Best Restaurants in Porto: Where Locals Eat (2025)

I ate at over 30 restaurants during five weeks in Porto. Some were incredible. Some were tourist traps I wish I had skipped. Here is what actually matters when choosing where to eat in Porto, based on real experience testing these places myself.

How to Choose Restaurants in Porto

Porto’s dining scene splits into distinct categories. Understanding this before you book saves money and disappointment.

Ribeira = Tourist Central: The riverside area has the most restaurants but most cater to tourists, not locals. Overpriced, mediocre food, aggressive staff trying to get you inside. A few exceptions exist (Taberna dos Carris, Muro do Bacalhau) but generally, Ribeira should not be your first choice for dining.

Baixa = Mix of Good and Bad: The old town has excellent restaurants mixed with tourist traps. Research before going. Local favorites like Porta4 and Bilha Nova are in Baixa, but so are places that rely on location over food quality.

North Baixa/Bonfim = Local Spots: These neighborhoods have restaurants that serve actual Porto residents. Prices are better, food feels less performative, atmosphere is more authentic. But fewer options overall.

Booking Essential in August: I learned this fast. Good restaurants in Porto require reservations 2-3 days ahead in peak summer, especially Friday-Saturday. I showed up at Babel without booking on a Friday and they were completely full despite it being 7:30pm.

Best Traditional Portuguese Restaurants

Bilha Nova (Baixa) – My Top Pick ⭐

This was one of my favorite Porto meals. Bilha Nova is one of the few restaurants that excels at both seafood and vegetarian options – genuinely good vegetarian food, not just an afterthought menu item.

What I ordered: My partner got the mushroom risotto. It was legitimately excellent – not just good for a vegetarian option, but good period. I had the Bacalhau (salt cod), which is Porto’s signature dish. Done perfectly.

The waitress guided us through wine selections based on our preferences. We did not know what region or type we wanted, so she had us try several small tastes before suggesting something. This level of service stood out.

We ended with traditional Portuguese flan for dessert. Rich, eggy, caramelized – exactly what Portuguese flan should be.

Atmosphere: Pretty decor, vibey but not loud, good wine list. The restaurant fills up fast so book ahead.

Cost: 25-35 euros per person including wine.

What to order: Bacalhau, mushroom risotto, traditional flan

Location: Central Baixa, easy walking from most accommodations

Porta4 (Baixa) – Best Fish in Porto ⭐

Porta4 is a small restaurant with a promising menu and dishes that exceeded expectations. The sea bass here was probably the best fish I had in Portugal – it melted in my mouth.

What I ordered: Gnocchi and sea bass. Both were 10/10. I am still thinking about that sea bass months later.

This is also where I tried green wine (Vinho Verde) for the first time. Despite the name, it is not actually green – it looks like regular white wine. “Green” refers to young wine from the Vinho Verde DOC region in northern Portugal, not a specific grape variety. I became slightly obsessed with green wine after this meal.

Atmosphere: Tiny restaurant. Maybe 10 tables. Book ahead or you will not get in. Outside seating is much nicer than inside if available.

Cost: 30-40 euros per person.

What to order: Sea bass (absolutely), gnocchi, try Vinho Verde

Taberna dos Carris (Ribeira) ⭐

This is the rare Ribeira restaurant that is genuinely good and allows advance booking. Most Ribeira spots require showing up and waiting for tables – Taberna dos Carris lets you book, which is valuable in a crowded tourist area.

What I ordered: Sardines and traditional Portuguese flan for dessert. The sardines were excellent – fresh, perfectly cooked, hit the spot. But the flan was the highlight.

As someone who loves dessert, I had been wanting to try traditional Portuguese flan but was surprised how few Porto restaurants serve it. Taberna dos Carris does, and theirs is incredible. Rich, eggy, sweet but not overpowering.

Context: I brought friends visiting from London here because I needed a Ribeira restaurant that could accommodate a larger group with booking. Taberna dos Carris checked all boxes – good seafood, able to book ahead, enough menu variety for different tastes.

Cost: 20-30 euros per person.

What to order: Sardines, traditional Portuguese flan (must order)

Muro do Bacalhau (Ribeira)

Modern twist on Portuguese food, great riverside location. We had a bigger group with friends from London and sat outside.

What we tried: Fricassé cogumelos (mushroom fricassee), abóbora assada (roasted pumpkin), tuna. All were excellent. This place does elevated Portuguese food without being pretentious about it.

Atmosphere: Riverside at night is lively with street performances. On our way back from dinner, people were dancing in the streets – really good atmosphere.

Cost: 25-35 euros per person.

Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants

Porto is hard for vegetarian travelers who are dining with seafood eaters. Most restaurants specialize in one or the other – finding places with excellent options for both is challenging. Here are the spots that actually deliver for plant-based diners.

