Tag: restaurants

Dining in Porto is delightful journey for the senses and a essential part of the Porto tourist experience. This coastal gem offers a tantalizing array of culinary experiences that capture the heart of Portuguese cuisine. From charming riverside bistros to traditional tascas (casual bars with food) tucked in narrow streets, the city brims with flavors. Indulge in iconic Porto dishes like francesinha, a hearty sandwich bathed in a savory tomato sauce, or fresh seafood harvested from the nearby Atlantic. Sip on locally-produced Port wine to elevate your dining escapade. Whether you're savoring the famed pastéis de nata (cream tarts) or relishing a rustic bacalhau (salted codfish, a Portuguese favorite) dish, Porto's vibrant food scene ensures each bite is an exploration of Portugal's rich heritage. Here are a few of our favorites, including a couple near the Hotel Vincci Porto, our meeting point for the Best of Camino Santiago and Douro Valley Easy Walking trips: Cheap and cheerful - local fare: Capa no Rio (link to their FB page) - Av. Alameda Basilio Telles, 24, Porto - Tel: (+351) 226 001 372, located next door to Vincci Porto hotel - selection of local fare, such as francesinha a baked cheese and meat sandwich (or veggie version available as well) swimming in sauce, grilled fish, filling salads, pizza and snacks to be washed down with a beer or house wine. Open M-Sat 12-3; 7-10:30pm. Closed Sundays. Casa Guedes - grab a pulled pork sandwich with a kale soup for lunch. They have 3 locations. Open everyday noon-11pm. Conga - Rua do Bonjardim 318, 4000-115 Porto - Open everyday - noon-11pm, closed Sunday. Known for their pork sandwiches ("bifanas"), burgers and other meat focused dishes. Sorry, not for vegetarians. Leitaria da Quinta do Paço (pictured above) - Several locations. Downtown location by Lello

This is a promise, and a given: Anyone who loves to eat will love Lisbon. The Portuguese love food, they love going out and their bustling capital city offers an irresistible restaurant scene to explore. There are the famous ones that everyone mentions, like Cervejaria Ramiro (featured on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations visit to Lisbon). But there are a million and one other possibilities, at every price point, that you may not have heard as much about. As a jumping off point, and in no particular order, here are ten of our personal favorites: Celebrity chef José Avillez has multiple restaurants to choose from besides his fancy, Michelin-starred flagship Belcanto, but the one we keep going back to is Cantinho do Avillez - Chiado. Informal, cozy, delicious. Just a great place to eat. Prado Restaurant in Lisbon’s Baixa neighborhood is a casual, hip, farm-to-table restaurant with an emphasis on seasonal, locally grown produce and ingredients. Taberna da Esperança rocks a hole-in-the-wall vibe and plays with traditional Portuguese ingredients. The tuna steak sandwich is a family favorite. Cervejaria Trindade, in the party neighbourhood Bairro Alto, is an atmospheric, classic Lisbon beer hall. The food is not fancy but it’s a fun place to try some traditional Portuguese dishes in a historic building that has been a popular night spot for generations of Lisboetas. Sala de Corte near Cais do Sodré train station specializes in grilled dry-aged meat. Renowned chef Luís Gaspar’s place has a reputation as the best steak house in the city. O Velho Eurico in Alfama is a traditional “tasca.” Tiny and popular, this is an authentic Portuguese experience. Definitely book ahead of time on Instagram. A Nini, in the area at the top of Parque Eduardo VII, is also cheap and cheerful, boasting fado on Thursday nights with