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Adega Vila Meã
“Adega Vila Meã” a family run restaurant that is considered one of the few “Casas Centenarias” Century houses (open for more than a century)…
Get to know the real Porto Food Tour with Your Local Guide
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Porto Vore... Where it all started
I always wondered why Porto never really had an honest Blog written in English. I hate websites that regurgitate information, addresses, phone numbers and fuzzy user pictures about food/bars/events. There is a great need for an un-obnoxious local guide to the city of Porto, as well as other cities.
This blog includes a personal account of my favourite places. Prerequisites include local spots that will make your mouth water and that truly express the culture of this city, as well as making you feel infantile that you didn’t know they existed. I believe in freedom of information so all the resources are here if you need them, please donate on the button on your right below if you have found them useful. But remember that if you book a tour with me you will get all the juicy secrets.
Porto is a magical place that has captured my attention and my heart. This seems to be a recurring sensation for people that pass through this wonderful city. There is something about it, a particular sensation that is uncommon to find in most parts of the world. I think that this defining aspect is similar to the Bermuda’s Triangle, you normally arrive in Porto by mistake not knowing anything about it, it ends up being almost impossible to leave and for some reason you always end up coming back.
There has been a strong influx of tourism to this city in the last couple of years and as well as this guide being a homage to the city, it is also a way to foster local traditional businesses that need to be incentivized and fostered to continue their battle against lazy Ikea furnished replicas that are slowly taking over the heart of all cities. This disease is not only common to Porto, but many other places, and I wish to do my part to stop this unwanted cultural regression. Hopefully with this Blog I can instigate within you a new love for Porto´s culture, which every local here knows about, but that many foreigners only scratch the surface of. When you visit places like these and realize that you never want to travel/eat/drink/experience these moments in a different way again, I have fulfilled my mission as a proud local.
This Blog not only encompasses the true identity of Porto but the journey you need to go through to realize that franchising is a bastardization of culture and that all places that foster local traditional values should be incentivized to continue their mission. If you decide that these places are too traditional for you I promise that you won’t go to hell, but most likely you will just be an unhappy person with terrible taste.
Happy Hunting.
Things to do. Places to see In Porto
A Tasquinha
Tasquinha meaning small tavern was the name given by the original owners of the restaurant, it has been open since 1949. After several ownerships…
Restaurante Casa Nanda
“Restaurante Casa Nanda” has been open for 37 years, during all this period the owners have been the same. Dona Fernanda and Jose Canelas,…
Le Chien Qui Fume
“Le Chien Qui Fume” or as said in Portuguese “O Cão Que Fuma” means the Dog that Smokes; this name was first given to…
Conga
“Conga” Was started in 1976 and has always been in the same family. Sr. Manuel Oliveira spent 30 years in Angola (ex-Portuguese colony) and…
Casa Aleixo
“Casa Aleixo” is one of the oldest restaurants in Porto, it has been open for more than 100 years. The current owners are not…
Restaurante Antunes
Antunes Restaurant is a traditional Portuguese diner that was inaugurated in 1965. It has always been kept in the same family. It was originally…
Catraio
“Catraio” is the first craft beer shop in the centre of Porto with the largest selection of Portuguese and foreign beers. Bia and Ricardo…
BOP
BOP is a relatively new bar that opened in December of 2015. Filipe and João the owners have created a well thought-out environment outside…
A Cantarinha Cafe
A Cantarinha Café is a modest café/restaurant close to the art district of the centre of town. It has been owned for the last…
Fundação José Rodrigues
“Fundação José Rodrigues” was created by the Portuguese sculpture Jose Rodrigues. Two of his most well-known works include “O Cubo” The Cube in Ribeira…
Sanatorio de Valongo
“Sanatorio de Valongo” is a remote abandoned Sanatorium situated in the “Santa Justa” forest in “Valongo”. It was the last sanatorium constructed in Portugal…
Se7e Saias
“Se7e Saias” Se7en Skirts is a store that was started by 6 cousins, 3 pairs of sisters to be exact. They focus in bringing…
Confeitaria do Bolhão
