Less touristy than the Algarve, Porto has long been a cultural hub, and a highlight of the country’s coastline. And it’s fast becoming one of Europe’s top food and drink destinations.
Compared to other European cities, Porto offers high-quality dining at a fraction of the price. Though small – just 41 km² compared to Lisbon’s 100 km² – you can easily spend four days wandering its hilly streets, soaking up the views, enjoying rooftop bars, and indulging in its vibrant cuisine. It boasts Michelin-starred restaurants, there’s a new guard of visionary young chefs, and a thriving mix of fine dining and casual tabernas.
Plus the Douro Valley is a stone’s throw away, offering a perfect day out with stunning vistas and wine and port tours. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its beauty emanates through its many neighbourhoods.
Here’s how to spend a long weekend in Porto taking in the best of its foodie scene.
Day one: Taste Porto’s most famous export
Cockburns Lodge
No visit to Porto is complete without learning about the creation of Port. It’s a lesser known fact that it is never aged on the Porto-side of the city. The River Douro spans the length of the city and splits two destinations, Porto and Gaia. It’s the Gaia side where you’ll find over a dozen Port Houses — ideal for tastings and learning more about this sweet, distilled wine. Porto is also often overlooked for its fantastic wines, and these can be tasted at most houses too.
Perhaps one of the most significant Port families is the Symington family, and they own both Cockburn’s and Graham’s — these are two of the more popular varieties of Port internationally. A walk through its vast cellars provides the most educational experience. You may even catch sight of the five Coopers at Cockburn’s, who fix the barrels that Tawny Port is aged in as part of a tradition spanning decades. A drink at Graham’s stunning hillside restaurant Vinum is also unmissable.
For dinner, stop at Gran Cruz House, a beautiful boutique seven-room stay with excellent dining. Restaurante Casario offers an authentic local dining experience focusing on Portuguese gastronomy and Port and Douro wines. The menu is seafood-led and elegant in format, focused on the most seasonal ingredients — the scallops with saffron and lemon rice, topped with avruga caviar are lavish, but a must-try.
All dinners in Porto should be finished with a Port too. Portugal and the UK have a strong alliance as they were known for supplying wine to the UK for many decades. Port became popular because its higher alcohol level could withstand long sea voyages to Great Britain. A happy accident.
Day two: Soak in river views and visit the food markets
Quinta do Noval
Start one of your days with a free walking tour like Revolutours, a great way to see the city’s highlights and get tips from locals. Don’t miss the Francesinha — Porto’s indulgent twist on a French sandwich, layered with meats, cheese, a fried egg, and beer sauce which is best tried at Café Santiago. It’s probably not a dish to eat every day as it is rather indulgent!
In the afternoon, you can take a seat by the beautiful Duoro Riverside — the views in Porto are unparalleled. I visited Quinta do Noval on the River — another wine house, but with a lovely riverside café bar. Here you can try port and wines from a boutique distiller for a special experience.
By night, evening foodie tours are the best way to try Porto’s famed dishes, such as the Pastel de Nata and the famed food market — Mercado do Bolhão, which is perhaps the most known for its bargain seafood and is a great spot to enjoy Porto’s most popular drink, Port Tonic — a blend of white Port, St Germain (in some cases) and tonic water.
Day three: Tasting menus and local favourites
Pedro Lemos
For a truly elevated lunch, visit Michelin-starred Pedro Lemos, the first chef in Porto to earn the accolade. Set in Porto’s coastal Foz district, the restaurant offers creative tasting menus, ethereal décor, and an impressive open kitchen. It’s a second-to-none dining experience, pairing surprise courses with a thoughtful wine flight.
Interestingly, the Portuguese are among the world’s biggest cod consumers, with over 43 famed recipes despite the fish not being native. O Bacalhoeiro, set on the Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront, celebrates cod with creativity and respect for tradition. I’d highly recommend the João Porto-style cod which was full of flavour and something you wouldn’t easily find in London.
Day four: Meet the city’s wine community
Matriarca Townhouse
Martin Morell
Before you leave, be sure to have dinner at Matriarca, a mecca for food and drink lovers. With a restaurant, wine and cocktail bars, wine academy, cellar shop, and roof terrace, it showcases why Porto is fast becoming a top foodie destination.
Hilton Porto Gaia
While Porto offers many places to stay, I preferred the Gaia side for its great views and proximity to the port houses. Hilton Porto Gaia, set in a restored wine warehouse overlooking the Douro, blends industrial charm with modern elegance. Highlights include soaring ceilings, Portuguese artwork, an award-winning spa, and a cocktail bar inspired by port wine.
Its Cusco Bar which offers Peruvian inspired dishes and drinks offers an epic panoramic view of the riverside — the best spot to watch a sunset where regular live music is played. Likewise, The Ground Caffé offers a selection of national wines and beverages, as well as a variety of snacks and light dishes. There is an on-site spa which was the ideal spot to relax, which I can vouch is necessary given I found myself doing over 25,000 steps a day!
