Bonfim neighborhood, in Porto, was considered one of the coolest neighborhoods in Europe by The Guardian. No wonder: this charming neighborhood is yet to be ruined by tourism and it elegantly combines elder Portuguese residents with art students and loads of hipsters.
I am very happy to write this article because I am a bonfinense – my family has been living here for the past 50 years, and so do I.
So, with no further due, let me introduce you to the best of Bonfim neighborhood!
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary:
- Best hotels in Bonfim: I particularly like Outsite Porto Mouco, but the guest houses Casa Kala and Charming Antas House are absolutely charming 🙂
- Best things to do in Bonfim: check the Fontainhas viewpoint, visit the cemetery of Prado do Repouso, walk in Parque de Sintra garden 🙂
- Best restaurants in Bonfim: Rogério do Redondo, Euskalduna Studio and Atrevo.
- Best cafés and bars in Bonfim: O Porto dos Gatos, Combi and Terraplana.
Why stay in Bonfim neighborhood in Porto?
I am assuming that after reading this article a lot of you will want to stay in Bonfim neighborhood, and quite rightfully so. After all, it is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Porto (by the way I really recommend you to read that article, as it is a very comprehensive guide of the best areas to stay in Porto, and the pros and cons of staying at each one of them).
It is a neighborhood with an interesting blend of tourists (given its proximity to downtown Porto), art students (as it is where the Faculty of Beaux Arts is located) and hipsters.
It still has a lot of traditional stores, mixed up with specialty coffee shops, craft beer pubs and new concept stores.
What is the catch of staying in Bonfim neighborhood?
Well, the truth is… in my opinion, and I’ve been living here for 6 years now, it’s becoming more and more touristy, more and more noisy, and more and more expensive =( it still feels very authentic but less and less so as days go by. But maybe this is my nostalgic, local view of someone living in the area and struggling with its transformations. It’s a beautiful area though, and indeed one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Porto for sure.
What to do in Bonfim neighborhood
Cemetery of Prado do Repouso
Prado do Repouso was the first public cemetery built in Porto, in 1839. As people were quite suspicious of being buried in a public space, the city hall invested quite a lot of money into building a beautiful boulevard inside the cemetery, and to bring the remainings of prestigious citizens. Sounds gruesome but it is true, and it worked!
This cemetery is beautiful and you can easily spend an hour there admiring the graveyards.
Hello, Bonfim
I recently discovered this concept /pop up store and I loved it! Hello, Bonfim makes a careful selection of Portuguese brands, ranging from jewelry to clothing and illustration, that get to display their products during a month. It is quite cool and I recommend it for those of you looking for original gifts.
Senhora Presidenta
It is hard to define Senhora Presidenta, a recent creative project in Bonfim neighborhood. It is an art gallery that displays ceramics, illustration, painting and photography but also independent production of fanzines, postcards and books. It is also a store that sells mostly carpets by the artist Célia Esteves.
It is worth the visit, especially because it is literally in front of Hello, Bonfim.
Igreja Matriz do Bonfim
This church is not included on the list of the best churches in the city but it doesn’t mean it is not worth the visit, particularly because it is completely out of the touristic radar of Downtown Porto.
In order to get there you will go across one of the surviving traditional streets in Porto, Rua do Bonfim, where you’ll find my favourite macrobiotic restaurant (Suribachi).
Parque de Nova Sintra
I believe I failed to mention this park on the list of the best gardens of Porto because, quite simply, people tend to forget about it. It is a pity though, as this garden has one of the best views over the Douro river.
Fontaínhas Viewpoint
There is not a single soul in Bonfim that doesn’t love Fontaínhas, one of the best viewpoints in Porto. After all, this is one of the prime locations to watch the fireworks during São João, the most important festivity of the year.
However, it gets really packed during that specific night, so I recommend you to go there during the week before – it is much more relaxed and you can eat grilled sardines and pork belly while enjoying the view of the Douro river.
Where to Stay in Bonfim neighborhood
Outsite Porto Mouco
Outsite Porto Mouco is a modern and airy residence located in the Bonfim neighborhood of Porto, Portugal. The hotel’s rooftop pool is a standout feature that everyone raves about. It’s a great place to relax and unwind while enjoying the stunning views of the city. The hotel also has a record library where guests can relax with a book or listen to music, something I’ve never seen anywhere else in the city. Additionally, the hotel hosts weekly events such as get-togethers, happy hours, and workshops on-site, providing you with an opportunity to socialize and unwind after work. Overall, Outsite Porto Mouco is such. a COOL. PLACE. 🙂
Oca Oriental Porto Hotel
Oca Oriental Porto hotel is one of my favorite hotels in Bonfim neighborhood. The hotel is located in a quiet area (only an 8-minute walk from Campanhã train station), and around 1.4 miles from the city centre. The hotel has a modern and stylish decor that is both elegant and comfortable. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with contemporary furnishings and high-quality amenities. The hotel has a well-equipped fitness center that is open 24/7. It has a range of cardio and strength training equipment, as well as free weights and yoga mats. Overall, Oca Oriental Porto hotel is a comfortable and convenient base to explore the city.
