5 of the Best Restaurants in Porto for an Unforgettable Meal

Shal & James
Dec 3
3 min read

Updated: Dec 6

Your guide to the best restaurants in Porto, from tiny local favourites to splurge-worthy spots that’ll make you fall just a little bit harder for this city’s food scene.

Close-up of a dish of food at Bartolomeu Bistro & Wine in Porto, Portugal. — Bartolomeu Bistro & Wine

1 | BARTOLOMEU BISTRO & WINE

This is not only one of the best restaurants in Porto, it’s firmly in the running for one of the best meals of our lives. Beautiful and atmospheric, with a super friendly, chatty host/sommelier and a wait staff who are on top of their game, it’s the kind of place that instantly feels special. And the food? Wow. The make-your-own tasting menu is pure genius—between the two nights we ate at Bartolomeu Bistro & Wine, we tried nearly everything that wasn’t shellfish (Shal's allergic), and every single dish was exquisite.

A few of our favourite dishes include:

Goat cheese toast, pistachios and honey
Mushroom, egg yolk and potato
Potato gnocchi, onion and beef ragout
Tuna tartar, radish and coriander
Chocolate mousse, peanut and salt flower.

We still can’t believe the mastermind behind it all is such a young chef. Hands down, it was our favourite meal in Porto and easily one of the best meals we’ve ever had.

Located on Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, very close to the São Francisco Church and the Stock Exchange Palace in the Baixa / Vitória neighbourhood.

Shal cutting up meat in the centre of the table with a glass of red wine nearby and pasta with shaved truffle is in the foreground in this photo from dinner at Restaurante A Despensa in Porto. — Restaurante A Despensa

2 | RESTAURANTE A DESPENSA

Reserve a table in the main front room of this clever Italian-Spanish mashup—it’s where the buzz is. Restaurante A Despensa's bruschetta chef sampler is a must-order (four bruschettas, each one different and delicious), the penne tartufo (black truffle) e olive was also a stand out. Make a reservation to avoid being turned away.

Located slightly northwest of the main avenue, near Rua da Picaria, in the central downtown area in the Baixa neighbourhood.

James tucking into steak, rice and greens at Bota & Bira in Porto, Portugal. — Bota & Bira

3 | BOTA & BIRA

This tiny, intimate spot serves Portuguese–Mediterranean tapas, steaks, and plenty of wine, but be warned: reservations don’t guarantee you’ll sit down on time. When we arrived at Bota & Bira, a crowd of equally booked guests were still waiting, though everyone leaving was raving about the food. An hour later, we tucked into croquettes, a shared steak, and a couple of sides. Thanks to a bit of strategic Shal-guilt, we scored a complimentary dessert to soften the wait. While they’ll direct you to a bar across the street in the meantime (a CBD-themed joint with a DJ and an oddly empty club vibe), you might want to pick your own pre-dinner drinks spot. All in all, worth it—but go prepared.

Bota & Bira is very central, right by the historic heart of the city and only a short stroll from the Stock Exchange Palace and the Church of São Francisco. It sits on Rua do Comércio do Porto in the Ribeira neighbourhood, just moments from the river.

James showing off his beautiful lomo and red onion sandwich at Pregar in Porto, Portugual. — Pregar

4 | PREGAR

Steak sandwiches are practically a religion in Porto, and Pregar turns out some of the city’s best. Reservations are wise, otherwise, brace yourself for a long queue. We loved the Baixa location so much we went twice (there’s also a spot in Foz). Both times we ordered the lomo with cheese and grilled red onions. The first visit? Pure magic. We put down two sandwiches each!

The second visit? James got steak so gristly it was inedible. The manager tried the old “luck of the draw” excuse, but sorry, steak sandwiches don’t work like lottery tickets. After a bit of polite-but-firm persuasion, the replacement was every bit as dreamy as our first. One more warning: the steps down to the toilet are uneven heights, and we watched a poor woman sprain her ankle so badly she couldn’t walk.

Pregar is conveniently located in the Historic Center on Largo São Domingos, just steps away from the bustling Rua das Flores and the famous Ribeira riverfront.

Close-up of cachorrinhos (hot dogs) and steak sandwiches at Cervejaria Gazela in Porto — Cervejaria Gazela

5 | CERVEJARIA GAZELA

Alright, Cervejaria Gazela isn’t one of Porto’s finest dining experiences, but it’s a classic you shouldn’t skip if you want tradition on a plate. Famous for its cachorrinhos (hot dogs), it might look like a seat-yourself spot—but don’t even think about snagging a table. You queue for ages, get seated, and then enjoy table service… though the food does arrive fast enough to make the wait worth it. Unfortunately, no reservations accepted.

Located on Travessa Cimo de Vila, near the Batalha Square and São João National Theatre. This is a central spot in the eastern part of the downtown Baixa neighbourhood.