“Confeitaria do Bolhão” Bolhão Bakery is a traditional pastry shop that has been open since 1896. The owner Jose Rodrigues bought the place through…
Comme Ça
“Comme Ça” is a French expression that means “like this”, but it is also a play on words in Portuguese, if you take the…
Salta-Ó-Muro
“Salta-O-Muro” jump the wall, is a family owned restaurant that has been open since 1982 as a grocery shop. It was not only until…
Tia Orlanda
“Tia Orlanda” Aunt Orlanda is the only Mozambican restaurant in Porto and even though it has only been open for less than 3 years, it…
Maus Amigos
“Maus Amigos”, Bad Friends is a recent Snack Bar that besides its modern look still wears the Portuguese cultural traditions strong. They have been…
Adega – Viseu no Porto
“Viseu No Porto”, “Viseu” in Porto is a traditional snack-bar/restaurant that has been open for 25 years now. Sr. Antonio Monteiro was a waiter…
O Golfinho
“O Golfinho” The Dolphin has been open since 1998 and used to be called “Casa Armando”. Sr. Silva, the current owner worked for 19…
Adega Do Carregal
“Adega do Carregal” the “Carregal” Tavern is named after the road in which it is on and has been in operation for over 18…
Casa Do Pescador
“Casa do Pescador” the house of the fisherman is a family owned fish grill-house that has been open for 40+ years. There are two…
Escondidinho do Barredo
“Escondidnho do Barredo” also known as “Tasca da Cremilda” is a family owned restaurant that has been open for 65+ years now. The name…
Café Progresso
“Café Progresso” Progress Café is one of the oldest cafés in Porto. It was inaugurated September 24th 1899, even before the foundation of the…
Flor do Parque
“Flor do Parque” Flower of the park, formally known as “Adega Sousa” Sousa’s wine cellar has been open since 1945. This place is a…
Cafeteria Fernanda Dias
“Cafetaria Fernanda Dias” Fernanda Dias Cafeteria is located in the centre of “Bolhão” the most central food market in Porto. This family owned restaurant…
Embaixada Lomografica Do Porto
“Lomo” as it is known by locals, opened in 2013 and is considered the lomography embassy of Porto. Before it used to be a…
Restaurante Irmãos Linos
“Restaurante Irmãos Linos” The Linos Brothers Restaurant is a traditional restaurant with a long history in the city of Porto, this establishment has existed…
Galeria de Paris
“Galeria de Paris” The Paris Gallery has a special meaning to Porto as well as being named after the street in which it is…
Nabos da Púcara
“Nabos da Púcara” Turnips in a Tea Cup is a modern restaurant that has only been open for one year and 4 months now,…
Prova
“Prova” Taste is a new establishment that has opened recently, it sits between “Ribeira” and the city centre of Porto. The idea behind this…
Salão Veneza
“Salão Veneza” The Venice Barber Shop has been open for over 60 years. Sr. Pedro de Almeida is the last founding member still working…
Mercearia do Fado
“Mercearia do Fado” The Corner-shop of “Fado” is a recent reference of “Fado” culture in Porto, they have been open for less than a…
A Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves
“A Loja dos Pastéis de Chaves” The “Chaves” Pastry store is a place that specializes in a puff pastry speciality from the city of…
Adega São Martinho
“Adega Sao Martinho” Saint Martin’s Cellar is a quaint “Tasca” (old school Portuguese bar) that has been open for the last 44 years, always…
Era Uma Vez Em Paris
“Era Uma Vez em Paris” Once upon a time in Paris is a picturesque Bar/Café that is located in the centre of town. It…
Casa Costa
“Casa Costa” Costa’s House is a restaurant that has been open for more than 100 years, and over 3 generations it has always been…
Guindalense FC.
“Guindalense FC.” Was inaugurated in 1976, having been “Rosas da Sé” folklore dance association before that. The cable car that passes by every couple…
Pedro dos Frangos
“Pedro dos Frangos” Pedro of the Chickens is a traditional Portuguese “churrascaria” barbecue house that specializes in grilled chicken. There are two restaurants that…
Maus Habitos
“Maus Habitos” Translated means, “Bad Habits”, it looks like one of Great Gatsby’s penthouse apartments if he lived in the centre of Porto. The…
Cafe & Bar Pinguim
“Café Bar Pinguim” Penguin Café and Bar is one of my favourite Bars in Porto. They have been open since 1987 and I consider…
Casa Ferreira
“Casa Ferreira” Ferreira House is a typical family owned restaurant. It has been open for over 75 years and has always had the same…
Casa Viuva
“Casa Viuva” The House of The Widow, is a traditional restaurant that has been open for the last 70 years. It has always been…
Adega Do Olho
“Adega do Olho” The Cellar of the Eye, is a traditional lunch-time restaurant. They are open from 8:30 until 18:30 and they only offer…
Solar Moinho de Vento
“Moinho de Vento” The Windmill is a traditionalist restaurant that has been in existence for more than 100 years. You can capture snippets of…
Cafe Vitória
