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Portugal
Located five minute's walk away from the main square (Praça da Liberdade)is this Porto institution (which is due to celebrate its 50th anniversary this November).
The speciality of the house is BBQ food – meat, fish and the star of the show as the name of the restaurant insinuates is the chicken (frango being the Portuguese for chicken). The food is delicious, the standard portions are really meant for two, but many a hearty diner seemed to be giving it a go. For the not so hungry, there are half portions.
It’s a pretty simple place full of locals (which is always a good sign). Downstairs you will find a bar filled mostly with local gentlemen at the counter socializing while having their meal and upstairs a simply decorated dining room filled mainly with families and couples.
The service from the waiters is professional, efficient and friendly.
Also worth a mention is the local beer, the refreshingly crisp and fizzy Super bock.
Upon leaving, the smile on your face will not only be from the delicious meal you just ate, but also from the reasonable price you just paid.
Rua Bonjardim 223, Porto 4000-124, Portugal
+351 222 008 522
Google map: bit.ly/qslqxR
What a brilliant destination for an affordable weekend getaway. A super-smart rail link from the airport takes you into the city centre for a couple of euros, and everything's in walking distance from there. In fact, wandering around this beautiful city is the best way to discover the amazing murals of blue and white painted tiles (azulejos) - don't miss those in the Cathedral cloister. After a stroll through the ungentrified medieval quarter of the Ribeira, cross over the feat of ironmongery that is the Dom Luis bridge to sample the lifeblood of this region - the deservedly famous port wine. The oldest of the wine cellars which throng the quayside is Croft which was established here in 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada. A visit to their vaults is unmissable - watch out for the bats - followed by a complimentary glass of their finest nectar. Tchim-tchim as they say!
www.goporto.com
Porto Cathedral, Terreiro da Sé.
Croft Cellars, Rua Barão de Forrester 412, Gaia. www.croftport.com
Google map: bit.ly/eroP0I
An historic book shop with a beautiful art nouveau exterior and a fascinating interior dominated by a grand staircase. Visitors are welcome to browse and also to enjoy a coffee and a cake from the small cafe whilst admiring their surroundings.
Rua das Carmelitas 144
Porto
(+351) 22 200 2037
Google map: bit.ly/dfKIen
This is a perfectly accepable and comfortable hotel just a few minutes walk from São Bento station and with many local bars, pastry shops and restaurants. To get to Ribeira just walk down Rua do Augusto Rosa and take the funicular car (its not marked but is down the steps where the tram ends)
Praça da Batalha
Tel : (+351)22/2043300
www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-1975-mercure-porto-centro/index.shtml
Google map: tinyurl.com/39byyot
This bar/restaurant has a fantastic spot on the surf pounded beach of the same name, a short bus ride to the west of Porto city. With a large decked area strewn with sofas, loungers and tables looking out over the Atlantic it’s a really relaxing place for a sundowner. This plus the chilled house background music and churning sea dotted with relentless surfers makes for a hybrid Ibizan/Cornish vibe.
Praia da Luz, Av Brasil, Foz do Douro
Take the No.500 bus towards Matosinhos which starts outside Porto train station and follows a scenic route along the shore. Get off just after the castle.
Livraria Lello is a bookshop-lovers fantasy. Even if you are not a reader, this 19th century shop is worth a visit for its gorgeous interior centred around a curving carved wood and red treaded staircase which could have stepped (ha ha) out of a Dali painting. Oh and there are quite a lot of books too. With a handful of comfy chairs around a coffee bar on the first floor it’s an ideal place to take a breather after climbing the Clerigos Tower opposite.
Livraria Lello, Rua das Carmelitas 144
lelloprologolivreiro.com.sapo.pt/
Great restaurant tucked away behind the Sao Francisco church with what I would term ‘retro-chic’ interior and lovely atmosphere. Friendly and attentive English speaking waiters. Good choice of Portuguese dishes with a modern/global take; the game stuffed sausage was very rich but delicious. Take cash, they do not have credit card facilities.
Cometa Restaurante, Rua Tomaz Gonzaga 87, Tel: (351) 222 008 774, no website
Take time to linger for a meal here if you are visiting the Taylors Port Lodge; it’s also worth the climb up the hillside even if you’re not. We had the terrace area virtually to ourselves on our lunchtime visit and the views over Porto were stunning. There is a fairly extensive and quite pricey menu but the food is of a really high standard and well worth the money. I had the biggest, tastiest piece of cod I’ve ever come across even in other Portuguese restaurants. Be sure to try a ‘Chip Dry’- white port aperitif; it is deliciously crisp and refreshing.
Barao de Fladgate Restaurant at Taylors Port Lodge, Rua do Choupelo 250, Vila Nova de Gaia, Tel: (351) 223 742 800, www.taylors.pt
In a cavernous room on the Vila Nova de Gaia waterfront, with diner’s comments posted all over the stone walls, this restaurant was buzzing on our visit. And no wonder when for €29.50 (€32.50 at weekends) an all you can eat and drink buffet is on offer.
The friendly staff showed us the ropes despite linguistic barriers and proceeded to foist food and alcohol on us all night. Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another morsel from the buffet tables (a huge selection of traditional Portuguese fare) we were given a fruit platter the size of a small bath, and a shopping basket full of nuts was doing the rounds. On top of the beer and wine we had already imbibed, decanters of port, and then brandy, were left on the table and finally an unidentifiable but potent liqueur. Try it if your stomach dares!
Tromba Rija, Av Diogo Leite 102, Vila Nova de Gaia, Tel: (351) 223 743 762, www.trombarija.com/gaia-rg.html
Small, chic hotel in wonderful quayside location in the Unesco World Heritage part of the city. Rooms are compact but finished to a high standard; choose a riverside room for the stunning views. Excellent service and attention to detail from the friendly and attentive owners. Beautifully presented breakfasts with a wealth of fresh fruit and locally baked bread. Ideally placed for city sightseeing and a short walk across the bridge to the port lodges on the other side of the river. Trams and buses to the beaches and other sights to the west of the city depart from a nearby stop. Porto is a charming and affordable destination for a city break and Guest House Douro is a lovely and unique place to stay. Rooms are priced from €110.
guesthousedouro.com/
Guest House Douro, Rua Fonte Taurina, Porto Tel.: (351) 222 015 135
Long-established restaurant/cafe on Placa da Liberdade. Marvellous space with excellent food and efficient waiting staff.
Placa da Liberdade, very close to Aliados Metro
A very good restaurant on the Cais da Ribeira. There are a line of these places. I went to most of them and this is the best. Good food and really great staff. They gave me a special table upstairs for the Portugal-Sweden match
Cais da Ribeira 29
D'Oliva is a restaurant just outside Oporto in the seaside suburb of Matosinhos. It serves some excellent pastas (the menu is mostly Italian and Mediterranean), and the overall ambiance is sophisticated yet relaxed.
You can take the metro to Matosinhos from the center of Oporto, or take a taxi which should cost less than 10 euros.
Rua Brito e Cunha, 354, Matosinhos, see www.gooporto.com for more information.
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