Here are a few good places to eat and drink in Porto, starting with Traça, a stylish restaurant serving Iberian-inspired cuisine.
Deer loin carpaccio and foie gras slices with caramelized apples as starters, both extremely delicious.
Oven-roasted salted cod with baked potatoes, onions, and egg.
Peach crumble with cherry ice-cream.
Coffee and egg tart break at Casa do Evaristo, a cute cafe near Bolhao station.
One of my happiest finds of the Porto trip (thanks to Rue Rodier) was Rota do Cha, a charming tea shop hidden in one of the quiet alleys of Porto. I was completely in love with its sun-dappled courtyard and shabby chic decor, not to mention the incredibly friendly people who run this place. Perfect for an afternoon tea break to rest your tired feet.
Our last meal at Porto took place at Flor dos Congregados, a cozy family-run restaurant tucked away down a narrow alley. Stone walls, wood beams, dim lights…plus friendly service and fair prices, this is a good choice for a relaxing dinner.
Fried calamari slices with tomato rice.
Desserts: sericaia (Portuguese egg pudding) with sugared plum, and requeijão (a ricotta-like cheese) with fig jam. Both yum.
And lastly…one must not leave Porto without trying the francesinha, a Portuguese sandwich made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça, fresh sausage like chipolata, steak or roast meat and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce, sometimes topped with an egg and served with fries. It sounds like a heart attack…but it’s well worth a try.
