Now that you have booked your flight to Porto and arranged your stay at one of the best luxury hotels in the city, it is time to pick an exquisite dinner. So prepare your palate for amazing dishes at the best fine dining restaurants in Porto. Please do not mistake these restaurants with the Michelin star restaurants in Porto, which is a completely different ball game.
Before you read this fantastic list: if you are a real foodie (like me), you may consider joining a private food tour in Porto or even a pastel de nata cooking class. Both are incredibly engaging activities to discover the best that Portuguese cuisine has to offer in Porto.
Enough talking. These are…
The 10 best fine dining restaurants in Porto!
Blind
Rua de Entreparedes, 40 | Porto
In my humble opinion, BLIND is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Porto and oen of the very few with a clear concept in mind. After all, the motto of BLIND is “to feel, to touch, to taste” and that truly applies as this restaurant provides an immersive experience that involves all your senses, paying homage to the book “Blindness essay” by José Saramago, our only Nobel of Literature. It is so cool!
Besides the amazing quality of the dishes, which owes much to the creative genius of Vitor de Matos, at BLIND you will experience things like tasting dishes with a blindfold on, listening to the sounds of the ocean while tasting a seafood dish, and delighting in a butter candle that crumbles throughout your meal. It really was a fantastic experience that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Prices
Experience of 12 moments – 140€ / person
Experience of 10 moments – 120€ / person
Wine pairing options:
Experience of 12 moments – 85€ / person
Experience of 10 moments – 75€ / person
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation, fill in this form, call +351226001580 or send an email to info@blind.pt.
Schedule
- Everyday from 11h30 – 22h30.
How to get there: São Bento subway station is a 10-minute walking distance.
O Paparico
Rua de Costa Cabral, 2343 | Porto
My list of the best fine dining restaurants in Porto would be incomplete without including the irresistible O Paparico. The restaurant interior is museum-worthy, using wood, rock and paintings that take you so on a journey through Portuguese culture and cuisine.
The staff is super friendly and I remember once when we stayed after the restaurant closed its doors, chatting and drinking with the staff. It was so cool 🙂
The only downside is that O Paparico is only open for dinner, and considering its popularity among food enthusiasts, you may want to book in advance. It is located in a completely non touristy area with nothing to see except for eating at Paparico, so I recommend you to only get there at the time you booked your dinner.
Prices
Menu with two starters, two main dishes and two desserts to choose from – 190€, or 240€ with wine pairing.
Menu that celebrates Portuguese products and gastronomy – 120€, or 190€ with wine pairing.
How to make a reservation
Reservations can be done online or via phone on +351225400548.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Saturday: 19h00 – 00h00.
- It closes on Sunday and Monday.
How to get there: take an Uber / Taxi.
Fava Tonka
Rua Santa Catarina, 86 | Leça da Palmeira
If you’re looking for the best vegetarian fine dining restaurant in Porto, Fava Tonka is my number one recommendation. This is one of my favorite places to eat, not only because of the yummy food but also because of the welcoming tropical vibe of Fava Tonka – it is, indeed, a very Instagram-worthy restaurant 😛
On the menu, you have healthy but delicious main dishes like a plate of gnocchi, broccoli and asparagus or chickpeas with onion pickles and miso (9€ – 11€ for the main dish). My favourite dish though, is probably the Cauliflower with nori weed & ajo blanco.
You can end your meal with a dessert (6€ – 7€) like their popular honey brûlée. To drink, you have tea, kombucha, juice, craft beer, wine, cocktails, gin and more.
There are gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options as well as an allergen list on the menu, which is something I really appreciate.
Fava Tonka is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a variety of flavors while still being healthy. It’s also a nice place if you’re with someone else and you want to share food.
Prices
You can order à la carte.
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation, call +351915343494.
Schedule
- Saturday to Monday: 12h30 – 15h00 | 19h30 – 23h00
- Thursday and Friday: 19h00 – 23h00
- It closes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
How to get there: Mercado subway station is a 17 minutes walking distance.
Vinum
Rua do Agro, 141 | Vila Nova de Gaia
At one of the best Port wine cellars in Porto you’ll find Vinum, a fine dining restaurant with a breathtaking view.
You can’t help but stare at the amazing ceilings with historic pine wood beams supported by iron pillars from 1890. There are also glass doors overlooking the garden and, more importantly, the amazing Luiz I bridge.
Vinum has a few menu options, but you can also order à la carte one of its sensational dishes highlighting traditional Portuguese cuisine, like the fish soup and the suckling pig, that is to die for.
This is the place where you are able to relax and take your time enjoying great food so just take my advice and book your guided visit & wine tasting at Graham’s for 11am, and then stay for lunch at Vinum.
Prices
Menus without wine pairing – ranging from 60€ or 90€ / person.
Menus with wine pairing – ranging from 100€ or 145€ / person.
You can also order à la carte.
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation, call +351220930417 or fill in this form.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Saturday: 19h – 21h30.
- It closes on Sunday and Monday.
How to get there: take an Uber / Taxi.
Almeja
Rua de Fernandes Tomás, 819 | Porto
I found one of the best fine dining restaurants in Porto that celebrates casual fine dining.
The rocks on the wall, the beautiful tiles on the floor and the comfortable cushioned wooden chairs make you feel like you’re in your favorite aunt’s house – you know, the one that makes delicious food that makes you never want to leave 🙂
They have an executive menu (15€) with a starter, main dish and dessert – I actually go there quite often for this menu, as I find it quite affordable. If you want to enjoy the full experience, go for the tasting menu (80€).
