5 Best Restaurants in Baixa and Ribeira, Porto

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.

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).

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.

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.