“Café Vitoria” Victory Cafe is a great example of how a modern bar has managed to integrate within the historical centre of Porto and…
Casa Marlindo
As a lunch time spot during the week “Casa Marlindo” house of the beautiful sea (literal translation) is a recently opened restaurant (August 2014)…
Capa Cana Verde
“Capa Cana Verde” Green Cover Cane literally translated is an authentic Portuguese lunch time restaurant; if you ask for directions don’t mention the name…
Casa De Ló
“Casa de Ló” the “Ló” house is a bar that opened in the “baixa” town centre of Porto in 2007. It was reconstructed by…
Paderia Ribeiro
“Paderia Ribeiro” is in my opinion the best bakery in the city of Porto. The oldest of the stores has been around for 150+…
El´ Reys
“El´ Reys” is a picturesque Snack-Bar in a beautiful part of the city called “Passeio das Virtudes”. The Snack-Bar is open every day from…
Adega Alfredo Portista
“Adega Alfredo Portista” Alfredo´s FC. Porto Cellar represents the true love people from Porto have for the football team FC. Porto. As they say…
Pherrugem
“Pherrugem” literally translated means Rust, in my opinion a creative name for a rock bar. This bar is a staple rock bar in Porto…
Rei dos Galos de Amarante
“Rei dos Galos de Amarante” The king of cocks from “Amarante” is a family owned restaurant that has been maintaining its tradition for over…
Flor dos Congregados
“Flor dos Congregados” the flower of the congregated (Literal Translation) is one of the oldest restaurants in Porto. It has been maintained for three…
Nelson Dos leitões
“Nelson dos Leitões” Nelson of the suckling pig is a traditional family restaurant that has been open for over 26 years and only serves…
Casa Meia Lua
“Casa Meia Lua” House of The Half Moon is a snack-bar that on Thursdays offers the traditional “Fado Vadio”. It is quite recent that…
Casa Louro
“Casa do Louro” the house of the bay leaf, named after the founder “Sr. Louro”, a huge man who had a big space in…
Casa Expresso
“Casa Expresso” the Express House is a traditional family owned “Tasca” where the wife works in the kitchen and the owner behind the bar….
O Buraquinho
“O Buraquinho” the little hole is a traditional “tasca” that has been maintaining its rituals for 80 years, always with the same ownership being…
V5
Named after an Old Portuguese Motorcycle “V5” is a great option for an alternative end to your night. This Bar´s twin is Called “Ferrugem”…
Casa das Iscas
“Casa das Iscas” means the “house of the Fish cakes”, as you can tell from the name the speciality is the Cod fish cakes…
Venham mais 5
“Venham mais 5” meaning “bring me another 5” executes one thing really well, they are known for their “Prego em Pão”, steak sandwich, which…
A Tendinha Dos Poveiros
It is difficult to recreate the atmosphere of “Tendinha dos Poveiros” anywhere else. It is the local hangout and meeting spot in that community….
O Buraco
“O Buraco” meaning “The Hole” is a landmark restaurant in Porto. Their authentic cuisine coupled with the northern hospitality, have guaranteed them steady business…
Adega Rio Douro
The “Adega Rio Douro” is a traditional Portuguese Restaurant/Bar that is famous for its fado nights, on Tuesdays. Starting at 16:30 and ending around…
Aduela Taberna – Bar
Aduela is a bar that sits in a picturesque square called “Praça das Oliveiras”. In English meaning the olive tree square. This place is…
Boteko Snack – Bar
Boteko is a small snack bar which has regular “fado Vadio” (stray/street fado) events every Saturday from 16:30-20:30. Fado is a traditional Portuguese style…
ESMAE
ESMAE – “Escola Superior de Música, Artes e Espectáculo” the University of music, art and theatre,is a famous music/theatre school in Porto which is…
O Ernesto
“O Ernesto” is a modern version of a Portuguese family restaurant, it exists since 1938 and today the owner is the son of the…
Dar A Sola
NOTE: “Dar a Sola” is moving location, soon I will update the location and update the post. “Dar a Sola” is a Portuguese expression that means…
Taberna Santo Antonio
Taberna Santo Antonio is one of the best value for money family restaurants in Porto. The matriarch of the restaurant is called “Dona. Herminia”…
Café Candelabro
This bar is probably one of my favourite spots in Porto to hang out. The owners are good people and the atmosphere here is…
Cervejaria Mirita
Walking through the door of Mirita is like going back in time. The doorway is an authentic time machine. You walk inside and you…
Cervejaria Gazela
Gazela is unsurprisingly one of those tiny places where the name gives you no clue what they serve, but the aroma in the air…
Casa Guedes
This landmark almost doesn’t need an introduction, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Casa Guedes, known as “o Guedes” is the cornerstone…
Tasca da Badalhoca
The name “A Badalhoca” meaning dirty/slutty woman, seems like a deterrent for clients, but it is actually a play on words which has made…