logo
The 10 best bars in Porto

The 10 best bars in Porto

Telegraph4 days ago
Porto is a university town and its student population ensures there is an ever-increasing number of venues opening, serving drinks until the small hours of the day.
Visitors wanting to explore the city's nightlife scene should head to Galerias das Paris or Cãndido dos Reis streets, where bars and restaurants jostle with clubs – everything you want from a night out in one place. Most locals dip in and out of different venues but drink in the street, with clubs here not charging an entry fee.
All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best bars in Porto. Find out more below, or for more Porto inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants and things to do.
The Royal Cocktail Club
Appearing on The World's 50 Best Discovery list, Royal Cocktail Club classics come with a twist, like the house Moscow Mule which incorporates Brig's rosé port alongside Grey Goose Vodka, lime juice and grapefruit juice. The marble counter top upstairs is the place to discuss concoctions and the sofas downstairs the place to enjoy them until late.
Flôr
A truly impressive range of cocktails makes Flôr stand out from the crowd, as well as its location at the end of Porto's oldest street. The latter makes the terrace a perfect place to spend a summer evening, but in winter the inside of the bar has a welcoming cosiness to it. Cocktails deserve to be tried in number but start with 'Clichéd', a concoction of gin, coriander, cod and granny smith apple, a reference to the essential elements of the Portuguese kitchen. Delicious plates of petiscos, Portuguese tapas, allow you to make an evening of it.
Dick's Bar
Having a drink at Dick's Bar is a must-do for every visitor to Porto, with incredible views over the decanter-shaped swimming pool beneath it, the Douro River, the Dom Luís Bridge and the colourful jumble of medieval houses across the water. Named after Dick Yeatman, a much-loved character in the port trade, here you can explore a wide range of wood-aged or vintage port by the glass or bottle, alongside local wines and classic spirits in the atmosphere of a Gentlemen's Club. Light meals and snacks are also available.
Curioso
This fun and vibrant cocktail bar in a central location makes an elegant destination for an evening drink and has seating outside. Cocktails follow a themed menu which changes regularly. Currently it centres around a journey to the east, with cocktails revolving around spices discovered on the route. Try the Buddha-fied, with Planteray 3 Stars, lemongrass, kaffir lime, banana and Thai chillies or play safe with one of their classics. Snacks in the form of local hams and cheeses, or alheiro balls with marmalade mayonnaise soak up the drinks nicely. Would-be mixologists can sign up to a workshop here.
Wine Quay Bar
The place to go to talk over a drink, without the interruption of live or background music, this wine bar is located near the riverside with a small balcony overlooking it and cosy (seating fewer than 20 people). There are over 100 wine references, more than half of which are available by the glass. Once used as a customs office by the co-owner's great grandfather, the decoration includes various memorabilia. Advice is readily given to make the most of an immersion in Portuguese wines, as is cheese, almonds or hams to accompany them.
Prova Wine Bar
This large space, all bare floors and extensive wooden tables, brims with a neighbourhood vibe, the sound of good jazz and a serious approach to wine. There is an excellent choice of more than 50 Portuguese wines to explore by the glass, curated and well explained by sommelier Diogo Amado, who also arranges tasting events. You can accompany pours with food from their simple menu which includes snacks like sardines, a typical Portuguese chicken pie or a board of hams and cheeses. Finish with a slice of almond tart.
Genuina Wine Bar
This hugely popular wine bar is a fairly recent arrival on the streets of Porto. Retro in feel it is the place to go for natural wine, mainly drawn from small, sustainable producers. Food is also available with a menu that evolves with the seasons. Two highlights are their umami-rich, Japanese-style pancake and their delicious Basque cheesecake but all their dishes are good. Staff are knowledgeable in helping you to explore the (still small) natural wine world here and the setting allows for a romantic rendez-vous as much as a group gathering.
Fiasco Bar
Ideal for a relaxed late-night drink, Fiasco is more than just a wine bar, offering vinyl records for sale within its warm and welcoming red interiors. It deserves its current popularity, with a drink menu that includes some creative cocktails (think gin, cherries, sake), alongside a wide selection of local wines, and staff that can knowledgeably guide you through it. The sound system is excellent here, and DJ nights are a frequent event. Food lends a sense of place to the whole, with seasonal, local ingredients enticing you to linger longer.
Capela Incomum
This old abandoned chapel makes an unusual setting for a wine bar, but certainly one with a difference. There are a few tables outside on the pavement but seating is mostly inside and some in front of the old altar piece. The selection of wines is comprehensive and includes a good range by the glass options, chalked up on the blackboard. Dishes include cheese platters, codfish croquettes, sausage hot dogs with ham and São Jorge cheese from the Azores. Save room for the pear crumble.
Gito Wine Bar
Founded by Brazilian Bruno Gouvea, this newish bar has cornered the market for natural wines, of which they have a large variety by the glass or bottle with daily changing options. There are around 45 references in total, some sourced from France, Germany, Austria and Spain. To complement the wine, there are boards of cheese and hams, saucisson and olives, and fresh bread bought from the local Bolhão market. There are only 20 seats – gito means tiny in Brazilian slang – which, along with the soft lighting, creates an intimate atmosphere.
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Mary Lussiana
I have lived in southern Portugal for over 20 years. When in Lisbon, you can find me chatting with the chef at the latest culinary hotspot, checking out a new rooftop bar or sampling the newest hotel on the block.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Love Island's Lauren reveals ‘real reason' why she took Harrison back after secret scene was CUT from TV
Love Island's Lauren reveals ‘real reason' why she took Harrison back after secret scene was CUT from TV

