Accessories
Amid the galleries that fill the Porto Art District, Scar ID is a treasure trove for Porto-based designs (though some pieces hail from other parts of the country). It’s best if you’re looking for exclusive items, since the shop is often the only retail outpost for a lot of the product lines it carries. Everything from fashion, to skincare, to home decor is represented, but accessories are your best bet.
Our favorites: TelmaDA’s architectural jewelry, from modular necklaces to striking, geometric earrings; handmade tortoise shell sunglasses from Darkside; and Freakloset’s unique lace-up boots, which are made mostly of leather but amped up with contrasting neoprene backs.
Stock up on winter accessories at Burel Factory, a producer based in the mountains of Portugal. It has just opened a store in Porto filled with scarves, jackets, hats, and bags, all made with a thick wool textile called burel, which was historically used by sheep herders.
Then pay a visit to Ideal & Co.’s downtown office to learn more about Portuguese craftsmanship.
The brand was launched a few years ago with a line of leather satchels, briefcases, totes, drawing tubes, backpacks, and more. But grab a complimentary glass of Port wine, hang out on the couch, and let the designers tell you more about a special type of cotton canvas they’ve recently manufactured—it’s raw and refined, like Japanese selvedge denim, but unique to the Iberian peninsula. For now, they’re using it as a base for messenger bags and backpacks that could easily attach to your bike.
Home Décor
Near the iconic Clerigos Tower, you’ll find A Vida Portuguesa, a chainlet of well-known concept stores with locations in Lisbon and Porto. Its stock of Portuguese handicrafts makes it the perfect stop for such clever souvenirs as vintage-looking toothpaste, beautifully wrapped homemade soaps, and illustrated books about Fado, the melancholic musical style that's part of Portugal's cultural identity.
The home décor items are equally worth picking up—wall hangings by local artist Bordalo Pinheiro, aluminum water jugs, and wooden cheese platters.
Make your larger purchases at Casa Almada, a two-floor design destination in downtown Porto that focuses on midcentury furniture from all over Europe. You’ll find vintage brass sconces and reframed Erik Kirkegaard arm chairs, as well as limited-run goods from Made In*/ Casa Almada, a collaborative effort between the shop and local contemporary designers. Recently on offer were cork-and-paper mobiles by Miguel Cunha and wall lamps by Pedro e Inês. The latter are made with ceramic tiles that resemble fish scales.