Porto is probably one of my favorite cities in Europe for many reasons.
First, the city feels big enough, but also cozy at the same time. You can explore most places by walk, and even if you have to take a cab, they are usually very reasonably priced.
Second, you will meet such incredibly friendly and warm people everywhere you go. And the service is excellent at restaurants with smiling, English-speaking waiters!
And Third, the beautiful gardens, landscape and typical azulejo tiles will mesmerize you! But the beautiful Porto sunsets by the river will absolutely blow your mind away. They are just heavenly, dreamy, and breathtakingly beautiful. When I was standing by the Douro River and seeing the sunset for the first time, I really felt like nothing could hurt me. I felt invincible in a way because I just felt this total calmness in my heart.
Last but not least, the FOOD!!!! The food is just INCREDIBLE! (and sooo affordable!) And not to mention the famous Port wine! Port wines are not the regular wine you are used to… they are usually stronger in terms of alcohol content (~20% instead of ~11.5% on average wine), but they are also sweeter! So while you are drinking, you don’t actually realize how strong they are… and you know how that ends. There are some cool wine tastings you can do, but I will talk about that in my next post.
Today, I am writing this post to tell you some of the best restaurants I have visited while I was in Porto. I really enjoyed them all, and I hope that you will also love them!
Omg, I swear that some of the best brunches I had in my life come from Porto! And I am so excited to share them with you. You MUSTgo to these two when you are in Porto. They are THAT good.
- Zenith – Brunch & Cocktails Bar
Address: Praça de Carlos Alberto 86, 4050-158 Porto, Portugal
Literally the best brunch ever. We ordered Eggs Zenith, Dulce de leche pancakes, Shakshuka, and I had a cup of Mocha. And EVERY. SINGLE. DISH. was PERFECTION. I think the restaurant is already pretty famous amongst tourists and locals though, so I would say try to get there during the week or early in the morning on weekends to avoid a long line (although, the waiting time isn’t too long).
- Noshi Coffee
Address: R. do Carmo 11-12, 4050-011 Porto, Portugal
If you are not about long lines and crowded places, then this might be the right place for you. Their pancakes are to die for and their oatmeals are pretty awesome as well. I got Café au lait (essentially just a latte), oat porridge, Berry oat pancakes and Noshi toast. I think the traditional breakfast is better than the sandwiches they sell. Although the outside is pretty nice when it’s sunny, I would advise you to dine inside because they have a really beautiful interior and patio (from the outside it’s hard to tell because it just looks like a small café.)
- La Ricotta
Address: de Passos Manuel 18, 4000-381 Porto, Portugal
I think if I had the choice, I would dine here for every special occasion in my life. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, quiet, and the service is just excellent. But the best part of the restaurant is the food. Their seafood is absolutely to die for. The dishes I recommend are: King prawn risotto and Octopus with potatoes and spinach. They are incredible. And for the quality of food and service you get, the price is absolutely affordable and fair.
- Café Santiago F
de Passos Manuel 198, 4000-382 Porto, Portugal
This is a famous place for locals and tourists to try the typical porto dish, Francesinha. It’s essentially a layered sandwich with a special sauce, ham and eggs with fries on the side. They are extremely heavy but also just soooo delicious. It’s a must place to visit for traditional food if you visit Porto!
This photo was borrowed from TripAdvisor.
- Café Almada
do Dr. Ricardo Jorge 74, 4000-407 Porto, Portugal
If you are looking for cheap but good food and mingle with locals, this is the place to go. Each meal is literally like 3 – 6 Euros on average, and the food is quite amazing. It’s more like a diner than a restaurant though so it is ideal for a casual night to stuff your belly with cheap but good food! Try to learn how to order in Portuguese though because the waiters will most likely not speak very good English! I had Brazilian Faijão with beefand it was muito bom! Haha
- Quintal Bioshop
Rua do Rosário 177, 4050-124 Porto, Portugal
From the outside, this place does not even look like a restaurant. Well, it’s because it is actually a small organic, bio grocery store followed by a café in the back of the shop. But boy, their daily special is so damn good! And it’s 100% Vegan. So if you follow a certain diet/lifestyle, this place might be for you. They also have super yummy vegan desserts and homemade Kombuchas! What more could you ask for? The price is also reasonable, and the people working there are absolutely lovely. Go pay yourself a visit even if you are not a vegetarian/vegan, because I think the food is delicious.
- Subenshi Porto
Praça de Parada Leitão nº13, 4050-366 Porto, Portugal
If you are looking for a good but different sushi place, this is the place to go. You will be greeted at the door with a glass of sparkling wine while you wait, free of charge. The appetizers and different and fun. In terms of sushi, you can buy individual rolls but for the full experience, I recommend the chef’s plate. They have chef’s traditional plate and fusion plate, and we have tried both and I must say, both were excellent. If you must pick one though, the fusion plate is more interesting and definitely different if you are feeling adventurous!
Left: Tempura Mochi, Right Top: Kaishi (traditional) Bottom: Benshi (Fusion)
That’s it for now! Let me know your thoughts if you end up visiting any of the recommended places, and what your favorite restaurants in Porto are 🙂
Happy Travels!
xx,
KJ
Travel Park 