The Sun

time13 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Love Island's Lauren reveals ‘real reason' why she took Harrison back after secret scene was CUT from TV

LAUREN Wood has explained why she decided to take back Harrison Solomon after his antics in the Love Island villa. The dumped islander has gone "official" with Harrison since quitting the show, with the pair even talking about moving in together after just a few short weeks. 6 6 6 But the start of their romance was far from easy, with Harrison quitting the show after entangling himself in a love triangle with Lauren and Toni Laites. Backing and forthing between the two women ultimately caused Harrison to decide to exit the series early, shortly after Lauren was dumped and she begged him to go with her. With them both now on the outside, the pair have decided to give things a go - though talking on Love Island's Morning After podcast, it seemed there was more to their reunion than met the eye. "Leaving made me realise I want to be with Harrison," she told hosts Amy Hart and Max Balegde: . "The last few days leading up to me leaving, I'd cried every single day and said I just want to go home. "I didn't want to be there, and they just said, 'give it a go with Ty. Give it a go with Ty'. I couldn't forget about Harrison. Like, as much as he's hurt me, I felt like deep down I knew that things were going to work out and we were meant to be." Speaking about his previous behaviour, Lauren said: "Obviously I was upset and angry with him for his actions. "We'd said a couple of things for the days that we were meant to be staying away from each other. "I feel like we still give each other the little looks. Then on the night that I left, he kept saying are you okay? You okay? "And after few days of not saying a lot, I said to him I miss you, and I knew that we were going to have a chat." "Then obviously, I had that chat with him, and I feel like, for the viewers, they all just thought, 'Why is she asking him to leave with him when they've not even made up?'" she added. Watch moment Love Island's Harrison takes savage swipe at villa couple and says there's 'no chance' they will win "But we'd briefly had a conversation, and he'd said he was wanting to close things off with me." "I asked him out of emotion. I probably shouldn't have asked him that, because it was a big thing to ask, but at the time, I just thought, I want him to leave with me, I want to be with him. I want to make it work." "As much as he'd hurt me, I was willing to try and move forward and forget the past, because he's made a mistake," she concluded. "We all make mistakes. I just think he made a pretty big mistake, but I do think like he did that out of emotion, and he knows he shouldn't have done that." Her comments come shortly after Lauren said she felt Harrison had proved himself in her eyes when it came to romance. "It did affect the trust, him doing what he's done, but I do think, genuinely, him doing that and seeing how much upset he caused made him realise he needs to communicate better," she said. "He can't do things like that, and I do think deep down, he never meant to hurt anyone. He just got lost in his feelings and acted in a wrong way and made a silly mistake." "I think him leaving the villa showed me everything I needed to know," she concluded. "You're not gonna leave the villa if you're not sure of someone, and I think that showed me everything." 6 6 6

Amanda Holden flaunts her jaw-dropping figure in a stylish orange bikini during family getaway in Greece
Amanda Holden flaunts her jaw-dropping figure in a stylish orange bikini during family getaway in Greece

Daily Mail​

time13 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Amanda Holden flaunts her jaw-dropping figure in a stylish orange bikini during family getaway in Greece

