When living in the moment, two of the most measurable pleasures to the senses are food and music, and if one is fortunate enough to find the nexus of these, it is truly rewarding. As a fado (pronounced "faah-dough") aficionado for years, I relish any opportunity to enjoy it live and try to rely on the recommendations of locals to find the best venues when I travel. Being my first visit to Porto, Mal Cozinhado came with highest accolades. We arrived early on a rainy Porto evening and the manager was gracious to receive us early.
In a world where first impressions are everything, I must admit that I was not disappointed. Upon entering the simple wooden door from the alleyway into the restaurant I was taken aback by the stone architecture and stairs leading down to a candle lit room having all the character and charm one would expect from a masterfully built 700 year old stone building. Hand-hewn wooden beams, tables and furniture as well as accent lighting combined to create unparalleled ambiance. The manager and wait staff were very attentive and the menu most definitely epitomized coastal Portuguese cuisine.
There were a total of three fadistas (two female and one male) who each performed two sets (3-4 songs at ~20 minutes per set), and fadistas rotated after each set. Each of the fadistas as well as the musicians were gifted performers and delivered wonderful performances which made for an enchanting evening.
Personal Note: Fado is a passionate, deeply reflective and emotional form of music for the performers as well as the audience so out of respect for the musicians and other patrons PLEASE DO turn off your phone ringer, DO NOT use the flash on your camera or phone, DO turn off the shutter click sound on your phone, DO NOT talk during the performance (you WILL be shushed). There will be plenty of time between sets (usually 3-4 songs) to talk. Also, some performers don't like to be photographed so please respect their wishes. read more