The city had been on my list of places to visit for a long time. Now that my friend Chantal lives in Portugal and had never been there either, we decided to take a look at the city of port. I flew from Amsterdam, Chantal from Faro, which made for a real hello-goodbye moment at Porto airport.
For tourist attractions, it's best to consult another blog. Here you'll find my culinary discoveries: the best wine bars and restaurants in Porto .
If you're visiting Porto, be sure to bring your sneakers or comfy shoes. Walking is best, but it can be a bit steep in places.
A Cave Do Bon Vivant
A Cave do Bon Vivant is perhaps the nicest wine bar in Porto. And it's run by a Frenchman. How is that possible? I'd almost ask. The owner is a very cheerful Frenchman who completely captivates you with his wine enthusiasm. He has the lovely names from Portugal, like Luis Seabra and Antonio Madeira, but also new offerings that you absolutely want to try. For example, we were seduced by the "Burgundian Douro," the Clos Fonte do Santo from Quinta do Javali. And we were intrigued by the wines of Mateus Nicolau de Almeida. In short, you've come to the right place! Of course, he also has a selection of French wines, which are certainly worth trying.
763 R. de Santa Catarina, Porto
Wine bar Linha 22
On our way to the Harry Potter bookstore, which served as inspiration for the Hogwarts library, we came across this wine bar. It had a sign outside that read "Port & Chocolate Cake." We couldn't have found a better one. After peeking into the bookstore, it was time for port. We were given a Tawny 20 years from the winery Bulas . Never heard of it. The gentleman explained that he bought a lot of port from small producers. He found them more interesting than the big houses. And he's right. The flavor was fantastic: caramel, dried apricots, honey, raisins. Afterward, we tried a few more ;-)…
Rua dos Clérigos 23, Porto
Must-eat: Franceshina
If you're the " I love yogurt and chia seeds for lunch " type, this might not be the dish for you. Do you love throwing cheese and sauce on everything? Then you've come to the right place. The Franceshina is typically Portuguese and, in short: super fatty. Before I even take a bite, I'm already calling it the ultimate hangover cure. Eat this after a night out, and you'll be back to normal in no time.
This photo is from years ago, when I first visited Porto and immersed myself in the local food scene. Maybe I'll try again someday and take a better photo. For now, this is the not-so-appetizing result.
What is it? It's a grilled cheese sandwich with ham, steak, and sausage. So far, so good. It's surrounded by cheese and bathed in port sauce. If you're feeling extra special, you can add eggs or other meats.
The owner of wine bar Linha 22 recommended that the best Franceshina is at Lado B on Rua Passos Manual 190. However, I got my version at a touristy restaurant on the Douro. Not the best choice, so I'll spare you that one.
Port tasting at Villa Nova de Gaia
Of course, I also tasted three hundred different kinds of port. You can do that in Villa Nova de Gaia. It sounds far away, but it's just across the river. So just cross the bridge. Almost all the port houses cater to tourists, so you'll have a great time. You can sample port for a fee, including older vintages. Recommended are Ramos Pinto, Warre's, Dow's, Niepoort, and Taylor's.
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