Porto

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As one of the last restaurants along the river in the Gaia area,it was a great place to stop and have a lengthy lunch before heading out to do some port tasting. With delicious and hearty selections for a good price, it is also very popular with the local crowd-- during lunch it was completely full of people who work in the area. Skip the touristy cafes and head here for a authentic experience.

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The third oldest cafe in Porto, it is commonly known as "O Piolho" the Louse. The cafe looks out on the street facing a faculty of the Universidade do Porto, and had been a meeting place for students since the 19th century. Plaques donated by graduating medical classes from the early 20th century onward decorate the walls. During the fascist period 1926-1974 it was a regular meeting place of "undesirables" according to the regimes point of view, and was accordingly under regular surveillance by the secret police. On one occasion it was raided by the GNR Guarda Nacional Republicana who have a post nearby, and they charged their horses into the cafe itself. It is uncertain if the place's current disorder results from this or more recent activities. Service is surly, the place isn't at all fancy, but it is usually stuffed to the gills with students. Its also quite cheap.

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Located on the other side of the Douro river, is a restaurant that serves generous plates serving one hungry person or two who eat normal.

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Excellent Italian restaurant. Wide variety of dishes. Extremely small, so it's best to call ahead and reserve a table.

Porto has some of the finest restaurants in Portugal.

It is said that if you like to eat, you should go to Porto because it is a place where you eat well in terms of quality and amount even Lisbon citizens say that in Porto is where they eat the best food. The best restaurants of the city are mainly located in Matosinhos near the beach and the seaport called "Porto de Leixões".

Expect hearty meals, and if you can, try "Tripas à moda do Porto". Be aware, however, that this is a tripe dish. Citizens of Porto are called tripeiros tripe-eaters on account of this dish. Also try the salted codfish "Bacalhau" - in any way it is cooked - there are hundreds of different dishes with salted codfish!

Don't forget the traditional dish called "Francesinha", which literally translated means little French lady. This city is just about the only place in the world where you can find it. However, in many other northern Portuguese cities you can find a low quality version of it. Essentially it is a toast with layers of meat inside beef, pork meat, ham.... It is covered with cheese and a spicy sauce, with the option of including french fries on top. Most importantly, this dish must be accompanied by beer and not wine. The "Francesinha" has been considered one of the 10 best sandwiches in the World.

A good tip is taking the bus or subway to Matosinhos in July, there will be the fish festival. Freshly caught fish is being served the same day at barbecues lined up in the streets just a few blocks from the main beach. You choose a fish only whole fish and they prepare it on the streets for you - not a fancy restaurant, but together with the local people you are eating the best tasting fish you ever had! Try a dourada, it is delicious.

Porto is dotted with thousands of different bakeries Pão Quente and pastry shoppes Pastelarias. Apart from serving delicious and quite inexpensive goods, they are also equipped with a side-cafe that serves all sorts of coffees Pingo, Meia de Leite, etc. and sandwiches Tosta Mista-ham and cheese toastie. Note that, unlike the other river side cafes in the city, these establishments do not have picturesque views of Porto that's expensive, and in the end, you'd be the one paying for that bill. Instead, they attract tourists by offering good food at very cheap prices.

Most locals drink black coffee espresso.

There is at least one fully vegetarian restaurant in Porto, Paladar da Alma Rua de Santo Ildefonso 293/5, and some other restaurants which offer vegetarian dishes alongside non-vegetarian options, such as Capa Verde Rua da Nossa Senhora de Fatima. Vegans may have to ask for dishes to be specially prepared for them, even in vegetarian restaurants.