At the beginning of July Rens and I made a five day trip to Portugal’s second biggest city, Porto. Five days wasn’t too long but it was sufficient. Just the right amount of time to check out the main tourist attractions, enjoy the best port wine in the cellars of Villa Nova de Gaia and discover the best spot for pastéis de nata (which turned out to be our local bakery). We also found some really great places to have breakfast, dinner and everything in between which of course I don’t wanna keep from you. If you’re planning to go there, now or anytime soon, here’s my roundup of the best foodie addresses we encountered in Porto.
Bugo Art Burgers
Bugo Art Burgers was our first lunch stop in Porto. We both arrived hungry as a bear so when we discovered this burger joint just a ten minute stroll from our apartment, it seemed like the perfect place to satisfy our cravings. The concept at Bugo is simple: choose your burger, sauce & side dish and create your ideal personalised menu. I went for the free range beef burger topped with mango chutney and goat cheese, which was a sublime combo. It also looked like a little painting on a plate, which is probably what the ‘art’ part stands for.
DeGema Hamburgueria
Another winner in the burger department was DeGema. A cute but classically decorated place serving over twenty different, super juicy burgers. You can either choose chips or oregano fries with garlic mayonnaise to accompany them. For drinks they have three types of homemade lemonade. The mango one was my favorite, perfect for a hot summer day!
Mesa 325
A pioneer in Porto’s specialty coffee scene, Mesa 325 is a little gem hidden away from the busy center. Situated near a metro stop (24 de Augosto), it’s the perfect starting point for a day of exploring the city. Next to some top-notch coffee, the menu holds plenty of breakfast and lunch options including toasts, salads and my two favorite b’s: bagels & burgers. As we went for breakfast, we chose a menu of homemade granola with yogurt and red berries, croissants, cappuccinos and fresh orange juice for two. It was the best breakfast we had while in Porto and we only paid €7,50 each, which is like half of what you’d pay in Belgium. If I lived in Porto I’d definitely be a regular visitor!
Zenith
At Zenith you get the full brunch experience, including fresh juices, scrumptious pancakes and colorful smoothie bowls. I really enjoyed their açai bowl with fruit and toasted almonds, while Rens indulged in the red berry pancakes with homemade ice-cream. No wonder people are queuing up from the moment the doors open. Make sure to be there early to avoid ending up on the waiting list as reservations aren’t possible.
Atelier
Atelier is a small coffee shop with a large range of hot drinks and homebaked goods. They serve the most delicious buttery toasts, fresh pastéis de nata and if you fancy an afternoon tea, they make their own scones too! As for the drinks, their chai latte tasted like fall in a cup – though that may or may not have had to do with the gloomy weather that day.
Bolíssimo
Situated in a small alleyway near the Palácio da Bolsa, you’ll find a little pink paradise called Bolissimo. Next to its adorable aesthetics, this little bakery is the place to be for delightful cheesecakes and other sweet titbits. For only €3 you get an espresso and a piece of cheesecake of your choice. Need I say more?
The Coffee Room
Not your typical coffee spot, The Coffee Room is literally a room on the first floor of a footwear store in the heart of Porto. Last year The Feeting Room introduced the concept as a way to create a corner for customers to take a break from shopping and enjoy a nice cup of specialty coffee. It turned into a beautifully styled space with large windows and a communal table in the center, allowing for a chat with the locals or fellow tourists.
Gelato tips!
Gelataria Portuense
Focusing on the classics, Gelataria Portuense is an authentic gelato shop and long-time favorite amongst ice cream fanatics in Porto. Among other things, they serve some wonderfully creamy vanilla, chocolate and coffee flavors. Just a small walk from the beautiful Chapel of Souls, it’s a stop you can’t miss.
Santini
Another well-known ‘gelataria portuguesa’ is Santini with its iconic red and white retro-style interior. With flavors ranging from caramel and hazelnut to red velvet and pineapple-coconut, it’s a real tourist hotspot.
Cremosi
My last gelato tip is Cremosi. Here they have more unconventional flavors on the menu like chocolate-mint(!), mojito and even Coca-Cola gelato. On top of that, they have plenty of pancake and waffle variations to choose from, in case you arrive on a colder day. You can find Cremosi’s shops near the charming Rua das Flores, at the Bom Sucesso Market and at Matosinhos beach.