Indulge in amazing porto, bacalhau, and francesinha! We’ve hand-picked restaurants in Porto that highlight local gastronomy, along with gorgeous wine menus. Bon appetit, or aproveite sua refeição!
1. Cantinho do Avillez Porto – best casual dining
$$$$ R. de Mouzinho da Silveira 166, Portugal (map, website)
Cantinho do Avillez Porto
Cantinho do Avillez PortoIf we won’t stop raving about Michelin-starred Portuguese Chef José Avillez, it’s because we’re urging you to experience his culinary artwork. With numerous restaurants in Lisbon, Chef Avillez has become a national brand. If you can’t make it all the way to Portugal’s capital, thankfully you can also get a taste of his imaginative cuisine in Porto at Cantinho do Avillez Porto.
The sister restaurant of the one under the same name in Lisbon, Cantinho de Avillez Porto, is a much more casual and informal dining place where you can taste Portuguese cuisine influenced by the Chef’s travels around the world. Indulge in the Algarve shrimps with Thai flavors or lamb tagine with couscous in a cozy, colorful atmosphere.
2. ODE Porto Winehouse – best winehouse
$$$$ Largo do Terreiro 7, 4050-603 Porto, Portugal (map, website)
Facebook/ODE Porto Wine House
Facebook/ODE Porto Wine HouseRomantic, rustic, and delectable. What more can you ask for in Porto? Check out ODE Porto Winehouse, tucked away from busy boulevards, you’ll discover this quaint restaurant in a small alley. Each organic dish on the menu is made from local farmers and producers. #SustainableEating!
If you’re a wino, you’ll want to study up on its splendid wine list, especially the fabulous porto selections. They’re so fantastic that you’ll surely want to bring home a bottle or two.
3. Grelhador da Boavista – best grill
$$$$ Portugal, Rua da Meditação 39, Porto, Portugal (map, website)
Grelhador da Boavista
Grelhador da BoavistaDelicious grilled meat at an affordable price! Grelhador da Boavista is casual (no fancy pants needed) and a popular lunch spot for locals.
This sit-down restaurant is also perfect for those on-the-go, all you need to do is order whatever kind of meat you prefer, and the restaurant will grill on the spot. Expect an extensive meat selection, from pork tenderloin to the freshest seafood. Each grilled to absolute precision. Think: when the skin is crisp while the inner meat is still moist and sweet. Yum!
4. Bacalhau – best cod & view
$$$$ Muro dos Bacalhoeiros 154, Porto, Portugal (map, website)
Bacalhau
BacalhauBacalhau is the Portuguese-style dried and salted cod, which is also common in Galicia. It’s been said that there are more than 365 ways to cook bacalhau, with numerous bacalhau recipe variations, depending on region and tradition.
At Bacalhau restaurant, you can be seated at a table on the terrace, right next to the Douro River. The view delivers a relaxed vibe, you can easily recline and unwind while diving in a menu full of cod and fish variations. It goes without saying that, bacalhau is a dish any traveler in Porto must devour!
5. Bufete Fase – Best francesinha (traditional sandwich originated in Porto)
$$$$ Rua de Santa Catarina 1147, 4000 Porto, Portugal (map, website)
Facebook/Bufete Fase
Facebook/Bufete FaseAnother must-try dish in Porto is the francesinha (translation: Frenchie) which is a Portuguese sandwich originally from Porto, made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça, fresh sausage, steak or roast meat and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce served with french fries.
Bufete Fase only has one item on the menu – the francesinha – and locals love this place just as much as travelers do. The restaurant is a casual spot, as you feast on the best sandwich you’ll have in your life!
