The Best Restaurants You Must Try in Porto, Portugal

Kick off your time in Porto with a perfect culinary introduction, at this elegant restaurant on the banks of the Douro River – dishing up classic Portuguese dishes with a seasonal, contemporary twist. The trendy interior, dressed in warm woods and deep orange, spills out on to a sunny terrace made for long, lazy lunches. Chow down on pumpkin ravioli, bacalhau casserole or sea bass with Serra da Estrela cheese, crafted into a savoury mille-feuille.

When money is no object, you book into the Yeatman – the most exclusive hotel in Porto, with elegant suites, a decadent spa and a seriously impressive two-Michelin-starred restaurant. The tasting menus, crafted by celebrated chef Ricardo Costa, take classic Portuguese flavours and inject them with 21st-century style, resulting in artful modern plates with showstopper quality. Ask for a seat by the window to take in sweeping River Douro views, and consider splashing out on the wine pairing; you’ll be rewarded with rare, elegant local tipples.

As you’ll quickly find out, not everything in Porto is new and trendy. This family-run dining establishment has been cooking up a storm since 1985, dishing out wood-fired lamb, fish, veal and creamy spuds to diners in search of a hearty feast. If you’re here as a twosome, snag a spot at the counter to be right in the thick of the action, and for the perfect sweet ending be sure to order creme do céu: biscuits, custard and mousse galore.

Cosy atmosphere, friendly staff and a fabulous, bargainous lunch menu (three courses for around €12!), there’s nothing not to love about Mito, a centrally located restaurant with a neighbourhood vibe. Grab a seat at a booth and tuck into a juicy burger, fish tacos or pork belly. You’re a block over from hip restaurant strip Rua da Picaria here, so you can carry on afterwards to Asian-inspired Bao-Bao or Mood sushi bar if you’re not too stuffed.

Want to try a Portuguese classic? O Buraco dishes up tripas à moda do Porto, the traditional-style tripe stew that might not necessarily be a tourist crowd-pleaser, but gives you a proper taste of regional cuisine. Other options in this throwback, casual spot include codfish with chips, duck rice and breaded pork steaks. For all its retro charms, and convenient location near busy Trindade station, this is certainly not a place to be heading when you’re on a diet.

The Portuguese know that great dishes are made from great ingredients – and this restaurant really puts that philosophy front and centre. Owned by an Alentejo winemaker and olive-oil producer, Esporão, it doesn’t overcomplicate its seasonal cuisine, instead letting freshness do the talking. If you’re not in the market for a full meal of crisp-skinned fish on rice or tender clams, pop by in the late afternoon for some small snacks and vino (which is also available by the bottle to take away).

This bright tapas bar centres around one big, beautiful communal table – so prepare yourself to be sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers. The intimate vibe pays back in spades, though, from the delicious food to the welcome sense that you’re eating at your cool Portuguese friend’s pad. Sandwiches, salads, cheese and meat boards; Brick Clérigos isn’t about being fancy, it’s about good, honest food that leaves you with a smile on your face.

Super-friendly service makes lunchtime a joy at this popular spot to the west of the old town core. But the homely, down-to-earth cooking – just what you’d expect from a family-owned restaurant – is what attracts diners too, with saucy rice dishes and codfish sausage, washed down with crisp vinho verde wines. Look out for the daily specials, and don’t miss the comforting desserts, which taste like the kind of puds your grandma (if she was Portuguese) would make.