Porto is a vibrant city and its nightlife is famous beyond borders.

In this cosmopolitan city, you will find all kinds of restaurants, from traditional cuisine to the latest fusion cuisine created by prestigious chefs. It is a given that you can eat very well in northern Portugal and Porto is no exception. From the simplest tavern to the most sophisticated restaurant, it will all depend on your choice criteria. One of Porto’s specialties is the famous francesinha, a sandwich with various fillings, bathed in sauce, which is hard to find elsewhere in the country. But fresh fish and seafood dishes also abound and are highly recommended, as are cod dishes or meat dishes of which the highlights are tripe Porto style and kid. As a starter, a typical caldo verde (potato purée-based soup with finely sliced kale) is always welcome.

After dinner, you can try the bars and night clubs offering music for every taste. But if you prefer to attend a concert in an ambience beyond compare, do go to Casa da Música, whose wide-ranging offerings cater for every audience.

Porto has nightscapes that cannot be missed. One of them is, of course, the view over the river, which reflects the lights of Ribeira and the Port Wine lodges, on either side. It is an almost magical view, so a good choice would be to dine on one of the banks, with a view over the opposite side and the Luís I bridge as a backdrop. Ribeira is buzzing in the evenings, especially in good weather, with terraces and bars for all tastes.

Among the places that are famous for their bustling nightlife, besides Ribeira, Foz, some bars and emblematic places in downtown Porto and, for students and the younger public, the area around Clérigos and the Lello bookshop stand out. Here, the Galeria de Paris and Cândido dos Reis streets are known for their range of bars and restaurants, as is Praça Filipa de Lencastre, also in the city centre.

High spirits are the hallmark of Porto’s nightlife which hums with continuous activity until the small hours, especially at weekends.