4 Best Restaurants in Northern Portugal, Portugal

In a renovated mansion near the waterfront, this eatery is a prime destination for seafood; start with fish soup or sapateira recheada (stuffed crab) and continue with main dishes such as roast octopus or the unusual house bacalhau, which is fried and stuffed with bacon. Desserts include a pudim de Abade de Priscos (an especially rich crème caramel pudding) that some say is the best in the country.

Castas e Pratos was the first and remains the best of a row of eateries in a former railroad shed by Régua station. Snack on the first floor at a high table or climb the wooden stairs to the large mezzanine to for a sit-down meal; the sophisticated flavors and presentation are sure to delight you. You could start with a ceviche of tuna, shrimp and sea bass, or a seared scallop with pea purée, then move on to delicately flavored turbot with cockle rice, or one of the delicious slow-cooked meat dishes, such as veal cheeks. There are always tasty vegan options, too, and even a gourmet children's menu. For dessert, "O ovo" (The egg) hatches a sweet surprise. There are some 650 wines to choose from, the vast majority from the Douro, including local bubbly.

It's best to come hungry to this rustic eatery across the Rio Lima, famed for its starters, such as rissóis de leitão (suckling pig rissoles) and orelha de porco (pig's ear), as well as main dishes like cabrito assado (kid roasted in a wood oven) and bacalhau with a corn bread crust. The stone-walled dining room is dominated by a massive fireplace that keeps the place warm on chilly evenings; in summer there's a pleasant shaded terrace. Servings are huge, so when dining alone don't be shy to ask for a half (meia dose). Don't miss their pudim de Abade de Priscos, an ultra-rich crème caramel pudding. 

This longtime favorite, overlooking a pleasant riverside garden, has walls that are adorned with old guitars, carvings of saints, ceramic birds, and vintage books—you know the kind of place. In warm weather the terrace out front is a great place to dine on some of the best seafood in town, though it is not cheap.