Venn Canteen – Vegan Fine Dining That Will Change Your Mind ⭐

I had low expectations of vegan fine dining. I was skeptical. Venn Canteen completely blew me away.

Context: This was our celebratory dinner when we arrived in Porto to start our month as digital nomads. We had just closed on selling our London property and wanted something special. Our waiter walked us through every dish because we had never done vegan fine dining.

What to order: The carpaccio and crispy rice dishes were amazing. Everything was inventive, beautifully presented, and tasted incredible.

The wine list includes excellent organic options and zero-alcohol wines. Staff really knew their stuff and made great recommendations.

If there is one place that will change your mind about vegan food, it is Venn Canteen. This is not “good for vegan” – this is just good, full stop.

Cost: 50-70 euros per person (fine dining prices but worth it).

What to order: Carpaccio, crispy rice, trust the staff recommendations

daTerra (Baixa) ⭐

daTerra used to be a buffet restaurant but closed and reopened as a more elevated sit-down restaurant. Great vegetarian food with unique, creative dishes.

What I ordered: The fried mushroom dish was incredible. Amazing salads. Food definitely lived up to the hype I had heard.

Cost: 20-30 euros per person.

Cult of Pita (Baixa) ⭐

This became my go-to for quick, healthy meals. Pita and healthy fast food with lots of options. As someone who eats mostly vegetarian, I went here many times.

Why it works: Good for quick dinner or lunch on the go. Always full of locals – both vegetarian and non-vegetarian people eat here, which is a good sign. Really good service.

Cost: 8-12 euros per person (very reasonable).

Honest Greens ⭐

Two branches in Porto – one on Rua de Santa Catarina near Bolhão, another on Rua de José Falcão. This was our go-to for quick, solid, healthy meals.

What I ordered: Always the salad bowls. They do salmon and some of the best tofu I have ever had. Their coffee is good too – separate coffee bar at the front.

The place can get very busy but is huge, so you will pretty much always find a table. Self-serve style – order at counter, take buzzer to your table.

For digital nomads: The covered area out back is best for quiet and getting work done. Good for laptop work between meals.

Cost: 10-15 euros per person.

What to order: Salad bowls, tofu (if they have it – sometimes sells out)

For more vegetarian-specific recommendations, read my full guide to vegetarian restaurants in Porto.

Best International Food (When You Need a Break)

Farinha – Best Pizza in Porto ⭐

We tried to go here after drinks at Mira Jazz but they were packed and you cannot book. They do takeaway though, and we REALLY wanted pizza, so we ordered and waited.

The pizza was excellent – proper wood-fire style, crispy crust, good toppings. Would definitely go back.

Cost: 12-18 euros for a pizza.

Boca Taqueria (Bonfim)

Small, authentic Mexican in Bonfim neighborhood. We went for early dinner and were surprised how busy it already was – you probably need to book ahead at peak times.

What to order: Tacos (get a few plates to share) and margaritas. Small but quality menu with Mexican classics.

Tip: Choose outside tables if going in summer – much nicer and more airy than inside.

Cost: 15-25 euros per person.

Thai Food (Baixa)

We went after a week in Porto when we needed a change from Portuguese food. Good pad thai, okay curries. Service was great. Popular with both locals and tourists.

Cost: 12-18 euros per person.

Best Food Markets

Mercado Beira-Rio (Vila Nova de Gaia) ⭐

Located south of the river near the port houses. This is a local food market with stalls close to the river.

Why I loved it: There are many restaurants south of the river but you have to do research to separate tourist traps from authentic spots. Most seafood restaurants had literally nothing for my vegetarian partner, so we opted for Mercado Beira-Rio.

The outdoor seating area is lovely. Although busy, you will always find a table. The food court has plenty of options – I had amazing octopus for 18 euros (very reasonable). There is even a vegetarian buffet spot – daTerra Mercado.

Cost: 12-20 euros per person depending on what you order.

What to order: Octopus, check out daTerra Mercado for vegetarian buffet

Timeout Market Porto

A lot of people say this place is touristy and overpriced, and that is true. But if you are visiting, you should come here at least once because you can get amazing food choices all under one roof.

I have lived in London and experienced the most crowded food markets – Porto’s Timeout Market is nothing compared to that. I came for early lunch, easily secured an outside table, had plenty of space.

My top picks:

• Fava Tonka: Great vegetarian food
• Rafa Louzada: Women-led team serving amazingly fresh seafood, focused on sustainable fishing. This was the best polvo (octopus) I had in Porto.

Cost: 15-25 euros per person.

Restaurants to Skip (Tourist Traps)

Alecrim (Ribeira) – Average

Average Portuguese food. Service was good, but the food itself got a bit dry. Nice outside seating. I got the Bacalhau – not as good as other places I tried.

Verdict: Not bad, but not memorable. There are better options.

