The Best Restaurants in Porto, Portugal's Epicurean Gem
Porto is synonymous with port, which has been shipped from its cellars to the world since the early 17th century. The fortified wine is sweet and rich, and is best sipped as an aperitif or digestif with dessert. So, how does one fill the void in between? Fortunately, Porto is brimming with elevated cafés, epicurean wine bars, and innovative fine dining restaurants that will keep you busy from noon to night. And while Porto has recently implemented a ban on alcohol sales at retailers between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., its licensed restaurants, cafés, and bars can continue to pour their fine wine selections.
One of the most exciting new openings in Porto is the 1638 Restaurant & Wine Bar, which is helmed by three-Michelin-Star chef Nacho Manzano and is purposefully cultivating an air of mystery around its 11-course Sensory Menu. Another is Kaigi, the Japanese-Portuguese restaurant from the respected chef Vasco Coelho Santos and his Euskalduna hospitality group. Meanwhile, chef Vitor Matos has not one but two Michelin Star restaurants in the city now, Blind and Antiqvvm.
When traveling with tastebuds, the unique location of each eatery should also be considered. From a historic tea house set on the rocks of the Costa Verde (Casa de Chá da Boa Nova) to a cool inner-city neighborhood spot (Tia Tia), a deconsecrated and decorated church (Capela Incomum) to sweeping views on either side of the Douro River (1638, Casario, and The Yeatman), there’s no shortage of scenery either.
While all of the dining destinations below have their own unique take on traditional cuisine and new techniques, a theme throughout the menus is “Portugality,” celebrating the unique cultural identity of Portugal and its diaspora from the past to present. The time to book a restaurant in Porto is now. Below, our selection of the best restaurants in Porto, Portugal, in no particular order.
Read our complete Porto travel guide here, which includes:
How we choose the best restaurants in Porto, Portugal
Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that restaurant. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries, and weigh stand-out dishes, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.
Tia Tia
Best Porto restaurant for: natural wines
There’s no shortage of restaurants offering Portuguese food in Porto, but Tia Tia does things a little differently, with a creative twist on dishes you can find all across the country. Dinner service is only available on Wednesday to Saturday and paid for in cash only. Despite a heavily vegetarian-skewed menu, the restaurant isn’t strictly veggie but instead relies on finding the freshest local and seasonal ingredients to cater to its ever-changing menu. Expect moreish combinations, such as cauliflower with coconut escabeche, mushrooms topped with a shoyuzuke yolk, and sea bass crudo with cashew and sage.
It’s the wines that shine here, though. Tiago Feio and Cátia Roldão, who own the spot, showcase the very best natural wines that Portugal has to offer (and it’s certainly hard to choose a favorite). Housed in a cool, open space that almost feels like your stylish friend’s front room, Tia Tia is an ideal spot for a relaxed evening that’s focused on tasting great wines and dishes.
Price range: $$
Where? Baixa
Should I book? Yes.
Capela Incomum
Best Porto restaurant for: an altar to tapas
Around the corner from the famed Igreja do Carmo, you will find another church—this one is deconsecrated and painted in a sunshine yellow. Capela Incomum is a neighborhood wine and tapas bar that attracts a cool crowd with casual street-side seating. Cozy tables inside look up to an ornate wood altar, and personal belongings are often left on them as diners have a cigarette-course outside. For when you need a break from fine dining or heavy francesinha, the menu offers unpretentious bites from Serra da Estrela cheese with fig jam to brioche roast beef with caramelized onion and parmigiano, and even babaganoush with falafel and yogurt sauce. A colorful selection of wines is displayed on modern shelving in the entrance of the bar, which is mainly from the Douro and Minho regions and ranges from modern producers to aged port.
Price range: $
Where? Miragaia
Should I book? No, but it can get busy in the evenings.
