When we arrived in the city of Porto, we already knew where to eat the best Bacalhau dishes in the whole city. Looking back to previous travels in 2019, this restaraurant remained in our minds and we were more than happy to be back. But about which traditional Portuguese restaurant in Porto are we talking about? Let’s tell you the story of our favourite Portuguese restaurante Abadia do Porto.
The culinary experience starts near the Bolhao market
In a hidden street very close to the Bolhao market and parallel to the Santa Catarina street, you will find restaurante Abadia do Porto. Translated “Abadia” means abbey, as the legend told that pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain stopped by, enjoyed a meal and took a rest, before they continued their way up to the north. Nowadays, you can still enjoy the old charm of this great restaurant with tiles on the walls and old decorations, which remind guests of the long history this restaurant has to offer.
Moreover, the hospitality at Abadia do Porto also remained. When you enter the restaurant, you will be welcomed by one of the friendly team members who will bring you to your table. However, we would always recommend to book a table before your visit, as it can sometimes get crowded. Talking about the hospitality at Abadia do Porto, we have to mention the waiters in this traditional Portuguese restaurant. From waiter Manuel to Alfredo, you will always be in good hands as they took care of the guests’ needs and are always happy to help you with your choice.
Best place to eat Bacalhau in Porto – and many more dishes
The menu at Abadia do Porto is separated into a fixed part (which is always available) and a variable part (which changes daily) depending on the season. The variety of dishes at Abadia do Porto is great and you will have plenty of options for fish, seafood or meat dishes. Bacalhau dishes alone are already 5 to 6 different varieties like “Bacalhau à Lagareiro”, “Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá”, “Bacalhau à Bras” and many more on the menu. That’s why it was usually a very difficult choice for us between all the freshly made dishes. However, most of the time we decided to take the “Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá” or the “Bacalhau à Lagareiro” which are always a good choice in this great Portuguese restaurant.
While you are waiting for your order, you can enjoy the traditional atmosphere of an old Portuguese restaurant and see the waiters performing on a very high-level. When the dishes are served, you can be sure that they are coming directly fresh and hot from the kitchen. Even the plates itself are sometimes heated up before, so that the dish does not cool down so fast.
Enjoying delicious desserts like Leite Creme at Abadia do Porto
After the main courses, you are usually full and satisfied, but if you still have some space, you should try one of the various desserts. Our suggestions are definitely the “Leite Creme”, “Mousse au Chocolat” or the “Pão-de-Ló de Ovar”, but also with the other ones you can’t do anything wrong.
The moment you finished your dessert, you are usually full and happy to come back again. During our various visits at Abadia do Porto, we never experienced any negative issues and also on days with a lot of guests, the restaurant is trying its best to serve every guest with a smile. Even when you are celiac and you need advice about gluten free options, the waiters are knowledgeable and can help you with your choice.
For us, this restaurant felt like home and it is no wonder that we will come back during our next visit in Porto. It is one of the few traditional Portuguese restaurants in the center of Porto, that puts the customers first and offers the best value for money for what is served. Até à próxima!
