For many people, the ambiance of a restaurant is as important as the food it serves. So, in addition to my article about the best restaurants in Porto with a terrace (outdoor seating), I now present you with a list of Porto restaurants a view.
I tried to avoid the obvious answers found in other 54261 articles on the topic – it’s worth reading the article to the end 😉
The best Porto restaurants with a view are:
Digby Restaurante Bar
Rua da Restauração, 336 | Porto
Located in one of the best luxury hotels in Porto, the Torel Avantgarde, Tenro by Digby offers a magnificent view over the Douro River and is therefore an excellent option for a romantic date.
The first time we went there, we tried two dishes that would become my favorites: Salmon with celery and dill puree (16€) and the Black Pork “Secrets” (15€). They were great, but we thought the portions were small, so if you have a big appetite, go for a starter as well.
Another thing I liked was the wine list – it’s not always easy to find Porto restaurants with a view that satisfy me in that aspect, so kudos to Tenro by Digby! 🙂
How to get there: you can take tram nº 18 and get out at Viriato station. If you want, you can also go by car, but it’s a difficult area to park (it’s next to the emergency services of Hospital Santo António, in the heart of the night life district).
17º
Rua do Bolhão, 223 | Porto
The 17º is a classic of the best restaurants in Porto overlooking the city itself. It is an old restaurant, having opened its doors decades ago, at the Hotel Dom Henrique Downtown.
I’ve been there several times and I like the food that, while not being very creative, always has an impeccable presentation. My favorite dish is the sea bass fillet with carrot purée (19€), but the Tornedó with port wine sauce, sautéed potatoes and greens (19€) is also good.
Bearing in mind the space, with a very classic decor and a bit démodé, I’d say it’s perfect for a dinner with family or old friends.
The only thing that really annoys the 17º is the slow service.
How to get there: Aliados metro station is a 5-minute walk away. If traveling by car, park in the Silo Auto car park, right next to the hotel.
Antiqvvm
Rua de Entre-Quintas, 220 | Porto
I already mentioned Antiqvvm in the article about the best fine dining restaurants in the city, but it’s worth mentioning it again in this list of the best Porto restaurants with a view.
The Antiqvvm is a dream place, especially if you stay on the terrace, because it has a breathtaking view over the Douro River. It also has a wonderful, exquisite garden.
It is an expensive restaurant, with a menu based on “moments” and wine pairings. To give you an idea, the “Marine coral” moment – mullet / sea urchin / codium / prawns / cauliflower and the “Discovery” – Lamb / Ras el hanout / pumpkin / chanterrelles / eggplant / goat cheese / tomato both cost 38€. It also has a vegetarian menu. And it’s all great 🙂
Another advantage of going to Antiqvvm is that it has a car park for customers.
How to get there: if you don’t go by car, take any bus that stops at Palácio de Cristal, namely 507, 601, 201, 208… there are plenty of them!
Restaurante Terra Nova
Cais da Ribeira, 34 | Porto
Another Porto restaurant with a nice view is Terra Nova, in Cais da Ribeira. Given its location, it has a beautiful view over the Ribeira neighborhood, the Douro River and the Port wine cellars, in Cais de Gaia.
It’s an expensive restaurant; my favorite dishes, the Cod with red potato gnocchi, tomato onions, cockles and razor clams, costs 22€, and the veal cheeks served with risotto, 19€. I also recommend the oysters, which are very fresh.
Even if you make a reservation, Terra Nova does not guarantee a table on the terrace or by the window, so I recommend going there very early (not least because the table in the photo is the only one next to the window).
It’s an impossible area to park, so read my recommendations on how to get there by public transport.
How to get there: São Bento station is a 10-minute walk away. You can also take the bus 403 and get off at the Ribeira stop.
Terreiro
Largo do Terreiro, 11 | Porto
Terreiro is one of the restaurants in Porto overlooking the Ribeira area and the Douro River.
Its specialty is fish and seafood dishes; I personally like the Grilled Tuna Ventrecha with sweet potato and asparagus (19€) and the Terreiro’s Steak with beer and roasted garlic sauce (19€), but the shrimp dishes are also very good.
How to get there: São Bento station is a 10-minute walk away. You can also take the bus 403 and get off at the Ribeira stop.