Oma
Best Porto restaurant for: value for money
While it’s a local favorite, the menu at Oma is a journey, reflecting that of its chef Luís Moreira and his partner Ana Silveira. There’s Atlantic fish or Iberian pork with bomba rice and apfelstrudel and vanilla cream for dessert. To translate this: the couple met at a tourism school in Portugal, before spending five years in Germany. Back in Porto, they worked at well-known hotels and restaurants, including The Yeatman, before starting their own gastronomic project when staying in Baião, next to the UNESCO heritage Douro Valley. After two years, they moved Oma (named after the German word for grandmother, as they are the foundation figure of all cuisine) to the Porto neighborhood of Boavista. Another dessert option is Oma's Bolo de Bolacha, a Portuguese dessert that is layered like a tiramisu but more delicate. A favored wine for pairing is the boutique white Pra Lá, which has a French creamy style but comes from their friends in the Douro Valley. There are only eight tables at Oma, but the service is accommodating, allowing à la carte and two tasting menu options. It has recently been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand award, acknowledging its excellent value for money.
Price range: $$
Where? Boavista
Should I book? Yes.
Kaigi
Best Porto restaurant for: Portuguese-Japanese fusion
There are a growing number of Asian-inspired restaurants in Portugal, and the best fuse fresh local cuisine with time-honored international techniques. Kaigi follows the tradition of Japanese izakayas and umami, from the outskirts of Porto’s historic center. The omakase menu revolves around the best ingredients of the day, and a central kitchen where 20 guests can sit around at the bar. There are seven courses—and 10 moments—served over the counter, as guests, both known and new, discuss each morsel. Highlights include an Algarve pink shrimp gunkan that is shaped like a rabelo boat and comes with sauce made with shrimp heads, freshly ground wasabi, yuzu kosho, tempura crush, and squid ink. (The Japanese tempura technique is inspired by the batter that the Portuguese brought to Japan in the 16th century, although they made it lighter.) Kaigi is part of the Euskalduna Group of contemporary kitchens, by award-winning chef Vasco Coelho Santos, who is passionate about sharing the best possible ingredients. Bread from his bakery, Ogi by Euskalduna, is served during the tasting menu—but towards the end to make sure you don’t fill up on it first. Throughout the tasting, wine pairings range from sakes to vinhas velhas. The dessert, much like the mains, is designed to be held in one hand and devoured. Kaigi’s signature is inspired by the Portuguese dessert Romeo and Juliet, which combines cheese with quince marmalade. Coelho Santos’s take sees a charcoal-grilled mochi stretched under layers of Azores Island cheese processed into a cream, a pear soaked in Madeira wine, and grated cheese on top. The different textures, and temperatures, create an optimal balance between sweet and salty. Kaigi is an evocative place. The space has warm wooden shelving and light noren curtains that, when closed, make you feel like you are in the back streets of Tokyo or Osaka. A great respect for both cultures and culinary creativity, ensures the best of both worlds.
Price range: $$$
Where? Boavista
Should I book? Yes.
Luis FerrazCasario
Best Porto restaurant for: incredible views
One thing about Porto: there’s a great view wherever you look. It’s impossible not to be charmed by this rugged, colorful city. Nowhere will you feel more in love with the place than down by the river, where you can stroll along to the Dom Luís I Bridge or gaze across the water to Vila Nova de Gaia. Down on the street, the tourists can be a little overpowering—but if you manage to bag one of the tables overlooking the river upstairs at Casario, you’ll float above all the hustle and bustle, leaving you to enjoy the blissful sunset over dinner.
Found in the Gran Cruz House, a hotel in a 16th-century building formerly used as a trade house for coffee, Casario undoubtedly has some of the best tables among Porto's restaurants. And with one of Portugal’s most famous chefs, Miguel Castro Silva, at the helm, the restaurant is sleek but holds on to its Portuguese traditions. Expect a huge range of local wines, and port made just across the river. Food is classic—octopus and watercress on sweet potato mash to start, followed by Bisaro pork belly with cabbage and garlic sauce—but we’d highly recommend the tasting menu, chosen by the chef. It’s also worth noting that service really stands out here: staff go the extra mile to ensure you have a wonderful meal, and the result is a truly memorable meal.
Price range: $$
Where? Ribeira Square
Should I book? Yes.
