3 Best Restaurants in Greater Porto, Porto

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 a handsome manor house, this double Michelin-starred restaurant has a dining room set beneath graceful arches and a garden terrace with gorgeous views of the river. Executive chef Vitor Matos uses seasonal ingredients with great flair and imagination on his ever-changing tasting menus. There are two tasting menus daily, one featuring meat and seafood, the other vegetarian.

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).