Vinhas d’Alho (Ribeira) – Skip It

Good choice of seafood but pretty average quality. Large portions but nothing special.

Why we went: It was one of the few Ribeira places with availability for lunch at 1pm. Everything else required booking early or arriving earlier. That should have been a red flag.

Verdict: If you are desperate and everything else is full, fine. Otherwise, go somewhere better.

Majestic Café – Tourist Trap

I went on my first Porto visit and although it is beautiful, the constant queues and overpriced food made it not worth returning. Our walking tour guide confirmed this was one of the biggest tourist traps in Porto.

Verdict: Skip unless you specifically want to see the beautiful interior. Do not go for food quality.

Wine Bars & Evening Spots

Folios de Baco ⭐

Low intervention wines and sharing plates. Great food – we went for the full vegetarian menu. Good wine selection.

Critical: Book ahead. Restaurant is small. While we were seated, we watched every single walk-in get turned away.

Unexpected favorite: The empanadas with aioli. So good.

Cost: 25-35 euros per person including wine.

Babel ⭐

Cool modern restaurant in the heart of Old Town. Not touristy at all despite the central location. You can tell it is popular with locals because it was packed when we arrived (luckily we booked ahead).

Porto booking lesson: In peak summer (July-August), you need to book ahead at restaurants that take reservations. Especially Friday-Saturday nights. We learned this early.

The place was very vibey. Good drinks and good sharing plates. The eggplant and sea bass were my favorites.

Cost: 20-30 euros per person.

Mira Jazz ⭐

Rooftop bar in Ribeira with incredible views. Very well priced for the setting. We went twice, both times between 6-7pm.

Book ahead if you want terrace tables. The outdoor area is the main attraction – river views and sunset views of Porto.

Decent wine list. You can also order food here and it looked good, but we always had other dinner plans.

Cost: 4-7 euros per glass of wine.

For more wine bars and evening spots, read my guide to the best wine bars in Porto.

Practical Porto Dining Tips

Book 2-3 Days Ahead in Summer: This cannot be overstated. August in Porto requires reservations. Bilha Nova, Porta4, Taberna dos Carris, Folios de Baco, Venn Canteen – all require booking. Friday-Saturday especially.

Lunch is Cheaper: Many restaurants offer lunch menus (menu do dia) that are significantly cheaper than dinner. Same food, lower prices. If you are on a budget, eat your main meal at lunch.

Tipping: Service charge is usually included. Leave 5-10% extra if service was excellent, but it is not expected like in the US.

Dining Times: Portuguese people eat late. Dinner service typically starts around 7:30-8pm. If you want to eat earlier, you will find restaurants less crowded but some kitchens might not be fully operational until 7pm.

Menu Language: Most restaurants in tourist areas have English menus. Staff generally speak enough English to help. But learning a few Portuguese food terms helps (bacalhau = salt cod, polvo = octopus, vinho = wine).

Seafood vs Vegetarian Challenge: This was my biggest Porto dining frustration. Very hard to find restaurants with excellent options for both. Most specialize in seafood OR vegetarian, rarely both. Bilha Nova and Muro do Bacalhau are exceptions.

Best Restaurants by Neighborhood

Baixa/Old Town: Bilha Nova, Porta4, daTerra, Cult of Pita, Honest Greens, Babel

Ribeira: Taberna dos Carris, Muro do Bacalhau (most others are skippable)

Bonfim: Boca Taqueria (Mexican)

Vila Nova de Gaia: Mercado Beira-Rio

Fine Dining: Venn Canteen

Quick/Casual: Cult of Pita, Honest Greens, A Sandeira do Porto

Final Restaurant Recommendations

If I went back to Porto for one week, here is where I would eat:

Must-do meals:

• Bilha Nova (traditional Portuguese done right)
• Porta4 (best fish in Porto)
• Venn Canteen (vegan fine dining that will surprise you)
• Taberna dos Carris (for the flan alone)

Reliable repeats:

• Cult of Pita (quick healthy meals)
• Honest Greens (salad bowls and tofu)
• Mercado Beira-Rio (octopus and variety)

Skip entirely:

• Majestic Café (tourist trap)
• Most Ribeira restaurants (overpriced, mediocre)
• Vinhas d’Alho (only go if nothing else is available)

Porto has excellent food if you know where to look. The seafood is fresh, the Portuguese dishes are comforting and flavorful, and the vegetarian scene is growing. Just do your research, book ahead in summer, and avoid the tourist traps in Ribeira.

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Related Porto Guides

• Porto Travel Guide: 5 Weeks Living in Portugal
• 3 Days in Porto: Experience-Led Itinerary
• Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Porto
• Best Places to try Pastel de Natas in Porto
• Best Bakeries in Porto
• Porto Cooking Class Review
• Best Wine Bars in Porto
• Where to Stay in Porto
• Best Work Cafes for Digital Nomads in Porto

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Last Updated: November 2025