Where exactly should you visit in Porto, Portugal? There are the obvious places. You should take a walk along the Douro river. Head over to the Porto Cathedral and admire the architecture. Check out a fado show and listen to the laments of love and loss.
But those are the tourist attractions. We’re always asked about where to visit if you want good wine, company and atmosphere. Where are the special places that only a seasoned veteran would know about?
Start in Ribeira
Ribeira is one of the many districts in Porto, right in the heart of the city along the Douro River. There’s the Palácio da Bolsa, the Porto Cathedral, and plenty of walking tours. Once you’re done sightseeing, explore the backalleys and sidestreets. It’s there that you’ll find the true treasures.
1. Candelabro
There are a lot of great bars in the artist quarter, but Candelabro is where the locals go for a night out. A warm and welcoming atmosphere with wine and cocktails to get your journey off to a great start. Or you can pop into the Champanheria da Baixa next door for some champagne.
2. Reitoria
Now you’ve worked up a hunger, we recommend heading to Reitoria, hidden away behind the houses just by the Igreja do Carmo. While it might not offer traditional Porto food, it’s a lovely venue with a great wine list. And a personal favourite of our Casa De Darie winemaker.
3. The Wine Box
Next up, head over to The Wine Box for its vast selection of wines, which should help you get familiar with the lay of the land. Sit down, grab a glass, and nibble on some cheese and ham. And, if you’re not sure what kind of wine you enjoy, they give great recommendations. Though, they won’t necessarily be from Portugal unless you specifically ask for that.
4. Adega de Sao Nicolau
In the beautiful backstreets, you’ll find this unique restaurant with its stunning style and a fantastic choice of wines. Designed by our good friend and architect, Pedro Jervell, the inside looks like an upturned boat, the wooden hull above giving a warm, cosy atmosphere. All the food is absolutely brilliant, but we’d personally recommend trying the octopus.
5. Vinhas d’Alho
Around the corner and just down by the river, we have Vinhas d’Alho or the “garlic vineyards.” It’s a surprising gem with excellent food, tucked away on a walkway overlooking the water and only a short walk from the Port Wine Museum. We’d personally recommend trying the Quinta do Couquinho wines.
5.5 Gaia Caves
Before you continue, now’s a good time to take a detour across the river and into Gaia. Our friend, Nicolau de Almelda, is the winner of Young Wine Maker 2015 and other awards. And the Gaia caves is where he ages and bottles his fantastic wine. You can even book a lunch or tasting on their site.
6. Quinta Do Ferro
At this point, we’d recommend hopping on a tram or taxi towards Foz. On the way, you should stop off halfway down for a glass of Espumante at this boutique wine shop, owned by the very talented Miceala Fonseca. She’s the ambassador for Women in Wine, whose superb sparkling wine we sail to Bristol.
7. Cozinha Da Amelia
Before you hit the bridge, veer north and pop into this relaxed and cosy restaurant. A special favourite of our winemaker friends, the place feels like your Grandma’s home and they make you feel extremely welcome. Just ask the front of house what they recommend and they’ll make sure you find something you like.
8. Salta O Muro
Bit of a trek now, so you might want to grab a taxi. You’ll now be venturing into Matoshinhos. It’s another neighbourhood, best known for its fish and old anglers cooking over coals outside their restaurants. We recommend heading to Salta O Muro. It translates to jump the wall, describing how the fish jump the wall straight into the frying pan. Excellent food, yummy puddings, and a fantastic wine list.
9. Maria Moita
Further up to coast, just past the dock, we have Maria Moita just next to Fort Leça de Palmeira. It’s well worth the bus ride, even if you only want the hot bread and clams. The staff are extremely helpful and there’s a great wood burner for the winter.
What wines do we recommend?
While you’re travelling through the city, it can be tough to choose a wine for the occasion. There are, of course, lots of brilliant wines in Portugal. And we encourage you to ask the front of house to give you their recommendations.
But if you struggle with choice, we know that the wines we sell here in Bristol are made by passionate winemakers in small quantities. So we’d recommend starting with either:
Enjoy your trip.
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