Vila Foz restaurant
Best Porto restaurant for: fine dining by the sea
In a resplendently restored dining room at the Vila Foz, a fine dining restaurant is inspired by the Atlantic Ocean that crashes to the shore nearby. At this one Michelin Star restaurant, the Maresia tasting menu plates fresh coastal flavors, such as amberjack, avocado, and dashi or spider crab and mussels in a moqueca stew. Like the tides, the flavors ebb and flow and the 12 courses, including a bonus bread delivery with caviar, feel perfectly timed. The Novo Mundo menu is a “new world” journey where vegetarian dishes are given the respect they so deserve—from an organic nest egg from a Preta Lusitânica (a traditional Portuguese chicken) sprinkled with São Jorge Island cheese aged for 24 months, to fresh beetroot served with raspberry and balsamic vinegar. Both are served with fine Portuguese and world wine pairings. The menu, which also has à la carte options, is the master work of chef Arnaldo Azevedo, who champions “Portugality”—encompassing the culture, heritage, and identity of Portugal in his cuisine. At his Kitchen Seat, he invites two dinner guests at a time to watch the dishes being prepared, before they are served with their own special stories that stir the senses as much as the bracing sea outside.
Price range: $$$$
Where? Foz do Douro
Should I book? Yes.
1638 Restaurant & Wine Bar
Best Porto restaurant for: tradition meets transformation
Established in 1638, Kopke is the world’s oldest port wine house, opening over one hundred years before the official demarcation of the Douro wine region. Established in 2025, the Tivoli Kopke hotel’s new restaurant, 1638 Restaurant & Wine Bar, is also visionary. It offers a Sensory Menu, with 11 or nine courses, by three-Michelin-starred Spanish chef Nacho Manzano, which unites the traditions of the land with the riches of the Atlantic sea in an innovative new format. In front of floor-to-ceiling windows with views over Gaia and the River Douro, diners will enjoy surprising takes on smoked fish, Iberico ham, caviar, and truffles with dish names such as “iodine, cliffs, salt, floating, sky.” (They don’t want us to give too much away, and the exclusive menu changes every two months, anyway.) Each course may be paired with Douro DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) still wines as well as ancient and rare Kopke Port wines (especially their specialty, tawny and white) that are still stored in the historic cellar adjoining the hotel.
Price range: $$$$
Where? Vila Nova de Gaia
Should I book? Yes.
Cozinha das Flores
Best Porto restaurant for: authentic flavors
Nuno Mendes—of Lisboeta in London—has opened his first restaurant in northern Portugal, inspired by flavors in the region. Portuguese dishes can vary hugely in different regions. Although Mendes is from Lisbon, his mother’s roots in the north of the country inspired him to bring its traditions to the ever-popular city of Porto.
The result is one of the most talked-about restaurants in this city. Dishes are a combination of traditional techniques and new tastes. The turnip pastel de nata, topped with a generous dollop of caviar, is not to be missed. A rare flavor is an unusual thing to find now, but this manages to be like nothing you’ve tried—a combination of creamy, salty, and buttery goodness that you’ll remember for a long time. The milk dessert—so-named because it consists of different textures of milk inspired by Mendes’s childhood on his grandparents’ dairy farm—is another special choice that will stay with you. Other dishes include giant squid noodles (from the Azores) with chickpeas and cod tripe stew, native blue lobster, and tomato wet rice and Alentejo pork shoulder steak with Sarrabulho rice (cooked with flavorful broth) and grilled brassicas.
The restaurant’s location in Porto means it’s perfectly placed to offer a selection of wonderful wines from the Douro, Vinho Verde and Dão wine regions, with an excellent sommelier on-hand ready to share their knowledge for the perfect pairings. If cocktails are more your thing, Flôr is a 12-seat bar that is placed alongside the restaurant and offers complex and creative cocktails to start (or end) your evening beautifully. But now it is serving a pestiscos (Portuguese tapas), in the evenings, it is worth a separate visit. Plus, a selection of interesting house ice-creams is churned each day—and appreciated most over summer. You could even book into the equally wonderful hotel, The Largo, to which the restaurant and bar belong.
Price range: $$$
Where? São Bento
Should I book? Yes.
Café Santiago
Best Porto restaurant for: francesinha sandwiches
It would be amiss to leave Porto without trying this classic Portuguese sandwich—with assorted meats covered in melted cheese and a fried egg and finished with a tomato and beer sauce—and we think this is the best one in the city. We recommend the classic with Bife do Lobo (including Sirloin beef steak, sausage, and ham) which will keep you full until way past dinner time.
