This was another spot I visited while I was in Portugal that was *not* on my list - a truly…read morewonderful seafood restaurant around the corner was, that I got to before noon because I wasn't sure when they opened (turned out: 12:45 that day), so I was wandering around with an hour to kill and found this place. They have flights, including one that's 15 euros where you let them know what you're looking for and they pick out the 3 bottles, which is very neat. I told them I was in Porto mainly to try Port wines, and didn't have much familiarity with other, non-fortified Portuguese wines, and would love an intro flight, but no roses. Got a mini-lesson in the wine regions of Portugal, along with a wonderful green wine, a great Duoro valley red, and a truly fantastic red from Alentejo, a wine region I had not previously heard of, but immediately went on my radar the rest of the trip. (They also sell bottles; I bought a bottle.) Note, they said they only guarantee they'll do flights (as opposed to full-priced full glass pours) after 4 pm, but if they aren't busy for the food lunch rush, they'll do them earlier in the day (on a rainy Thursday in January they were more than happy to.) Actually liked the place so much, I came back the next afternoon and had another glass of a different Alentejo red - they only had one open for tasting in the price range that fit the "intro"-priced wine flight, so I spent... I believe 11 euros on a glass of a fancier bottle they recommended. It was also quite good, though I think I actually preferred the first one. Also had one glass of a very reasonably priced tawny Port while I was there - they had several, but obviously, I was already well into my plan to taste Port directly from all of the nearby tasting rooms across the bridge, so I just picked one here. (Unsurprisingly, it was also quite good.) They do also sell food, but I can't comment on it. Great place for quick wine tasting, though.

Overall, a great experience. Originally found this via my Lonely Planet guidebook (yes, the…read morepaperback book, lol; old school, I know.) The space is upscale and has good air conditioning. I find the American country music playlist pretty amusing. The service is polite and the server spoke English well enough to explain where this wine came from, pairings for thiss and that wine, etc. I was only there for wine tastings, and maybe a snack to pair with. Good stuff overall. I love the menu! It's very explanatory; you could spent 30 minutes reading and absorbing some of the info about Portuguese wines, so definitely keep it after you order to browse and read. Pro tip: They have spit buckets. Ask for one and use it. Can taste more wines with less intoxication. Only miss was that they served me the aged white ports, which are chilled, a few minutes before the desert things that I was pairing them with. This let them warm up a bit before I could pair them with food, especially since I asked for small pours. Bathrooms: Spacious, bougie, clean, and functional.

Absolutely dynamite customer service and even better food! I can not recommend this place highly…read moreenough! Only suggestion is to make reservations. The Francesinha was good, but unless you are extremely hungry don't order the side of fries. Very nice ambience and decor. I can't wait to come back!

Came here to try the famous Francesinha…read more Brasão Aliados in downtown Porto is part of the Brasão chain of lively restaurants recognized for their well-regarded Francesinha sandwich. Anthony Bourdain referred to this dish as the heart attack on a plate as it features steak, sausage & ham sandwiched within two bread slices underneath layers melted cheese that are then finished with a tomato-beer sauce. For good measure, we had egg on top the traditional way. Service was relatively inattentive but we were here for the food anyways. The restaurant has a refined modern pub vibe, and was busy with tourists & locals when we visited. The server conversed in fluent English and the food arrived quickly despite the crowd. Surprisingly, we found the Francesinha to be quite salty especially with the much hyped beer-drenched sauce that overpowered other flavours. Our server had urged us to order the half-size, but the regular size was fine and only 2 EUR more (€13.30). There was also a couvert basket which we kindly declined. There was a longer lineup by the time we finished. Skip it or hit it? Hit it to try the classic Porto eat, be prepared for a rich but salty meal.

It's located in a convenient corner that's easy to get to in the historic city. We sat outside and…read morelisted to the live music. There are heaters and the tables are covered to help keep you warm. I ordered the pork cheeks and the flavor and tenderness was wonderful. The Meandro was recommended by the waitress because I prefer something full bodied, and I was very happy with it.

Our hotel recommended this restaurant but we were sorely disappointed. The wait staff was a bit…read moresurly, rushed us and the food wasn't as described. The prices were also high for what we considered a low grade meal. Another couple sat next to us but ultimately left because nobody waited on them. Skip this one! There are far better dining options in Porto!

