Stay
Rosa et al Townhouse: minimalist design leveraging the bones of good architecture and vintage furniture. This is like you’re staying at someone’s home, in a more residential area.
1872 Riverhouse: conveniently located on the Ribeira, it’s walking distance to everywhere you want to go. Service is friendly, breakfast is abundant, rooms are cute and quaint. Perfect for those who don’t require a lot of facilities (it’s a boutique hotel) and only staying a couple nights.
Miss Opo: it's a restaurant, it's a gallery, it's a shop... and it's also a small guesthouse. A handful of rooms mixing antiques with contemporary build, a hip place to stay surrounded by cool interiors.
The Yeatman: your luxury standard, here you’ll find everything you need if you’re a demanding traveler but still like an authentic experience. On the other side of the river behind the winery cellars, with great views of Ribeira, a pool, high-end dining, and spa.
Eat
Ostras e Coisas: fresh fish, minimal and sleek design
Museu d’Avo: hipster den great for drinks or a dinner date
Epoca: lovely, healthy dishes in a cool yet casual setting, amazing coffee and they have oatmilk! Homebaked bread too! Handwritten menu changes daily.
Cantinho do Avillez: elevated take on traditional Portuguese by star chef Jose Avillez - this is the Porto outpost of one of Lisbon's favorite restaurants.
Caffe Vitoria: sleek all-day hangout, from morning to night this is the place to be. Scandinavian design with pops of color and jungalow vibes. Grab a coffee or a drink and stay awhile.
Oficina: along the artsy Rua Miguel Bombarda this concept restaurant greets you with neon art sign reading "Fuck Art Let's Eat" - the decor is chic industrial meets pop of mustard yellow leather. Creative Portuguese cuisine for a fun night out.
Base: it's garden cafe sitting atop the Passeio dos Clerigos urban shopping/park - the boutiques sit below while the grass-covered rooftop serves as an oasis above.
Shop
Claus Porto: quite possibly one of the most beautiful boutiques in Europe, this is home to the historic Claus apothecary specialized in perfumes and soaps. It houses a museum showcasing the story of their products and packaging design. A must visit.
Hats & C.A.T.S.: uber chic shop for panama hats, straw bags, linen scarves, and niche Portuguese outerwear - get ready to shop!
A Vida Portuguesa: offering a wide range of gifts and chic Portuguese souvenirs in a stunning space, this branch is much nicer than the one in Lisbon. Don't miss!
Santo da Casa: cute shop with traditional wool blankets, panama hats, straw bags, small locally made home goods
Coracao Alecrim: hip concept store selling homewear, vintage items, plants, clothing and accessories from local designers
Burel Mountain Originals: for modern and chic wool blankets honoring heritage craftsmanship
See
Casa Serralves: a millennial pink modernist palace designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira with a sculpture park garden, need I say more?
Casa da Musica: Rem Koolhaas' designed concert hall lined with traditional blue and white tiles inside.
Riverside: walk along the Ribiera to cross the Ponte Luis bridge to the side of Porto where all the winery cellars can be found.
Quinta dos Corvos: visit this Port cellar to have a more personalized tasting. This generations-old family winery doesn’t export, and focuses on quality over quantity. Much more of an authentic experience than one of the larger Port houses.
Igreja do Carmo: beautifully tiled church in the Vitoria area, an alternative "azulejo appreciation moment" to the more touristy Sao Bento station.
