Hello friend,

We made it back home. Two weeks flew by so quickly. I thought I’d write a newsletter to note down our experience in Porto, what we did there, why we visited the city for the second time and what to expect.

A small disclaimer: I’m only sharing our experience and our recommendations. Porto is a big city, there’s a lot of activity. Things can change, so take my tips with a pinch of salt.

Why we travelled to Porto

As I already mentioned, this was our second time visiting Porto, and for sure, it won’t be the last. We initially came here last year, in March, 2024. At that time it was so rainy and cold. But besides the weather, we really enjoyed the city, the vibe, the touristy areas, but also the neighborhoods where locals hang out.

Porto is touristy, but not as bad as you might expect. Every now and then, you have to wait in line at a famous restaurant, but it’s reasonable.

One of the main reasons for visiting Porto this time was meeting our friends: Eddie and Sara, Calvin, Kristine and Sam of course (Calvin and Kristine’s cat). I’m so grateful we got to spend time with them.

Overall, it’s a great place to spend some time as a digital nomad. Let’s dive deeper:

Fooood

From a gastronomy perspective, some say Porto is the best city in Portugal for food travel. I don’t have advanced takes and such, but you can find amazing local restaurants and places to eat here. I’m sharing just a few from these past two weeks, but there’s definitely more to explore.

Honest Greens

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9s4nrQHYmpSQyp88A

There are multiple locations under the same name, but we went to the one above. I think in we went there 3 or 4 times in total. As the name suggests, they focus on healthy food. It’s a great place for vegetarians or people wanting to avoid gluten. I’d say Porto is a great place for healthy food. You gluten-free products everywhere.

You can find the menu online. We had spicy bowl hummus, and one day I had an oatmeal breakfast. My wife had salmon another day. All very tasty. My mouth is watering right now while going through the photos for this post.

The photos were taken with an iPhone, and don’t do the food justice, but all the veggies looked so tasty.

You can opt also for infused water with fruits, fresh herbs and vegetables - free refill. It’s ideal for staying hydrated while spending some more time there. They also serve speciality coffee.

What we often did is we grabbed something to eat, maybe a breakfast or a main course, some coffee and also work from there, since the place is laptop-friendly. This place I definitely recommend!

Madureira’s Campo Alegre

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v5fszMha1WGkPhNL7

We went here with our friends. I definitely recommend this place. We had some delicious seafood rice, but I think all the dishes are great. If you go, make sure you order half a portion. Trust me: it’s a lot of food. My wife and I were hungry, and still couldn’t finish half a portion.

Our only regret is that we didn’t have a chance to go again before we left, but we’ll be back to this restaurant next time we’re in Porto.

Casa Viúva

https://maps.app.goo.gl/b6MoQCDDH3pMXhen6

If Honest Greens is all about healthy food in a modern space with speciality coffee, Casa Viúva is on the opposite end of the spectrum. In our search for small tavernas hosted by locals, serving traditional food and especially fish and seafood, we found this restaurant.

Small, very very busy place, but so tasty food. You can’t go wrong with either the salmon or the dorade. It’s one of those places where you eat and go, since there’s almost always a line of people waiting. I believe this is also where locals eat.

You can also see the menu online on Google Maps, but we were surprised at how affordable it was to eat there such big and tasty portions.

La Salumeria Porto

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qa5pqXdw1ZzJMSC8A

We found this place on our first trip to Porto. I believe it’s an authentic Italian restaurant. Even though pizza looked great, we had salad and lasagna al ragù.

If you’re close to the central Porto and want something simple and good, check out this place. I believe we also had desert. I think it was tiramisu or cheesecake, can’t remember.

Deserts

I’m not a big fan of deserts. Not that I don’t eat them, but I prefer a cup of coffee or something salty instead of something sweet. I don’t eat chocolate on a regular basis, and usually I don’t order deserts. But there’s one thing and one thing only I could eat until I pass out: the glorious, tasty and sweet pastel de nata - the Portuguese egg custard tart pastry.

If you’re willing to eat some amazing natas, checkout these places:

Fábrica da Nata (Praça Almeida Garrett)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zkPhKsCZ6gjmanQ56

We found this place on our first trip to Porto. It’s close to São Bento train station. We ate here multiple times, not only for natas, but also for breakfast and some coffee. It’s usually a bit busy, so you have to wait in line a couple of minutes, but tables free up quickly, so no need to worry. Most people just enjoy a pastry and leave.

It is not the place to bring your laptop, but it’s a great spot to stop for a few of minutes especially if you’re visiting Porto. They also have restroom, which comes in really handy. I would definitely recommend this place. It has its own charm, so if you want some natas and a coffee, check it out.

Manteigaria – Fábrica de Pastéis de Nata

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7nTWfNpxvH5FWQ8d8

We discovered this place on this trip, and I’d say it’s absolutely worth a try. The natas are delicious. In the same space, there’s café roastery where you can get a tasty speciality coffee.

There’s one downside though: it is super busy and, I have to say, they can be a bit slow while preparing the coffees. You pick up natas in one line, and then wait for coffee in another line. It’s not be ideal if you’re in a hurry.

