Top places to eat in Porto, Portugal
Super cheap and easy flights to Portugal thanks to TAP Air Portugal have put this beautiful Iberian destination on everyone’s list. This July, Nathaniel and I were lucky enough to spend 10 days eating our way around Porto. This region finds itself on the coast, directly on the Douro River which runs through some of the most famous wine country in all of Europe. In fact, the Douro Valley with its gorgeous terraced hillsides is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. It’s not all about port either; from the freshest seafood to the heaviest sandwich I’ve ever tried, Porto is quickly becoming a foodie hotspot - here are our top spots.
This is a sneaky hidden gem right along the riverside with a stunning view. We visited Maria Tripeira on our first day in Porto with no plans; we were starving and just happened to pass it as we were taking in the river views. Inside, the dining room is so cozy, with a little record player going and a nice ocean breeze coming in. It was so peaceful, I mean look at that view. I would highly recommend this place for a relaxing lunch with friends and family. A small detail to note if you have dietary restrictions or are more selective, this restaurant has a very limited daily menu. I chose the fish of the day and Nathaniel had salmon; they were seasoned very simply with just lemon and salt so the fresh flavors could shine and it was seriously perfect.
I found this restaurant while doing some research before arriving in Porto and booked it as a surprise for Nathaniel. Eating at Barrica was definitely a whole experience, with multiple courses, wine pairings and even an intermission to have your glass of wine outside by the rooftop pool… um are you kidding me? It was a dream and I can’t wait to go back one day and take my family. Oh, also it's a fixed menu for 50 euro a person which is an insane price considering it's set up like a Michelin starred restaurant. It was just so exciting even from the start, the waiter hands you a sealed envelope with the menu and says you can open it, or let each course be a surprise. Of course we let it be a surprise and it was so much fun to try to guess the flavors in each dish! The waiter was so friendly and seemed proud of the small restaurant as it is relatively new on the scene. I feel lucky to have found it and they seem to like their low profile - seriously, as of writing this Barrica only has 39 reviews on Google. It's located in a boutique hotel called PipaD’oro and is quite easy to find, especially if you are staying anywhere near the river or old section of town. I won’t give away the ingredients of our courses but I will say everything was delicious, there was great variety and it was one of our favorite evenings in Porto.
I saw Bota&Bira while walking on a street near our hostel, and it was later recommended to us by locals as well. If you are a steak person, you owe me one for telling you about this place. The steaks are weighed and cut to order, we shared a 1kg (2lb) ribeye for 47 euro and good lord, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. The waiter recommended a wine which was excellent and we had a wonderful time in this very intimate restaurant. You’ll definitely need to make reservations as there are only about 10 tables.
I’m not a huge pastry person, so for me to say I would eat at this bakery every single day is a big statement. It’s on Rua de Belomonte which is the same exact street our hostel was on. We popped in just for a coffee, but upon seeing their pastry display… My eyes immediately went to what looked like a custard filled donut with fluffy light dough, dusted in sugar. Oh man. The guy behind the counter explained they were called Bolas de Berlim and they were indeed really, really delicious. The dough was so light, like a cloud, and the filling was not too sweet. The next visits we tried ham and cheese croissants, margherita pizza, cinnamon rolls and some other pastries. Everything was amazing and the staff there is very kind also. If you do not go to any other location on this list, go to Fariña.
Marisqueira dos Pobres
$$ Seafood, Casual
📍 37, Av. Serpa Pinto 33, 4450-718 Matosinhos, Portugal
The small city of Matosinhos has amazing seafood including the lucrative “percebes” also known as goose barnacles in English. After seeing an episode of Gordon Ramsey’s Uncharted in which he harvests these barnacles off the coast of Portugal amidst huge waves crashing against the rocks, I thought it would be a sin to not try them while in the area. Marisqueira dos Pobres is a no frills kind of place, but the seafood we tried was really delicious and fresh, and the service was great. The shape of the barnacles is a little.. off putting.. but I really recommend you to try percebes at least once if you have the opportunity. Their texture and flavor was similar to that of a clam, sweet and briney, we both really loved them; it was definitely worth the 17 euro per pound price tag. Matosinhos is a beach town about 30 mins west of Porto, so if you're looking for a beach day and an opportunity to try Portuguese seafood, this is the spot. Keep in mind it is cash only and save a few euros for a bottle of vinho verde or some Super Bock :)
