Restaurants in Porto
Porto has a unique culinary culture, mainly with fresh sea food from the ocean and the river aside an extremely tasty variety of meats. All go very well with a nice glass of Port Wine. With so many options, what can go wrong? Porto also has its own local dishes such as the Bacalhau (dried and salted cod), Francesinha (ham and steak sandwich baked with cheese), and Pastel de nata (egg custard tart pastry). We put together a list of places where you can find great food, so here we go-
Mercado do Bom
If it is seafood, you are looking for a real Portuguese experience, this is probably the place for you. The food, music, atmosphere, and prices are great. This is a place to go in a group and just have everyone share the dishes. Lots of fun!
Brasão Cervejaria Aliados
At Brasão Cervejaria Aliados you can find what is probably the best Francesinhas in the city, without paying having to pay so much. The Francesinhas is so important in Porto’s culinary culture There are two of these restaurants in the city center, which is great because if one is full, you can just head over to the other. The staff are really nice, the food is fantastic, highly recommended.
Fabrica da Nata
Freshly baked Pasteis de nata is quite a sight, the taste is out of this world. Crispy to perfection on the outside and creamy and sweet in the inside. This Portuguese delicacy can stand alone as a reason to come to Portugal. The history of this dish is really interesting as well, be sure to ask for an explanation.
Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha
At this very special sandwich shop they will make you the ‘Cachorrinhos’, a popular snack consisting of toasted bread stuffed with a mouthwatering sausage and melted cheese, topped with butter and spicy sauce, and sliced into mouth size pieces. People think that in order to make a great sausage sandwich it will be enough to have a great sausage and good toppings. This assumption in incorrect, the bread must be perfect as well. At Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha they make sure the bread is amazing as well as all the rest. So good!
Adega Vila Mea
If you are looking for a terrific diner in a traditional way, look no more. There are so many great Portuguese dishes here different meats and fish. They are not stingy about the portion size, on the contrary, the dishes are huge. A true culinary gem of Porto.
Taberna Folias de Baco
A small and cozy restaurant who produce their own wine in the Douro Valley. What else can we ask for? There are so many great things on their menu- smoked sausages, meat pie, duck, veal and so much more. The smoked sausages are delightful, filled with flavor, something really special. The place is intimate and perfect for a romantic meal.
daTerra- vegetarian
Meat and seafood are an important part of Porto’s culture; however, many people would like to go for the vegetarian and vegan choice. This restaurant isn’t only for them, it’s for everyone because the food tastes great. A wonderful selection of vegetarian and vegan foods served in a colorful buffet for a very good affordable price.
Terrace Lounge 360º
When sitting at Terrace Lounge 360º you can enjoy fantastic food, incredible company and most importantly a view to die for. It looks over the Douro River and will give the finest sea food and wines. Any hour of the day is incredible here, but the sunset is divine.
O Ernesto
O Ernesto is a restaurant many locals will say they have gone to with their families since they were children. The restaurant’s menu consists of the traditional Portuguese flavors with daily dishes that depend on the day of the week. Here everything is so good that we cannot even attempt to recommend a specific dish. What we will do is recommend after your meal (even if you do not have any space left) to get one of the great desserts.
Antunes
There isn’t much to say other than what ever food you choose will be extremely tasty, everything goes with the house wine and the staff here know exactly what you need and want.