Amanda Holden showed off her incredible figure in an orange bikini as she continued to soak up the sun in Greece on Thursday. The TV personality, 54, wowed fans as she struck a sultry pose on the edge of an infinity pool during her family holiday. In snaps shared to her Instagram, Amanda looked sensational in the skimpy two-piece from Melissa Odabash, which consisted of a wrap-around bikini top and matching tie-side bottoms. Flaunting her tanned and toned figure, she opted for further accessorising her poolside look with a beige wide-brim hat and a pair of black shades. She captioned the sizzling snaps: 'Soaking it all up ☀️.' The bikini-clad snap comes shortly after Amanda showed off her enviable figure in a yellow string bikini on Wednesday. In a snap shared to her Instagram Story, Amanda looked incredible in the skimpy two-piece as she posed on a luxurious boat during her lavish trip. It comes after Amanda revealed her youngest daughter, Hollie, 13, has landed her first runway show, walking in London Fashion Week later this year. The radio presenter recently joked she is the new Kris Jenner as her two lookalike daughters are now following in her showbiz footsteps. Hollie will make her catwalk debut alongside model and university student sister Lexi, 19, who is already signed to Storm Models. When Amanda spoke with MailOnline at Claridge's hotel in London, she revealed that Hollie had 'no idea' that she had bagged her first modelling gig, as the presenter had 'literally only just heard' about it minutes before sitting down for the interview. She said: 'Lexi's good, she's sort of dipped her toe in and she's done a couple of photoshoots. She is loving university as well, but what she doesn't like doing is taking time off, so I think she'll work it out, but it's something she's enjoying. 'She's doing London Fashion Week again in September and we've actually just heard that Hollie is going to be doing it as well.' Amanda continued: 'It's definitely something I think Hollie is going to enjoy, she's going to die when I tell her she's doing London Fashion Week this year. 'I literally just heard she got it and she's gone for the week with my mum in Cornwall, so I'll have to ring her after. She joked: 'With both girls doing it, I do feel like Kris Jenner now. We need our own reality show. Oh my god, yeah here we go, I could see that.' Despite the TV star's hopes of a family reality show, which could follow her daughter's nepo baby friends, including Simon Cowell's son Eric and Alesha Dixon's daughter Azura, Amanda's daughter Lexi 'wouldn't want to be on camera'. She revealed: 'But one of my daughters would do [a TV show] but Lexi wouldn't want to be on camera, that's irony, whereas Hollie would, definitely.' Amanda added that teenager Hollie currently loves coming to Britain's Got Talent as she is 'put to work' as a runner and causes 'mayhem' with Simon's son Eric. She said: 'She loves coming with me to Britain's Got Talent, she makes Simon his ginger tea, she likes to be a little runner, so when she comes, they put her to work. 'She likes the crew hoodie, the snacks, she delivers snacks to the desk, goes around with Eric, creating absolute mayhem behind the scenes, god knows what they get up to anyway. 'She doesn't watch any of the show, though, although she did when she decided to press the golden buzzer anyway. She didn't get a slap on the wrist because Eric was with her, so that's all good.'

Margot Robbie reveals how she achieves her natural 'no makeup' look - and it costs a whopping $1800
Margot Robbie reveals how she achieves her natural 'no makeup' look - and it costs a whopping $1800

Daily Mail​

time27 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Margot Robbie reveals how she achieves her natural 'no makeup' look - and it costs a whopping $1800

Margot Robbie is known for her fresh-faced beauty. But it costs a pretty penny to achieve the 'no makeup' look that the Australian actress is known for. The 35-year-old's makeup artist Pati Dubroff this week revealed the array of prestige Chanel products that she uses to create Margot's natural look. Dubroff starts with Chanel's Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale serum to prepare the skin, with the beauty product costing $680 AUD. She follows up with Chanel's L'Extrait de Sérum which rings in at a pricey $860 AUD, and the Sublimage Yeux eye cream for $350. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Next is the Le Correcteur De Chanel Longwear Concealer for $75 AUD and the Baume Essentiel highlighter stick for $83 AUD. A powder blush from Chanel, Joues Contraste, which costs $89 AUD, goes onto the star's cheeks. Her eyes are lined with the Boy de Chanel Pencil for $63 AUD and the Contour Clair pencil, for $57 AUD. Margot's eye shadow is created with multiple shades from Les Beiges palette, which costs $121 AUD, before being topped with Chanel's $72 AUD Inimitable mascara. Her lips are then dabbed with two shades of lipstick from the Rouge Coco Flash range - 116 Easy and 54 Boy, ringing in at $75 AUD each. The completed makeup look rings in at $1837 AUD. Margot has this week been having the time of her life while enjoying her Euro summer in Italy. The Aussie actress, who was recently snapped packing on the PDA with her husband Tom Ackerley in Naples, partied the night away on Sunday at a disco-themed dinner on the island of Capri. The most expensive products Margot uses are Chanel's Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale serum to prepare the skin, with the beauty product costing $680 AUD. She follows up with Chanel's L'Extrait de Sérum which rings in at a pricey $860 AUD On Friday, Margot and Tom were spotted enjoying a tender moment during their getaway to Naples. The Suicide Squad star and her husband packed on the PDA on the balcony of the Grand Hotel Parker's while taking in the historic views. The Australian actress gave birth to their first child last October. The two new parents are reportedly over the moon with their son. 'They waited a long time to get pregnant, so it was almost unbelievable when the baby actually arrived,' an insider told People in November. 'They've both been settling into being parents,' the insider added. 'They're homebodies so it's been lovely to spend the time just them, at home with him. They're so happy.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store