Café Santiago is certainly not Michelin dining, but there’s something wonderfully homey about the francesinha—so much so, you might even be tempted to return during your trip. Go hungry and expect to wait in line, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend and want to sit outside.
Price range: $
Where? Central Porto
Should I book? No, but you’ll probably have to wait for a table.
Euskalduna Studio
Best Porto restaurant for: chic eats
Cookbooks, wine, and other prized objects line the dimly lit shelves of this small neighborhood restaurant, and give a hint of what to expect: an inventive tasting menu inspired by world cooking techniques. Boasting a justified Michelin star, the original Euskalduna is not about linen tablecloths and fresh flowers, it is an edgy, innovative, inspiring space, best experienced at the marble-topped central counter where the talented chefs can explain the dishes to you. It's one of the most exciting restaurants in the city.
Price range: $$$$
Where? Bolhão
Should I book? Yes.
Época Porto
Best Porto restaurant for: brunch
Porto's reputation as the arty city in Portugal means that there are plenty of creative cafés and restaurants serving all-day food—and nowhere does brunch better than the always-bustling Época. Here, clichéd brunch dishes are given an elevated twist—the scrambled eggs are topped with a cascade of parmigiano cheese, chives, and black pepper on sourdough and the French toast is made with brioche from a neighboring baker (MiBa!) and layered with cream cheese, vanilla, and miso caramel.
The crowd is a mixture of locals of all ages and tourists lucky enough to have stumbled upon the café. Go hungry—you'll want to try almost everything on the menu.
Price range: $
Where? Miragaia
Should I book? No, but you may need to wait for a table.
Gruta
Best Porto restaurant for: seafood
You want two things in Porto: good wine and seafood. Gruta, a cozy, joyful restaurant in the center of town that has earned the Bib Gourmand status does both impeccably, but the latter is particularly worthy of merit thanks to the all-female chef team headed up by Carolina Giandalia. Inspired by Brazilian cuisine, with a Portuguese flair, the menu is vibrant. Order the barnacles, razor clams, and mussels with a green vinaigrette of tomato water and coriander oil to taste how seafood shines, and be sure to ask for advice on wine pairings—the right one takes your meal to the next level. Finish up with the baba au Porto, a cake soaked in dry white port wine syrup with caramelized pears and cumaru cream. You might need to roll home, but it'll be worth it.
Price range: $$
Where? Santo Ildefonso
Should I book? Yes.
Luis FerrazBlind
Best Porto restaurant for: a tasting menu experience
Those who love to be surprised and experiment with new flavors will adore Blind. In the stunning Torel Palace hotel, the restaurant pays tribute to one of Portuguese writer José Saramago’s most famous books, Blindness. The menu is from chef Vitor Matos, who currently holds five Michelin stars across his restaurants, with Blind one of his latest to be awarded. Dinner here comes in “moments,” each one explained by your waiter as it's served rather than via a menu.
Expect everything to feel and taste surprisingly wonderful. You’ll eat one dish with blindfolds or a pair of headphones on, for example.
Price range: $$$
Where? Batalha Square
Should I book? Yes.
Restaurante Dona Maria
Best Porto restaurant for: a cozy atmosphere
If you gravitate towards restaurants that feel homely rather than minimal, you’ll love Dona Maria. Located in Forte de Gaia (formerly The Lodge) by Autograph Collection, it’s yet another place with a stunning view of Porto’s many layers. We think it’s extra beautiful when the sun goes down, thanks to the giant wooden vine leaves that appear to light up the ceiling and the inviting wine cellar.
The menu here pays tribute to the “Donas Marias,” the skillful cooks of Portuguese history, with a focus on the best recipes from Porto and Northern Portugal. Expect dishes such as Bisaro confit pork with Algarve orange reduction or Arroz de Tamboril (monkfish rice with shrimp and coriander). This is a great restaurant to sample the country’s flavors.
Price range: $$$
Where? Vila Nova de Gaia
Should I book? Yes.
