If you’re looking for the best seafood restaurants in Porto, you should know that if you’re serious about it, you have to leave the city center and head to Matosinhos. This neighboring city, 8 km from Porto and easily accessible by metro (Matosinhos Sul stop), has an entire street with the best fish restaurants in the region. Called Rua Heróis de França, there you will find many reasons to be happy.
There are honorable exceptions to this desert-like state of seafood restaurants in Porto, which I will address in this article along with two or three out of the box suggestions.
And, if besides tasting our wonderful seafood, you would like a taste of Portugal, consider joining a Food tour in Downtown Porto. Think Portuguese cheeses, smoked meats, fantastic wines, and the chance to meet like minded travelers 🙂
These are the best seafood restaurants in Porto:
Escama
Escama, one of the best seafood restaurants in Porto, is a beautiful restaurant, with a modern and sophisticated interior and an excellent atmosphere, with the staff masterfully balancing a formal yet friendly and personalized service.
For starters I suggest the ceviche, for the main course the turbot with hazelnut vinaigrette and, to end the meal, nothing better than the lemon meringue tart with yuzo ice cream.
How to get there: the São Bento subway station is a 10-minute walking distance.
How to make your reservation: send an email to reservas@escamaporto.com
Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 12h30 – 15h | 19h – 22h30.
Meia Nau Porto
Meia Nau Porto is one of the few restaurants in the city center where you can eat excellent fish and seafood, which is to be expected as it is, in fact, a second location of an already successful restaurant with the same name in Matosinhos.
It is a restaurant with a very pleasant nautical decor and impeccably fast and efficient service.
In the menu, the galo frito com açorda de ovas (traditional fish & bread stew) stands out, but the seafood rice is also fabulous, and and generous with the shrimp and mussels. To finish off, be sure to try the caramel fondant, which is to die for.
The only thing left to be desired at Meia Nau Porto is the wine list, which is rather bland and features nothing noteworthy.
How to get there: Aliados subway station is an 8-minute walk away.
How to make your reservation: directly on their website.
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 12h – 15h | 19h – 22h. It closes on Mondays.
Seafood restaurants in Porto: Ostras & Coisas
My raids on Ostras & Coisas, which is considered one of the best seafood restaurants in Porto, weren’t always happy: I still remember some tiny barnacles looking sadly at me from an enormous plate. But the truth is, this restaurant is a reference in the art of serving fish and seafood in Porto.
Apart from the oysters, you will find a very diverse list of shellfish on the menu which includes my beloved barnacles. There’s also shrimp of different sizes and other sea delights, so I recommend you to order a Mix” platter which includes four different types of seafood.
The fish menu is also diverse – it includes grouper, roosterfish, snapper, sea bass, monkfish, etc, so the best thing to do is to check out the fish on display and choose one for you.
One thing I particularly like about this restaurant is its sparkling wine menu – it’s small but it’s a good representation of the best of this type of wine in Portugal.
How to get there: Aliados subway station is a 5 minutes walking distance.
How to make your reservation: directly on their website.
Schedule: Every day 12h30 to 23h.
Culto ao Bacalhau
Located inside the Bolhão Market, Culto ao Bacalhau is a mandatory stop for anyone who wants to experience the versatility of codfish in a contemporary yet soul-faithful setting. This restaurant manages to be both sophisticated and welcoming, offering a front-row seat to the vibrant life of Porto’s most famous market.
For starters, I recommend the cod fritters or the cod tongue salad (yep, we eat everything from the cod). As for the main course, the roasted cod with corn bread crust is truly memorable. To finish your meal, the “abade de priscos” pudding is a sweet indulgence that pairs beautifully with a glass of red wine.
The only downside is that, being located inside the market, it can get veeery noisy during peak hours, which might not be ideal if you are looking for a quiet, intimate setting.
How to get there: Bolhão subway station is right at the doorstep.
How to make your reservation: send an email to reservas.bolhao@cultoaobacalhau.pt
Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 12h to 17h and then from 18h to 22h30. It closes on Sundays.
Marisqueira do Porto
Marisqueira do Porto is not located in the city center (but in the Campo Alegre area), but it deserves to be included in this list of the best seafood restaurants in Porto because it serves high quality seafood, and the prices are quite reasonable.
