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We've compiled the best of the best in Porto - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Run by a father-and-daughter team, this snack bar near the top of one of the city's main shopping streets has just two things on the menu: the simple prego (a steak sandwich) and the belly-busting francesinha (a sandwich featuring cheese, cured ham, sausage, and steak, all drenched in a spicy beer-based sauce). Many locals swear they are the best in town.
Without a doubt, one of the most heavenly—and budget-friendly—meals in Porto is the slider filled with roast pork and sheep's cheese from this snack bar. Served in a warm country roll and oozing with pungent Serra da Estrela cheese, it's no wonder there are always lines out the door. Casa Guedes now has three branches in Porto, including a trendy rooftop, but the "traditional" branch remains the most inviting.
The cuisine of northern Portugal is notoriously meat-heavy, but local produce is so flavorful that it can easily stand alone. Essência understands this well, and its celebrated vegetarian menu showcases sophisticated meat-free dishes that run the gamut from mushroom carpaccios and colorful garden salads to risottos. Vegan and gluten-free dishes are available, and there are even a handful of seafood and meat options.
In demand for its sunset views, the chic rooftop bar-restaurant at The Rebello hotel serves delicious light meals like salads and fresh seafood alongside heartier classics like burgers, baguettes, and home-cooked fries. The cocktails and wine list are part of the appeal, and comfortable sofas are primed to enjoy the backdrop of the Douro river and across the bridge to Porto.
Founded in 1933, this "musicians' café" exudes an old-world charm. The afternoon tea is famous, and if you're lucky you might happen upon a poetry reading or a live concert (often fado music).
A standout among the restaurants within the World of Wine complex, Golden Catch impresses with its seafood as well as the views across the river from the terrace. Take your pick from light dishes like ceviche and seared tuna, or more substantial meals like British-style fish-and-chips. Vegetarians and vegans won't go hungry: diners are welcome to order dishes from the meat-free menu at neighboring restaurant Root & Vine.
A couple minutes' stroll from the Casa da Música, LEA's large leafy garden is a popular place for brunch, coffee, or cocktails. The inviting space warmly welcomes both children and pets, so expect a lively, laid-back atmosphere as you tuck into your perfectly fluffy pancakes.
Full of Art Nouveau grandeur—think leaded-glass doorways, elaborately carved woodwork, and ornate chandeliers—the Majestic Café has been the preferred hangout of Portugal's intellectual and social elite since the 1920s. After years of neglect, it was restored to its former glory and is once again an elegant place for coffee, cakes, and evening piano music.
Atop a tall building north of the city, the lofty Portucale is known for its sweeping views that take in everything from the Atlantic Ocean to the Marão Mountains. Dining here is like stepping back in time, with mid-century modern furnishings, refined service, and dishes that celebrate Portuguese gastronomic history. Local specialties include bacalhau à marinheiro (cod with shrimp and clams).
The Foz neighborhood, at the mouth of the Douro, is a favorite place for well-heeled locals to see and be seen, and this smart two-story seafood-focused restaurant has become a neighborhood standby. It's particularly hard to resist the sauteéd tiger prawns, black spaghetti with lobster, and top-grade sushi. The space itself is as elegant and well-presented as the food.
