I think Jamie W and I followed a familiar pattern for the first-time gay traveler to Porto. After…read moredinner, we went to Kiosk, super-popular and supposedly LGBTQ-friendly, a completely outdoor watering hole, and found ourselves disappointed by how generically youthful and straight the crowd was here. After just one drink, we gave up our table to a group of squealing skanks and walked over here. The low-key vibe was exactly what we were wanting to cradle a drink, and the bartender was quite welcoming to expats and travel misfits like ourselves. Definitely not a dance club, but there was a stage which made me believe there might be karaoke and open mic nights. Not us though since my Sylvester impression is not what it used to be. The couch was taken over by affectionate lesbians. Fortunately there was a hi-top table available for us near the funky restroom. Jamie enjoyed the 8€ Tequila Sunrise, and I sipped the 9€ Espresso Martini (Photo 9). Both suited us quite nicely as the alternative music played rhythmically over the speakers. We were hitting the Shazam app a lot, always a good sign. We could hear each other talk, another plus, and apparently it's a coffee shop during the day. Sold. DRINKS - 4 stars...smooth at the right price AMBIANCE - 4 stars...darkly social space with cool music SERVICE - 4 stars...solid bartender with the right attitude TOTAL - 4 stars...not sure where the bar of soap comes in, but it used to be a laundromat RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/tE8KWKidp7

Excellent drinks and bartenders, but watching half the customers leave at the door at 10 pm due to…read morestarting to charge a cover charge which appears to not be normal is a bad business practice. Then telling a customer who has been in your establishment since 8 pm they have to pay a cover charge or leave at 11:30 is absolutely ludicrous! Terrible business practices so I would not recommend this my first night in Porto I am an international traveler and will forewarn others traveling here about this establishment.

Best port wine store in the world probably. Great experience and great price. Fantastic service.read more

Great selection of wines at very good prices, much better than many of the touristic wine shops…read more The proprietor was very hospitable, happy to advise without trying to sell pricey wines. I bought two bottles of port to take back to the States, and he very carefully wrapped them for the trip in cardboard and bubble wrap taped up securely, for no charge. Excellent.

We just happened to run into this place while sightseeing and browsing at little shops for…read moresouvenirs to take home. I wanted to get some great ports and received lots of requests from friends for port wines from Portugal too. My needs were met and more. Soares has so many port wines (Taylor's, Barros, Graham's, Dow's, etc.) and many others to select from. I was able to score a Barros Colheita 2010 at a very reasonable price. The staff were so nice and friendly. They explained how port wines are made and the differences in the harvest, colors and processes. For example, Colheita is the specific harvest of that year. No mixing of grapes. Tawny Port is aged for much longer than its Ruby counterpart. It's also aged using oak barrels, which gives it a very different flavor profile (smooth and refined) and is brown in color. Ruby port is fuller and more fruity. I just love port wines especially if they're made in Portugal.

When all the Port cellars were booked on a Saturday afternoon, I found respite in this place. Right…read moreoutside of Ribeira Square, it was empty and the perfect spot for my first foray into Port. I did the premium Port tasting and received a great introduction into these wines, which I'd never tried and did not know much about. I was also the only one there, which was fantastic. And, they have snacks. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. And, they carry my all-time favorite Portuguese wine, the Conde Villar Vinho Verde Rosé. I nearly cried because I love this wine so much. They don't ship to the states, unfortunately, so I bought as much as I could carry. If you are looking to do a Port tasting without walking across the river or just want a great place to buy some wines, I highly recommend Garrafeira Soares.

By far the best wine store I've ever been too.if you are a Harry Potter fan, then think of this…read moreplace as the Olivanders Wand shop of wines and spirits. Sr. Jose is very knowledgeable and friendly. He has an immense selection of low cost right up to out of this world bottles including rare vintages. The sample tastings which he supplied us with were very much appreciated. If he doesn't have it, he can get it pretty much the same or next day. I was impressed with the price and speed in filling my order for a bottle of French Cognac. His shop is on a small street behind the Clérigos Tower in Porto. Found it by accident as we finished our tour of the tower and church. Will definitely visit him again on my next trip to Porto.

A true wine tasting with many smaller and lesser known Portuguese wines and ports. Many of these…read morewines and ports you cannot find in the US, so it was a real treat to try them here. 10 euro for the basic port tasting.. a white, tawny, and ruby. It is a true tasting so portions aren't just heaping glasses or port.. I was actually able to finish all 3 samples comfortably. A brief 5 minute overview of each port was provided. Very friendly staff and less tourist vibe. Definitely stop in! They accept card!

When in Porto, you've got to try Port wine. Stopped in Vinologia and we received perfect attention…read moreas we were the only ones there at the time. We decided to try a sampling of 3 port wines. The server was knowledgable and friendly, which added to the experience. I definitely suggest you stop in for a taste then make your way down to the Rio Douro waterway for lunch/dinner.

Wanted to try a couple of ports while we were in town. Decided to check out Touriga, a wine and…read moreport shop, which specializes in showcasing small producers. Three port tasting options: young aged (6,00€ for 3), middle aged (9,00€ for 3) and old aged (35,00€ for 2). We opted for the young and middle aged tastings. My favourite was the Valriz reserva Ruby (young aged) and Casa Santa Eufémia Tawny 10 year old (middle aged). Three tables in the back to sit and do the tasting. The worker walked us through each one and described the different characteristics, possible pairings with food, etc. Good selection of wines (including a small selection of natural wines) and ports. The worker was very helpful with recommendations. A family that was shopping bought 10 bottles.

Came here for an impromptu wine tasting during our self-guided Rick Steve's Porto walk. We went for…read morethe "young aged port" tasting. We had a white port (absolutely delicious), ruby port and tawny port (tax favorite). The space is cozy and the seating is downstairs. It was pretty early so we were the only ones there. The employee was very nice. We bought a bottle of tawny and white port. So excited to try them at home.