What’s so special about this place is that they write the menu according to what the local farms have in stock, so you know you’re always getting the freshest products possible. The menu keeps changing, but these were some of my favourite dishes from Almeja’s previous menus: pig’s head terrine (I LOVE a good terrine!), escabeche fish with apple (for starters) and a risotto-like dish with seafood and seaweed that was to die for 🙂
This is a small restaurant and not suitable for large groups.
Prices
10 Moments – 80€ / person.
Vegetarian menu available.
You can also order à la carte.
How to make a reservation
Reservations can be made on TripAdvisor or via phone +351222038120.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Saturday: 12h30 – 14h30 | 19h30 – 22h30
- It closes on Sunday and Monday.
How to get there: Bolhão subway station is a 3 minutes walking distance.
Apego
Rua de Santa Catarina, 1198 | Porto
Apego is a fantastic small restaurant. Located in an area off the tourist radar, at Apego you will find Portuguese-French fusion cuisine, by Aurora Goy, considered one of the most promising Portuguese chefs of the new generation.
We always order the Desapego Menu, which consists of two starters, two main courses and a dessert. One of the last times I went there I tried a basil ice cream with fresh figs and an olive oil brioche, that was out of this world good!
The staff is very attentive and available, despite the place being always full.
The only thing I don’t particularly like about Apego is the wine list – there are very few wines by the glass and none of them are anything special. Otherwise, everything was perfect at this fine dining restaurant in Porto.
Prices
Menu desapego – 60€ / person (couvert, two starters, two main dishes and dessert).
You can also order à la carte.
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation, call +351225500457 or send an email to apego.restaurante@gmail.com.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Saturday: 19h15 – 23h00.
- It closes on Sunday and Monday.
How to get there: Marquês subway station is a 7-minute walking distance.
Atrevo
Rua do Morgado de Mateus, 49 | Porto
I have been to Apego a few months before the pandemic started, and it is an experience I never forgot, because Atrevo is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Porto.
The vibe of the place is very relaxed; the owners are there every night, they engage in conversations with you, they attentively listen to your feedback AND you can easily spend the night talking about Portuguese wines with them, which made for a very cool night 🙂
I highly recommend you to try the 5 moments menu, which is quite affordable compared to other options on this article; I particularly remember a dish of clams in a pesto sauce that was quite formidable.
Prices
5 Moments menu – 65€ / person. Wine pairing for an extra 35€ / person.
You can also order à la carte.
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation, fill in the form in their website, send an email to reservas@atrevorestaurante.com or call+351934214652.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Saturday: 19h00 – 23h00.
- It closes on Sunday and Monday.
How to get there: 24 de Agosto subway station is a 7-minute walking distance.
Elemento
Rua do Almada, 51 | Porto
My boyfriend took me to Elemento for my birthday and it was quite a pleasant surprise. The concept of this fine dining restaurant in Porto is quite unique, as all dishes (including the fish) are cooked over coal.
The meat was, as expected, at the correct point, but the dish that surprised me most was undoubtedly the croaker fish.
The service is very attentive and they even prepared a small birthday cake as a surprise for the special occasion. The only thing that saddens me at Elemento is that there was not a single Portuguese in the room, but unfortunately that is quite common in fine dining restaurants.
Prices
8 moments (Invicta Tasting) – 90€ / person.
À la carte
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation fill in this form or call +351224928193. Reservations for groups of more than 4 people must be made through reservas@elementoporto.com.
Schedule
- Monday to Saturday (except Wednesday): 19h00 – 23h00.
- It closes on Sunday and Wednesday.
How to get there: Aliados subway station is a 4-minute walking distance.
Chama
Rua dos Caldeireiros, 111 | Porto
Chama is a real sensation in Facebook groups because it is a restaurant with a very young and relaxed atmosphere. Its concept revolves around a “surprise menu” (8 dishes for 38€!), that changes every day based on the fresh local food that vendors bring them each morning.
The food portions are very generous and the cocktails are a must, so no wonder that you need to make your reservation with MONTHS in advance (yes, you read it correctly!).
Prices
Degustation Menu Chama – 38€ (Starters, main courses and dessert).
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation, send an email to restaurantechama@gmail.com or contact +351925168952 from 16h00.
Schedule
- Tuesday to Friday: 18h00 – 00h00.
- Saturday: 12h15 – 16h30 | 19h00 – 00h00.
- It closes on Sunday and Monday.
How to get there: São Bento subway station is a 5-minute walking distance.
Cantina 32
Rua das Flores, 32 | Porto
Fun fact: I have a couple of clients that did a tour with me around 5 years ago, fell in love with Portugal and now they come back here every year. Whenever they are in Porto they call me and we have lunch at Cantina 32 – this is how good this fine dining restaurant in Porto is 🙂
Indeed, Cantina 32 not only has a very cool industrial decor, an attentive (albeit very formal) service but also delicious food. I particularly like their legendary tiger prawns with garlic butter sauce, and the grilled octopus with roasted tomatoes. For dessert, their chocolate cake is quite famous around town.
Prices
À la carte.
How to make a reservation
To make a reservation call +351222039069.
Schedule
- It closes on Sunday.
How to get there: São Bento subway station is a 5-minute walking distance.
Save this article for later:
