Where to Stay
Porto doesn’t have very many big-name hotels, but a lot of smaller properties offer a boutique, plugged-in vibe. The new Flores Village Hotel & Spa, a renovated townhouse with a pool and spa, is a rarity for downtown accommodations.
You’ll get a picture-perfect location right on the Duoro river if you stay at the newly renovated Pestana Vintage Porto, whose rooms overlook the famous port cellars. (The hotel restaurant, Rib, offers killer steaks and a tightly curated menu of Portuguese wines.)
You can also opt for the romance of Porto’s hilly countryside without being too far from the heart of town. The municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia is just across the river (you can easily walk or take a quick car ride to the city center) and home to one of the area’s most luxurious stays: the Yeatman. It’s not new, but it has spacious, British-inspired rooms and a Caudalie spa, along with a Michelin-starred restaurant and exceptional views of downtown Porto.
Where to Eat
At the moment, the most sought-after restaurant in Porto is Cantina 32 on the pedestrian-only Rua das Flores. Make a reservation ahead of your trip to snag a seat—even if you’re going for lunch—and order from a mix of traditional and internationally inspired dishes. Save room for dessert: The caramelized banana cheesecake is served in a flower pot and topped with Oreo crumble, to resemble dirt. The kitchen even sticks leaves in it to complete the fantasy.
You’d also be remiss to plan a trip without hitting up celebrity chef Rui Paula’s newest outpost, Boa Nova, in a building designed by Pritzker-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. It couldn’t be more beautifully located, right next to the Atlantic Ocean in the fishing village of Matosinhos. The seafood-obsessed restaurant upgrades classic Portuguese dishes to a fine-dining level, such as delicate pieces of eel with marrow and pata negra ham or oysters topped with dashi and trout caviar.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.