The atmosphere is very relaxed, with a fast but attentive service. The owner in particular, Mr. Avelino, is always concerned with his customers.
The main dishes include cod with cornbread, roasted octopus and seafood platters. This restaurant is also a good place to try the iconic francesinha, making it an excellent place to take a group of friends with different food tastes.
How to get there: Praça da Galiza bus stop is a 2-minute walking distance.
How to make reservations: call them on +351226097014.
Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 12h – midnight | It closes on Sundays.
Taberna dos Mercadores
Taberna dos Mercadores is a tiiiiiiiny restaurant in the picturesque Ribeira neighborhood. The space is indeed very small, so you have to make your reservation weeks in advance (yes, weeks) or be prepared to wait standing on the street. However, despite the long waiting time and being a very busy restaurant, the staff is very attentive.
All the food is delicious, but my favorite dishes are the octopus dishes and the grilled sea bass.
Another thing I love about this restaurant is the fact that it has an extensive and well-structured wine list, making it a great place to drink wines from producers on our private wine tour in the Douro valley.
How to get there: São Bento subway station is a 8-minute walking distance.
How to make reservations: call them on +351222010510.
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday 12h30 – 15h30 | 18h – 22h30 | It closes on Monday.
Bacalhau
Bacalhau is a tiny gem perched on the ancient river wall of the famous Ribeira neighborhood. It is widely considered one of the most authentic spots in the area, shunning tourist traps in favor of high-quality ingredients and a thoughtful wine list. And, because the space is so intimate, the service feels personal, and the connection to the river is unparalleled.
The menu is a love letter to the Atlantic. The codfish here is served in several creative ways, but the oven-bake version is a standout for its purity of flavor. Other highlights include the cod tongue risotto (yes, we do eat the whole animal) and the smoked fish platters.
The biggest challenge is the size; the restaurant is incredibly small, and they do not have much indoor space.
How to get there: A 10-minute walk from São Bento station, heading down toward the river.
How to make your reservation: send an email to bacalhau@juntosamesa.pt.
Schedule: Every day from 12h to 22h.
Seafood restaurants in Porto: Terra Nova
And since we’re talking about cod, let me introduce you to Terra Nova. With a prime location along Cais da Ribeira, Terra Nova offers a slightly more polished take on seafood dining, with a strong focus on codfish and oysters. The menu blends Portuguese tradition with a modern, almost brasserie-style approach, making it a good option for those looking for something a bit more refined without losing the local touch. Large windows overlooking the Douro river add to the experience, making it especially appealing for a relaxed lunch or dinner with a view.
How to get there: A 10-minute walk from São Bento station, heading down toward the river.
How to make your reservation: directly on their website.
Schedule: Every day from 12h to 22h30.
Terreiro
Terreiro is another restaurant located in Ribeira, with a fantastic view of the Douro river. It’s a small and very popular restaurant, so I recommend you book in advance or at least show up as soon as the doors open.
The food is very tasty and the prices are fair. The main dishes include a fantastic seafood rice and prawns sautéed with garlic: delicious! To accompany it, be sure to order a pitcher of sangria, which is one of the house specialties.
How to get there: the São Bento subway station is a 9-minute walking distance.
How to make your reservation: call them on +351222011955.
Schedule: From Tuesday to Saturday, from 12h30 to 22h. It closes on Mondays and Sundays.
Best seafood restaurants in Porto district, Matosinhos area
All the locals know that if you are a serious seafood lover you have to go to Matosinhos, a fisherman city located 8 km north of Porto. This is where you will find THE best seafood restaurants in Porto district. Period. These are the ones:
O Gaveto
Gaveto is the typical answer to the question “what are the best seafood restaurants in Porto?”. After all, it is not every day that we come across an irreproachable quality of product, coupled with an impressive wine list and an attentive service.
When I visit inGaveto, I either pick a fish directly from the fish display (which will be cooked on the grill or in the oven) or go for a delicious seafood rice. The traditional açorda, abundant in shrimp and in flavours, is also a safe bet.
This restaurant also has good meat options on the menu, which is why it is a good choice for couples or groups in which some of the members haven’t surrendered (yet) to the sea charms.
How to get there: the subway station Matosinhos Sul is a 5 minutes walking distance.
How to make your reservation: directly on their website. For reservations with less than 24h in advance, call +351229378796.
Schedule: Every day 12h to 23h30.
Salta o Muro
If we don’t look very carefully, we might lose this humble restaurant in the midst of Matosinhos seafood abundance. Salta o Muro is not for those looking for a fancy restaurant. It’s small, there are no cloth napkins and sometimes people need to squeeze-in with strangers for some space. But who cares when you’re being served the most amazing grilled fish?!
For appetizers, I like to order the deep-fried sardines when they are in season. For the main meal, a fresh grilled fish with oven baked potatoes is all I need for a good afternoon. On Friday, the octopus rice, which is one of their specialties, is a must-try.
How to get there: the subway station Brito Capelo is a 5 minutes walking distance.
How to make your reservation: call them on +351229380870.
Schedule: From Tuesday to Saturday, from 12h15 – 15h and then from 19h – 22h45. It closes on Mondays and Sundays.
Mercado – Food & Drinks
Mercado – Food & Drinks is a restaurant inside the Matosinhos Market and it has a unique concept: the fish and seafood are chosen and purchased by each customer, directly at the market stalls, and then the fishmongers prepare the fish so that the restaurant can then cook it to your taste.
The main dishes include fish soup, but also plenty of cod dishes, the most iconic Portuguese ingredient of all times. For dessert, there’s nothing like a chocolate tart with salted caramel served with a coffee.
Interestingly (and perhaps because Mercado – Food & Drinks is far from Rua Heróis de França, which is the center of the best seafood restaurants in Porto) the prices are quite reasonable. I really don’t have anything negative to say about this restaurant!
How to get there: the Mercado subway station is a 1-minute walking distance.
How to make your reservation: call them on +351224065155.
Schedule: Tuesday to Thursday: 10h30 – midnight | Fridays and Saturdays 10h30 – 02h | Closed on Sundays and on Mondays.
Jácome
When I first visited Jácome, my first impression was rather negative. The room was small and dark and it had a strong smell of cooked fish. Thankfully, these small details did not deter me from the goal of eating good fish, and after the first bite, it went straight to my list of best seafood restaurants in Porto.
Like a friend of mine says, “I like to eat well, not to eat beautifully”, a gastronomic idea that I take everywhere with me. So I recommend Jácome for those who are serious about eating fish, with no flufiness other than the beauty of a virgin flavour.
How to get there: call an uber at the Mercado de Matosinhos subway station.
How to make your reservation: call them on +351914398618.
Schedule: Every day from 12h to midnight.
Seafood restaurants in Porto: O Filipe de Angeiras
Filipe de Angeiras one of the few seafood restaurants in Porto with a generous balcony right in front of the Atlantic ocean.
The list of starters is immense and it includes shrimps from the coast, octopus salad with peppers, fried fish and codfish, grilled squid, clams à Bolhão Pato style, etc. If you’re going with someone who doesn’t like fish starters, ask for a grilled chouriça or a small dish of orelheira (pig ears), you won’t regret it.
In my opinion, Filipe de Angeiras only has two problems:
- a shameful wine menu (go for Muros Antigos from the Green wine region, which never disappoints);
- the waiting times for a table are really long. Go early or get ready to wait a couple of hours on your feet.
How to get there: call an uber at the Mercado de Matosinhos subway station.
How to make your reservation: call them on +351934544733.
Schedule: From Tuesday to Saturday, from 12h to 23h. It closes on Mondays and Sundays.
Restaurante Lusíadas
Lusíadas is one of best seafood restaurants in Porto, and one of the most expensive ones too. The good atmosphere, the outstanding customer service, and delicious fresh seafood make Lusíadas a must-go when you’re in Porto.
For starters, ask for the delicious octopus with green sauce or the stuffed crab. For the main meal, their famous salted sea bass which comes with oven baked potatoes is a good choice. They also have one of the stop seafood rice in town. To end the meal, a treat to some creme queimado with a cup of coffee doesn’t disappoint.
How to get there: the subway station Matosinhos Sul is a 5 minutes walking distance.
How to make your reservation: directly on their website, or send them an email to reservas@restaurantelusiadas.com
Schedule: every day from 12h to 23h30.
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