We loved the ambiance of this tapas bar - dark inside and a covered outdoor space. Our server was…read moreso attentive and made great recommendations. The food was all outstanding. Our favorites were the Danish Pastry "Franceshina" (get some batatas bravas to dip in the sauce) and the 1000 sheets.

Kid friendly, great music and our server was so nice--he brought over colored pencils so our…read moretoddler could be kept busy. All the food and cocktails were flavorful. Highly recommend

Great location right along the Douro river front. My wife had cod balls(a fishy hush puppy) with…read moreFlor de Douro & I had Creme Brûlée with a Mimosa. Our drinks and food were very good. Service was good. It's a very busy spot with great views.

This is THE spot for sunset views of Vila Nova de Gaia, Dom Luis Bridge and the Monastery. You get…read morea front row view at the outside tables, and there's a seated section for dinner and a first-come first-served section for drinks and snacks. I got lucky with snagging a snack table as a couple was leaving, and it was just as it was getting dark so I got great photos. There are limited food options with mainly bar food. I got Alheira croquettes and rustic fries, both very good and generous portions. I went with the Altano white wine, which is dry and crisp. The service was slow, mostly because there was only one person servicing all the tables in that section. If you're not in a hurry and don't mind a relaxing pace, then it's a good spot to stop on the way back from crossing the bridge. It's uber touristy though, so be prepared for crowds. Prices were reasonable at least.

The Padrón Peppers, the Cod Fish Croquettes, the Bruschetta with Sardines were all flavorful and…read moredelicious. Good Sangria and white Port. Good outside seating and ambiance and service.

Came here as a recommendation from a friend and had a great time! It took a while to get seated, so…read morewe got our order ready beforehand. Everything was delicious! The Portuguese sausage was soft and tasty, while the smoked sausage came a firey plate that you have to turn over here and there before the fire goes out. I preferred the smoked sausage over the traditional, but both were great tries! The cabbage soup was warm and delicious, especially on a rainy day. My favorite was the sardines and bruschetta. Absolutely tasty! The meal paired well with the Tawny Port Red Wine. I asked our server for a dessert wine rec, and this was the one she chose!

Small place with a small staff but a ton of good dishes with great flavor. Inside seating is…read morelimited but there is a nice seating area listed. Modest decor, clean and neat. The waitress was very nice and gave us English menus. We shared Black pig cheek slowly cooked in red wine with bread, Codfish "Pastel de Nata" codfish and cream filling & Tuna profiterole - tuna pate and spicy pineapple jam. Small free bathroom for customers.

I was on the lookout for a decent local restaurant when I stumbled upon this gem. We arrived early…read moreand ended up waiting in line before it opened, unaware of its popularity. Given its small size, with only five tables inside, we waited at least an hour for a seat. The food did not disappoint. We started with the black pig cheek served with bread, and it was surprisingly delicious--big chunks of pork, a bit spicy, juicy, and not at all dry! Next, we tried the "a brás," which features fried potatoes, onion, and egg. It was fantastic, but you have to eat it quickly as the thinly sliced potatoes get soggy fast. Of course, we had to order the Francesinha, Porto's traditional dish. It's quite heavy, consisting of a sausage, ham, and steak sandwich smothered in melted cheese. While it was interesting to try, it was a bit too much for me to finish, and I don't think I would order it again. We also enjoyed the octopus and codfish, both of which were pretty good--the octopus drizzled with olive oil and the codfish flaky. We paired our meal with a local wine, which was decent. Overall, the food was great and definitely worth a visit. It was surprisingly affordable given the generous portions we ordered!

One of our last meals in Porto. The quality of food was excellent. The experience reminded me of…read morehigh end restaurants in NYC. The interior upstairs was lovely. Everything was cooked to perfection. Service was good and accomodating to English speakers. They are known for their Focaccia sandwiches. Highly recommend.

Yes, it says steakhouse but I did what any pescatarian with a will to live does and ordered the…read moreoctopus. Because if I see grilled tentacles on a menu, it's happening. The place has a cute deli-counter as you walk in. Both patio and indoor seating, excellent service. The vibe was impeccable. A glass of white, some chewy smoky octopus, and I'm ready to climb towers.