Casa Virtude
Passeio das Virtudes, 33 | Porto
Another Porto restaurant with a view that I really like is Casa Virtude. Located at the viewpoint of Virtudes, it has a privileged view over the Douro river, the Arrábida bridge and the Virtudes garden. On top of that, you can enjoy the views both from the terrace and from the tables on the 1st floor that are next to the window (in fact, I like to stay there better).
It’s not a cheap restaurant, but you will have a great meal; the dishes that I highly recommend are the Roasted Octopus au gratin with Cheese from the Island of São Jorge (20€) and the Loaf of Alcatra (14€).
It has the advantage of being located in the city centre, close to Livraria Lello and the famous Clérigos’ tower, and you can park your car in the underground car park at Cordoaria.
How to get there: Aliados metro station is a 15-minute walk away. You can also take any bus that stops at Cordoaria (there are many!).
Lapa Lapa
Avenida do Brasil – Praia do Molhe | Porto
Lapa Lapa is a restaurant with a terrace in Porto and a stupendous view, right on the beach, in the Foz area.
Despite the sophisticated decor and the fancy location, a friendly service awaits you, which is not always easy in these trendy areas.
The food is a pleasant surprise: from a long list of tapas, bowls, pizzas and some seafood-based main dishes, we chose a prawn feijoada which was excellent. We didn’t order starters, but fresh bread and a delicious carrot spread came.
If it’s lunchtime, you can opt for one of the executive menus, which range from 15€ to 18€, depending on whether you order dessert and wine or not.
How to get there: take bus 500 to Molhe station.
Fuga
R. do Passeio Alegre, Jardim das Sobreiras Loja 2
I really like Fuga, a Porto restaurant with a view with the best of both worlds, as it is located in the area between Ribeira and Foz and therefore has good views of the Douro river and the Atlantic Ocean.
Precisely because it is not in the center of Porto, it is a quieter area and, although there is no private parking, it is an easy area to find a place to leave your car.
From the menu, I particularly recommend the poached croaker with shellfish stew (15.50€) and wild mushroom rice with black truffle oil (15€), but you can also choose to have a tapas dinner – the beef croquettes ( 9€) are soooo great!
How to get there: take bus 500 to Cantareira station.
Bacalhau
Muro dos Bacalhoeiros, 154 | Porto
Another restaurant in Porto with a view is Bacalhau which, despite its name, has vegetarian options on the menu 😛
It is located near the Wine Quay, one of my favorite wine bars in the city, having a serene view over the Ribeira and the Douro River.
Given the area where it is located, I don’t think it’s an overly expensive restaurant: the cod, sweet potato and pepper Cataplana costs 16.50€, and the sirloin steak, sweet potato and herbs, 17€.
The food is served in cute aluminum bowls, with attention to plating, and that, combined with the romantic terrace, makes Cod the perfect place for an old-fashioned date 🙂
How to get there: São Bento station is a 10-minute walk away.
Taberna Rio Restaurante
Cais da Ribeira 24 | Porto
Taberna Rio Restaurante has the particularity of, despite being located in Ribeira, in front of the Douro river, it doesn’t practice prices that are too touristy, which is rare in this area. Also, this Porto restaurant with a view is really, really cute :’)
Taberna Rio’s menu is not very varied, being focused on snacks and tapas. Even so, it has some very good main dishes, such as Codfish with mashed potatoes (19€) and Beef loin with pepper sauce and homemade chips (19€). And the sangria is popping!
I prefer to stay inside (given the romantic atmosphere), but if you want to enjoy the view outside, it’s best to stay on the terrace, while listening to the street musicians that swarm in Ribeira.
How to get there: São Bento station is a 10-minute walk away. You can also take bus 403 and get off at the Ribeira stop.
Restaurante Portucale
Rua da Alegria, 598 | Porto
I wasn’t sure if I should include this restaurant in this list of the best Porto restaurants with a view. But the truth is that Portucale provides an almost 270 degree view of the city from its panoramic windows.
It’s a 50-year-old restaurant, where little or nothing has changed over time, so it’s considered by some to be démodé (as is my case :P) but by others, as a retro place that shows what would be a top restaurant decades ago.
I don’t think any of the dishes served at Portucale are noteworthy, but the desserts are good.
How to get there: buses 206 and 303 stop right in front, at Escola Normal station. Faria Guimarães metro station is a 13-minute walk away.