What to Eat in Porto: Francesinha, Pernil and Port

Porto is one of Europe’s best food cities, and it doesn’t do things by halves: a sandwich drowned in cheese and beer sauce, roast pork rolls dripping with juice, tripe stew that gave locals their nickname, and of course port wine from the cellars across the river. Here’s what to eat in Porto, and where.

Quick answer: try a francesinha (Café Santiago or Lado B), a sandes de pernil at Casa Guedes, bolinhos de bacalhau, grilled fish in Matosinhos, a pastel de nata at Manteigaria, and port in Gaia. Shop and snack at the restored Mercado do Bolhão (closed Sundays). A food tour is about €75–95.

The must-try dishes

Francesinha

Porto’s famous (and enormous) sandwich: layers of bread, steak, ham and sausage, covered in melted cheese and a rich beer-and-tomato sauce, often with a fried egg on top and chips on the side. Where to try it:

• Café Santiago: open since 1959 and a classic. Expect a queue.
• Lado B: near the Majestic, popular and good value.
• Cervejaria Brasão: two branches, with a lively beer-hall feel.
• Bufete Fase: tiny, old-school and much loved, with the sausage on top.

Sandes de pernil (Casa Guedes)

Slow-roast pork in a crusty roll, best with a slice of melting Serra da Estrela cheese. Casa Guedes is the place, and its sandwich was ranked among the best in the world in 2026.

Tripas à moda do Porto

A hearty tripe and white bean stew. Legend says that when the city gave its meat to the explorers’ ships in the 1400s, locals were left with tripe, which is why people from Porto are still called tripeiros.

Bolinhos de bacalhau

Crispy salt cod and potato fritters, perfect with a beer or a glass of vinho verde.

Grilled fish in Matosinhos

The fishing town next to Porto is lined with restaurants grilling fresh fish and seafood on outdoor barbecues. Take the metro (line A) and follow the smoke.

Caldo verde

The classic soup of potato, finely shredded kale and a slice of chouriço.

Sweets

• Pastel de nata: Manteigaria has a shop by the Bolhão market, open daily. See the best pastel de nata.
• Café Majestic: a gorgeous 1921 Belle Époque café on Rua de Santa Catarina. Pricey, but you’re paying for the setting.

Drinks

• Port: tour a cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia and taste ruby, tawny and white port. See the best tours in Porto.
• Port tonic: white port with tonic, the city’s summer drink.
• Vinho verde: fresh, light wine from the region just north of Porto.

Mercado do Bolhão

Porto’s historic market reopened in 2022 after a long restoration, with fresh produce, fish, flowers, cheese and little restaurants. Stalls open Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and Saturday until 6pm; the restaurants stay open later. Closed on Sundays.

Food tours

A food tour is a fun way to try everything in an afternoon, with stories about the city. Expect about €75–95 for 3–4 hours. See Porto food tours.

Tips

• Lunch is the bargain: look for the prato do dia (dish of the day).
• The couvert (bread, olives) isn’t free; send it back if you don’t want it.
• Francesinhas are huge: share one, or skip lunch.
• Book popular restaurants at weekends.

More: what to eat in Portugal, Porto in one day and 2 days in Porto.

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