Eating and Dining
Two revered dishes in Porto are the Francesinha and Tripas à Moda do Porto.
The Francesinha, literally Frenchy, or more accurately little French (female) - is the most famous popular native snack food in Porto. It is a kind of sandwich with several meats covered with cheese and a special spicy sauce made with beer and other ingredients.
Tripas, in the form of Tripas à moda do Porto (tripe with white beans) is considered the traditional dish of the city of Porto, whose inhabitants are informally known as tripeiros. This traditional dish is said to date back to the early 15th century, when Prince Henrique (known as Henry the Navigator, needing to supply the Portuguese fleet heading to Ceuta, asked the inhabitants of Porto to load into the ships all kinds of food, particularly meat. After the fleet left, the only food available was the bowels (tripas), which were cooked together with beans.
For these and other dishes, here's a sample of the city's best restaurants and eateries:
- Capa Negra II, a restaurant with modern decoration and a relaxed atmosphere. It is famous for its francesinhas and also offers a great variety of other dishes. Service is both friendly and efficient.
- Cufra: Also known for its francesinhas, this restaurant is something of an institution in Porto, Portugal. Named after the biggest oasis in the Sahara Desert, it is located right in the centre of the famous Avenida da Boavista and occupies a grand, renovated house that positively sings with the history and culture of this historic city. The restaurant was inaugurated back in 1974 and for almost forty years has been a popular eatery for locals as well as those who are passing through on their travels through Portugal.
- Cafeína: Although over a decade-old, this restaurant continues to be one of the trendiest in Oporto. It's located in a 19th century manor house covered in yellow and black tiles close to the sea in the Foz district and has a sophisticated and cosmopolitan ambience.
- Bacalhoeiro. Actually located in Vila Nova de Gaia, this restaurant sits in a century-old granite building specializes in cod. Choose one of the 15 cod dishes which vary throughout the year (it is said that there are 365 ways to prepare cod in Portugal -- one for each day).
- A Cozinha do Manel. The rustic-style interior decorated with tiles and lots of wood is an indication of what's on the menu. It offers good-old traditional Portuguese cuisine, much of it prepared in a wood oven. Many of the dishes are Porto specialities but the extensive wine list covers all of Portugal's wine regions.
- Catraio, a Portuguese and international craft beer shop that also serves tapas. Their own artisanal beer is an absolute must.
- Café Progresso: One of the oldest cafés in Porto, dating back to 1899, it keeps its traditional friendly atmosphere, and even more important, it still serves drip coffee, a delicious black beverage the smells wonderfully when the water starts boiling and you pour it on the coffee powder and let it drip in the mug.
- Arcádia: One of the most reputed Portuguese chocolate brands. It is an artisan factory famous for its delicious pralines and chocolate cat tongues, among many other specialties.
Nightlife
At night everyone gravitates towards Rua Galeria de Paris and Rua Cândido dos Reis, two parallel streets downtown. Others descend to the Ribeira district for more bars and cafés, many of which have outdoor seating. Directly across the river in Cais de Gaia is also a number of pleasant cafés for a post-dinner drink, with the added bonus of floodlit city views and of the river bathed in the moonlight. Some of the city's most popular night spots include:
- Passos Manuel, an old movie theatre of the same name, where the décor mixes the contemporary with the original Art Deco, and the programming is always alternative, including theatre performances
- Maus Hábitos, essentially a bar in an old building where local artists gather for various events related to literature, theatre, and fine arts. A very informal place, with just some old sofas and chairs scattered around.
- Hard Club, a bar/music club is found in a former market that's been completely and tastefully renovated. It's open throughout the day, serving drinks and light meals. Friday and Saturday nights extend into 4AM for live concerts and other events.
- Plano B, a retro-style club with several rooms is one of the city's main destinations for live music and DJs. It also often presents art exhibitions, naturally attracting young artsy crowds.