Foz Adega Nicalauy Primarily drawing visitors to its pristine sand beaches, Foz sits on the northern bank of the Douro, where the river meets Portugal’s Atlantic coast. Easily reached by climbing aboard one of Porto’s clattering historic trams, the coast here is framed by a 90-yearold neoclassical pergola of Doric columns and Greek urns whose walkway throngs with locals and visitors enjoying the sea air before relaxing at one of the many beach bars the area has to offer. Things to do near Porto Porto’s location in northern Portugal is an amazing base for exploring the region. Many tours from Porto are available to the surrounding areas. One of the best regions to see is the Douro Valley, where wine tours and river cruises are available. Where to eat Porto’s proximity to the fishing grounds of the Atlantic all but guarantees excellent seafood. The authentic dishes go far beyond the realms of the ubiquitous bacalao salted cod. A mix of students, residents, and visiting gourmands lets this city offer something for everybody when it comes to cuisine. You can always find a simple lunch or a multi-course Michelin-starred extravaganzer. Pedro Lemos Heralding the up-and-coming revival of Porto’s cuisine, Pedro Lemos recently won Porto’s first Michelin star. Located on an unassuming side street in Foz, this eponymous restaurant manages to maintain a relaxed ambiance, best exemplified by the use of seasonal, locally produced ingredients and stripped-back menu descriptions. You’ll likely see the lines for Adega São Nicolau long before you see this mid-range restaurant in Ribeira, but don’t be put off by the wait. One of the best places to dine in an area with its fair share of mediocre kitchens, Adega has brought the authentic cuisine of the region to its culinary heights without losing any of its soul. There’s plenty of fish, not least the signature fillets of octopus, and several dishes you’ll struggle to find elsewhere, such as the richly flavored oxtail stew. Cufra Equally solid Cufra is a firm favourite with locals who fill this place out day after day in search of an afternoon tumbler of beer, a lunch of the French sandwiches for which it is best known, or an evening meal of grilled seafood. While rather plain in appearance, with a bar that can’t have changed much in decades and rows of long canteen-like tables, don’t be fooled into thinking this place isn’t up to the job—it very much is. Locals also love it. Where to stay With the majority of the city’s main sights clustered on the banks of the Douro in Ribeira or drifting up the hills alongside the funicular railway into Sé and Baixa, it’s difficult to argue against staying in one of these areas encompassing the bounds of the city’s World Heritage Site. That said, trendy Masserelos, slightly further west, is a hive of contemporary galleries and artist workshops, while Foz is the obvious location of choice for anyone looking to spend a chunk of their time on the beach. Amazing Destinations 110
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