Charming Antas House
Charming Antas House is probably my favourite guest house in Porto as it combines a charming, antique atmosphere with a sunny patio and the best breakfast in town. You can also share an amazing living room with other guests, that you can challenge to play snooker. There is a close by shopping mall.
Casa Kala
One of the amazing guides of my private tours recently discovered Casa Kala, and we fell in love with it! It is a lovely guest house that offers allergy-free units, which is a unique feature that is not commonly found in other hotels. Additionally, guests can have wine or champagne and fruits delivered to their room, which adds to the overall experience of staying at Casa Kala. The guest house also has a garden and a private parking, which is suuuuper convenient for families or someone on a road trip in Porto 🙂
Thomaz Palace
Thomaz Palace is housed in a beautifully restored building, offering a unique blend of historical charm and modern amenities. The apartments at Thomaz Palace are truly something else – spacious, with wide windows, and well-equipped, providing a comfortable and convenient stay, whether it’s for a shorter or longer period. The modern minimalist furniture and the well-equipped kitchen, designed to be unobtrusive for those guests not making use of it, add to the overall appeal. In a nutshell, what makes Thomaz Palace truly unique is its blend of historical charm and well-appointed apartments.
daPraça Apartment
This is my last apartment recommendation in Bonfim neighborhood but not the least. What I particularly love about daPraça Apartment is that each apartment has a terrace with chaise longes and rocking chairs which are soooo relaxing.
Best restaurants, cafés and bars in Bonfim neighborhood
O Porto dos Gatos
O Porto dos Gatos is one of my favorite spots in Bonfim neighborhood because it is basically a cat café <3 serving vegan food <3 where all the resident cats are up for responsible adoption <3.
Therefore when you visit this space you are not only enjoying some of the best vegan cakes in Porto but also contributing to the financial stability of an amazing institution. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Atrevo
I recently went to Atrevo and I felt in love with the concept. It is basically this super tiny restaurant where you can have a proper food pairing menu, with great Portuguese wines. It is quite expensive for Portuguese standards but totally worth it, especially if you are on a date with a wine nerd like me.
Combi
I absolutely adore Combi, one of the best specialty coffee shops in Porto. There you can have a very decent cup of coffee (multiple origins and different extraction methods), watch the owners roast their own coffee and buy coffee.
Euskalduna Studio
Euskalduna Studio is the mad dream of a college drop off, Vasco Coelho Santos, that quickly became one of the rising stars of modern Portuguese cuisine.
His restaurant is inspired in the Japanese omakase restaurants, where guest have an intimate experience with the chef, as they never know what exactly they are going to eat.
The food is playful and it explores less known ingredients such as mackerel and rockfish, so even though it is painfully expensive, it is worth the experience.
Suribachi
Suribachi is the oldest macrobiotic restaurant in Porto and one of my favorite restaurants in the city. There you will find a buffet style restaurant serving delicious food (including a vegan francesinha on Saturdays), but also a small grocery shop.
Suribachi also roasts bread and they make the best rice bread in the city.
Café Francesinha
I no longer eat meat but when I did I was absolutely crazy about francesinha (the famous sandwich from Porto) and I would never eat one anywhere but at Café Francesinha.
The owner, Fernando, is crazy about francesinhas and he devoted his life to create the most perfect, well balanced sauce in the city. The ingredients are really high quality and I love the atmosphere as well, as there are no tourists there.
Café Francesinha only serves francesinhas, so you should only go there if you are serious about trying this amazing Portuguese dish.
Rogério do Redondo
Rogério do Redondo is one of the best traditional restaurants in Porto, and I recommend you to get there if you are serious about trying our traditional dishes such as feijoada (red beans stew) or cabrito assado no forno (roasted baby goat). If you are a fussy eater don’t even mind going there: this restaurant is for the adventurous.
Terraplana
I am not suuuuuper into cocktails but I have to stay that Terraplana quickly win me over on that topic as they prepare some of the best cocktails in Porto. Besides that, it also serves amazing pizzas (including vegan ones) and a delicious hummus. On Friday and Saturday’s nights there is always live music
How to get to Bonfim neighborhood
Bonfim neighborhood is easily reachable by subway – you just need to get out at the subway station 24 Agosto, Heroísmo or Marquês.
There is also an important transport hub in Campo 24 de Agosto, by the former Central shopping center, where over 300 regional buses departure daily.
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