Are you visiting Porto anytime soon? These are my favourite restaurants that I think you should try while you’re in the city!
This blog post will be a little bit different from the ones I wrote until now. This time I’m not going to tell you all about my latest project or give you tips and advice about weddings and elopements. No, nothing like that! In this blog post I’ll be your tourist guide on a visit to Porto! I hope you’re as excited as I am!
Those who are new around here probably don’t know, but I’m a professional photographer from Porto – born and raised. So, I thought it would be fun to share with you some of my favourite restaurants in the city. This way, if you’re visiting Porto in the future you already have some food recommendations and spots to visit.
But let’s get down to business!
Visiting Porto: My Favourite Restaurants
Let’s start with the most iconic food of this city: the francesinha. If you’re visiting Porto, you really have to try it, it’s delicious! And, when it comes to francesinha there’s always a lot of debate about the best one, but my favourite will always be the one from Café Santiago. This restaurant is very typical, not fancy at all, and I like to go there and eat at the counter. So, don’t forget to put this as a top priority of restaurants to visit!
Address: Rua de Passos Manuel 226, 4000-382 Porto
And, if you want to try Portuguese food, Churrasqueira Paraíso is my suggestion while visiting Porto. Here you can find the best roast beef with sautéed vegetables and, if you’re not a fan, you can always try a grilled meat option. One thing to keep in mind: this is a very typical restaurant, and the space is very simple. Please don’t expect a fancy and super elegant place. What you can expect is a great meal, for sure!
Address: Rua do Paraíso 248, 4000-376 Porto
I know “tapas” are typically Spanish, but you can also have great ones in Porto. And, if you’re feeling like snacking and trying different options, I recommend you to visit Museu d’Avó. This restaurant has a really cute and traditional decor, and a great vibe, perfect to spend some time chatting and eating with friends.
Address: Travessa de Cedofeita 54, 4050-448 Porto
Italian - Casa d’Oro and Maus Hábitos
When it comes to Italian food is really hard for me to choose, so I will share with you two of my favourite restaurants. The first one – Casa d’Oro – has a really beautiful view of the Douro river. And the food is also amazing, obviously! The second one is Maus Hábitos – which is also a bar and a night club – where you can eat great Italian food with an amazing vibe. When in doubt, try both of them!
Casa d’Oro – Address: Rua do Ouro 797, Porto
Maus Hábitos – Address: Rua de Passos Manuel 178 4º Floor, 4000-382 Porto
And if you’re in the mood for some Mexican food while visiting Porto, Frida is the place to go! The space is incredible, with a lot of colour and Mexican details. And what is absolutely essential? To try the margaritas, of course!
Address: Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro 135, 4050-101 Porto
Well, this one is a little far away from the city of Porto, but it’s one of my all-time favourites. “A Cabana” is a seafood restaurant in Apúlia, a village about 40 minutes away by car from Porto. For me, this is a very special place because I used to go there with my father. It’s a little bit hard to get there by public transport, but if you rent a car, this is definitely a place you should visit for a wonderful lunch. If you decide to visit this restaurant make sure you try the stuffed crab and the goose neck barnacles, these are my favourite dishes there!
Address: Avenida Marginal Cedovém, 4740-031 Esposende
When I want to eat sushi, the first place that comes to my mind is Mirai Sushi House. This restaurant is in Valadares, Vila Nova de Gaia. Despite not being in Porto, you can easily go there by public transport. Mirai Sushi House has a very modern and cosy decor and the chef, who is a woman by the way, is really creative. Everytime I go there I always try new sushi pieces and they are really delicious. If you go there, in the end, you can go take a walk on the beach, which is really near!
Address: Av. Infante Sagres 613, 4405-593 Valadares
If you find yourself craving traditional Japanese food while visiting Porto, worry not! We have some amazing restaurants where you can eat, and Out to Lunch Izakaua is one of them. Just a tricky thing: this one is only open between Thursday and Sunday night, so I advise you to book previously.
Address: Rua do Rosário 22, 4050-522 Porto
If you’re vegetarian or you’re just a big fan of vegetarian food, you really have to go to Fava Tonka. This restaurant is in Leça da Palmeira, a municipality that’s a little far away from downtown, but you can get there easily by bus or car. This is one of my favourite restaurants and the food is simply incredible. All the dishes are made to be shared and you can expect a really fresh meal, with organic and seasonal ingredients.
Address: R. Santa Catarina 100, 4450-631 Leça da Palmeira
I’m a huge fan of vegan food, and if you’re too, I would advise you to try Kind Kitchen. Here you’ll find all kinds of casual vegan food, like burgers, snacks, toasts, and cakes. And everything is delicious! You can even try the typical francesinha in a vegan version!
Address: R. de Ceuta 80, 4050-189 Porto
Right in the heart of Porto you can find Nola Kitchen. This is a healthy restaurant that cooks with no additives and no sugar. And, while travelling, sometimes a healthy and fresh meal is all you need! This is also a great choice for those who are looking for vegetarian and vegan options. For me, Nola Kitchen is always a safe bet because I know that everything is delicious, specially the sweet potato wedges, which are my favourite food there.
Address: Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre 25, 4050-259 Porto
Is there anything better than brunch when you’re on holiday? Negra Café is my favourite restaurant for brunches in the city. The menu offers a lot of different options, which are perfect for those looking for something healthy but also for the ones with a sweet tooth, just like me! If you decide to give Negra Café a try, don’t forget to try the pancakes and the milkshakes – I’m not a huge fan of milkshakes, but theirs are really good!
Address 1: R. Guedes de Azevedo 117, 4000-272 Porto
Address 2: R. de 5 de Outubro 93, 4100-172 Porto
And now a great place where you can go eat breakfast or a snack in the middle of the afternoon. Ogi by Euskalduna is a bakery with natural fermentation bread and absolutely delicious pastries. So, if you’re visiting Porto soon, you should definitely put this place on your to-visit list!
Address: R. de Santo Ildefonso 426, 4000-466 Porto
And to finish this list: my favourite place to eat ice cream. Gelataria Sincelo not only has delicious ice creams and an incredible homemade whipped cream, but is also a very special place for me and my husband, Helder. We go there a lot, and it’s almost a tradition that we inherited from Helder’s parents. They used to go there while they were dating and it was at this ice cream shop that his father asked his mother to marry him. And, beside this emotional connection, I really love ice creams – I swear I could live only eating them!
Address: R. de Ceuta 54, 4050-189 Porto
And that’s it! Porto is an incredible city where you can eat really well, but these are my favourite restaurants that I truly advise you to give a chance while visiting Porto.
And, if you’re considering getting married here or even thinking about doing a photoshoot, get in touch with me. I would love to meet you and be part of that special moment!
