so much we actually go back a second time – almost unheard of for us! Of course, the many port houses in Nova de Gaia offer a range of cellar tours and tasting sessions but we decide to skip the tour and go straight to the port.
We came to Porto for the port so it would be rude not to give it a try! Port is famous for port even though all the port lodges as well as Quinta do Noval are found here across the river in Nova de Gaia. The reason for this dates back to the thirteenth century when the bishop hatched a plan to tax all the boats moored in the city of Porto. In order to dodge the taxes, King Alfonso established a second port across the river in Nova de Gaia and the rest as they say is history.
For the Top Dog of the Hot Dogs – Gazela
Come here to try Porto’s famous hot dog AKA the Cachorrinho – a sausage served on a crispy roll, often with a spicy sauce and various toppings.
We hear that Gazela is a Porto icon and the place to go for Cachorrinho and who are we to argue? This no frills eatery is buzzing, there’s not an empty seat in the house. In fact, there’s a queue forming by the time we leave.
We order the traditional Cachorrinho – it’s the house speciality after all – with a side of fries. The Cachorrinho is much more manageable than the Francesinha (incidentally, they do a great one here aswell) and the portion of fries is both generous and delicious. The menu has some house specials, sandwiches, sides and a decent drink selection.
For People Watching and Port Cocktails
Come here for the fantastic port cocktails – with names like Jubilee, Windsor and Bliss – they’re royally good. I’m not going to lie, the Sandeman Terrace feels a bit touristy but who can resist a port cocktail? Not us, that’s who!
As you’d guess from it’s name, the Sandeman Terrace is located right outside the cellar of the same name. It’s designed and built from a real shipping container and plays on the Sandeman tagline, “Shippers of fine wine since 1790.” If you look up, you’ll see the cable car riding by!
We’re only here for the cocktails but the snack menu and pizza slices seem popular and the food looks good. As you’d expect there’s a decent selection of local wine and port but the real stars of the show here are the cocktails. Everything looks good but we finally decide on a Lady Marmelade and It’s Monico. We would have loved to stay for another round but you know what it’s like, places to go and things to see.
Which of these places would you like to try first? And if you’ve been to Porto, do you have any places I should add to the list?
All food and drink was independently paid for and as always, all opinions are my own.
