I recently had 3 nights in Porto, a city i had never visited but heard a lot of good things about. I am very much a non-planner and non touristy tourist and here are some of the things that i did.
We stayed in an airbnb on Rua do Almada, Porto, a long street narrow street that runs up a hill. On this street there are a mix of old shops selling hardware, locksmiths as well as organic cafes and a craft beer shop. The buildings were aged in an almost forgotten time way where i’m guessing investment in renovation has not been forthcoming but needed. The result is a run down charm which gives porto its unique character.
This is the view up the street from our apartment and home for the 4 days.
Day 2
The day after we arrived we went down to the river looking for coffee and pastries Unfortunately we could only find overpriced touristy restaurants. In the end we got an uber to the food market area and had lunch at Bolhão a Gosto - Comida Tradicional just outside the Bolhão market, it is a little local cafe/ restaurant that serves all the traditional portuguese favourites.
Mercado do Bolhão, the city’s most iconic and lively market.
Wandering around the market looking at all the local food, drinks and fruit was a feast for the eyes and stomach. Fortunately we had just had lunch so we only bought a few tinned fish and some strawberries to take back to our airbnb for breakfast the next day.
Day 2
Went for a birthday week dinner at “The Door” which i reserved before arriving in Porto, lived up to all the great reviews it received.
The best beef carpaccio and an extremely memorable sticky toffee pudding.
Scallops were amazing but sadly i was too full to properly enjoy them.
It came with a mascarpone ice cream in the largest ball of ice cream i have ever seen!
We got an airbnb very close to or maybe inside the old town, within walking distance to pretty much everything.