Chez Maurice
Best Porto restaurant for: beachside dining
Most first-time visitors to Porto probably won’t factor in a visit to the beach, but if you have time, you should. Portugal’s sandy beaches are notoriously beautiful, and easy to reach from the city center. On top of the sand (literally, the restaurant’s platform is feet from the waves) is Chez Maurice—a favorite of locals thanks to its stunning sundowner location. Food is simple, with classic tapas dishes leading the way, but it’s the mojitos (including strawberry or passionfruit flavored) that people regularly return to, making this a great choice for fun, easy dinners.
Price range: $
Where? Vila Nova de Gaia
Should I book? No.
Casa de Chá da Boa Nova
Best restaurant in Porto for: fine dining on the rocks
Set in a historic monument (the Boa Nova Tea House) a short drive out of town, this extraordinary restaurant combines the brilliance of acclaimed architect Álvaro Siza Vieira with the talents of Chef Rui Paula. Ensconced on the cliff’s edge above the beach of Boa Nova, Siza Vieira has managed to incorporate the rocks in the design of the restaurant. The menu, By Seas Never Before Sailed, is inspired by the great 16th-century Portuguese poet, Luis de Camões and lays bare the culinary soul of Portugal on a plate. From lobster to cuttlefish, John Dory to amberjack, here you can taste the best of a kitchen that can reach out and touch the Atlantic Ocean.
Price range $$$$
Where? Leça da Palmeira
Do I need to book? Yes.
WWW.NUMO.PTThe Yeatman Gastronomic Restaurant
Best Porto restaurant for: fine dining
Setting the bar among the increasing number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Porto, The Yeatman Hotel's flagship has two, plus some of the best views of Porto. The menu here is led by chef Ricardo Costa, and his tasting menu focuses heavily on Portuguese cuisine made modern. Expect plenty of fish dishes, fresh local vegetables, and moreish sauces to add the finishing touch. The wine pairing is a wonderful way to discover some of the region’s best wines with the help of a sommelier who can share their tasting tips. On Thursdays, Costa hosts experimental Wine Dinners that showcase one of their many wine producer partners in an intimate setting.
Price range: $$$$
Where? Vila Nova de Gaia
Should I book? Yes.
Éon
Best Porto restaurant for: an artful menu
At the Palacete Severo historic hotel-meets-art-gallery, the Éon restaurant is focused on the past, present, and future. The fine dining full tasting menu, with 14 unique moments, is presented on a beautifully packaged postcard from Michelin-Starred chef Tiago Bonito, who wishes to create an emotional connection and shared moments at the table. Core memories include the Caviar 3.0, with sea urchin, violet shrimp, and seaweed; bluefin tuna tartare with fresher than fresh oyster, cucumber, apple, and wasabi; and veal with smoked celery, São Miguel cheese, and wild mushrooms. The wines that met us along the way were full of flavor, and, to use the sommelier’s Portuguese expression, were “a lot of fruit.” Desserts were refreshing with the Buddha's hand fruit grated over a bowl of passionfruit and carrot with mascarpone and Chuncho chocolate, paired, of course, with Madeira wine.
Price range: $$$$
Where? Boavista
Do I need to book? Yes.
Antiqvvm
Best restaurant in Porto for: alfresco dining
Beautifully set in an old manor house, once used in the port business, this restaurant spills out into a leafy garden with views over the Douro River. Antiqvvm has two Michelin Stars and chef Vitor Matos serves two tasting menus here—one of the sensory moments (the highlight of which is the Imperial Anjou pigeon, with chanterelles, turnips, and truffles) and the other, organic, which is vegetarian and includes a delicious take on São Jorge cheese from the Azores, with baby broccoli and fermented walnuts.
Price range $$$$
Where? Central Porto
Do I need to book? Yes.
Enoteca 17.56
Best Porto restaurant for: wine tasting
If part of your trip to Porto includes port wine tasting (as it should), you’ll likely be paying a visit to Real Companhia Velha in Gaia, the home of the oldest wine company in Portugal. While you’re there, we highly recommend a visit to the atmospheric restaurant, Enoteca. With a menu focused on classic, delicious dishes, there’s something for everyone. Must-have dishes include steak tartare, octopus, aged meats, and, of course, there are hundreds of wine options to choose from as you order. A great option for a day of indulgence in a glamorous wine store.
Price range $$$$
Where? Cais de Gaia
Should I book? Yes.
This gallery has been updated since its original publish date. This gallery was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