You could do what we did: go there earlier in the morning and you’ll have a better chance of getting your order quickly. But despite that, you should definitely try this place at least once before leaving Porto.

Cafés

While exploring Porto, I wanted to find places with great coffee that are also laptop-friendly. I have to say, some cafés aren’t ideal for laptops, not because they aren’t allowed, but because the cafés are often so busy and it feels a bit weird to occupy a table for too long. But I’ve found some great spots for you as well:

Noshi Coffee

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XWMkckrxjVm9VnQXA

I’ve been there 3 or 4 times for coffee, sometimes for breakfast. Their coffee is great, and it’s also laptop-friendly. I chose this café multiple times since is close to central Porto. I’ve seen other digital nomads with laptops there, so if you’re near central Porto, give it a try.

BUuh!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yJhhBLEotB3YCwZ5A

This is a cozy café that was close to our accommodation. I had the chance to visit twice, since they were on vacation for part of our stay. It’s a great, laptop-friendly place with a welcoming staff. If you’re looking for a chill beautiful place to bring your laptop, you might love it here.

Manteigaria – Fábrica de Pastéis de Nata

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7nTWfNpxvH5FWQ8d8

Already mentioned above. The coffee is good, but the place is so busy most of the time that you’ll probably have to wait in line. You might be lucky if you go earlier in the morning. It’s not really a quiet place to work from.

Jeronymo Bonjardim

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nwm5YfdzBSpefqTa9

One day I was looking for a place to have breakfast. While walking the streets near Mercado do Bolhão, I found this spot. It wasn’t busy, actually it was pretty quiet. They don’t serve speciality coffee, but it’s decent. This place is laptop-friendly with comfortable chairs. A good spot to grab a branch, some coffee, maybe some desert. Overall it’s a good place get some work done.

Places to visit

When it comes to places to visit, Porto offers a wide variety of options. But if you’re trying to tick off as many landmarks as possible in a short amount of time, this might not be the right article for you, since I’m not aiming to create an exhaustive list.

We weren’t classic tourists spending just 1-2 days in Porto before moving on. Instead, I’m sharing our own experience and perspective. We didn’t visit all the attractions. There are tons of museums, churches, viewpoints, wineries. There’s really so much you can do.

So to point out just a few recommendations:

• Walking along the riverside - A bit touristy, but it’s relaxing. Perfect for a chill evening walk, enjoying street artists or buying some souvenirs.
• Ponte Luís I - You should definitely cross this bridge. It has an amazing view from the top (there’s also a lower level of crossing).
• Jardim do Morro - If you cross the Luís I bridge, you’ll find this green spot on the other side. Great for just chilling and touching some grass.
• The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines - on the south bank you can find several restaurants and The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines. It’s colorful and fun to check out.
• São Bento Station - The beautiful 19th-century train station, famous for it’s tilework.
• Via Catarina Shopping Mall - A medium-sized mall where you can find most essentials. It’s not huge, but very centrally located.
• Praia de Matosinhos - We’re not really beach people, but walking there was amazing. Even though we stayed in central Porto, we made the trip to Matosinhos and it was definitely worth it.
• Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos - This is a great local market. Unfortunately, we visited on Monday when it was closed, but if you go there another day, you’ll find fresh fish and local products. If you cook at your accommodation like we do, this is definitely worth checking out.
• Mercado do Bolhão - If Matosinhos market is too far, you can consider this one. It’s a bit pricier because of the tourists, but it’s still affordable. We went there regularly to buy fresh fish and delicious fruit. You can’t go wrong with papayas or oranges. If you plan to do some shopping, bring cash - not all vendors accept cards.

Transportation

In central Porto, most things are within walking distance. But I have to warn you: Porto is full of hills, so be prepared to go up and down a lot. Wear comfortable shoes and always carry water, since it can get tiring quickly.

For longer distances you can use Uber. We didn’t use it, since we spent most of our time in central Porto.

If you want to explore other cities, consider taking the train from São Bento station. As a reference, you can get to Lisbon in about 3 hours. For tickets and other details, it’s best to check online.

Metro system is excellent. If you’re flying into Porto, you’ll arrive at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport which has a metro station right inside. The metro will take you directly into central Porto. It’s much cheaper and faster than Uber or taxi. We even used it at night, and it was safe, clean and fast. If you’re coming to Porto, I’d definitely recommend the metro.

Do you want a properly written article about Porto? Check out this article:

But tourist attractions are not everything

We are grateful we got to meet Eddie, Sara, Calvin and Kristine in real life. After a few months of chatting online, we finally had the chance to connect face to face.

It was so nice meeting you all. We want to thank you for your warm welcome and for spending time with us!

This was our second time visiting Porto, and we’ve already started planning our next trip.

This week’s newsletter was a bit more personal, and I hope you found something useful or inspiring in it.

That being said, thank you for reading and for your support. It means a lot to me, and I hope I’ve inspired you to visit Porto 🇵🇹.

See you soon!