Insider’s Guide to Porto

What makes Porto such a special place to live?
Porto is unique. It has an extraordinary history – Celtic, Phoenician, Roman, Spanish – wonderful architecture and a gorgeous setting. The city is affordable, compact, and its people are incredibly welcoming. All of this makes for a great quality of life. With delicious food and wine, outstanding international education and excellent healthcare, Porto is hard to beat.

What kind of homes can you find?
The most valued areas are those closest to the Douro River, the sea, the park and the historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage site. Foz do Douro and Boavista are the most sought-after areas, with exclusive projects designed by international architects. In the old town, you can find homes in buildings of historical importance, from baroque and renaissance to art deco and modernist.

What kind of people are moving to Porto?
Porto is becoming more multicultural – around 40% of our sales are to international clients. In terms of nationalities, we see a lot of North American and Brazilian homeowners. Many move with their families for the great quality of life. The offer of good international schools is also a decisive factor. The main incentive, though, is the ease of adapting to a genuinely welcoming culture.

Tell us about your favourite restaurants…
The greatest concentration of restaurants is in Baixa. Flow and Mistu are my favourite spots for contemporary Portuguese cooking, along with Adega São Nicolau in Ribeira for more traditional dishes. For a quick lunch I’d suggest the classic pork sandwiches at Casa Guedes, cachorrinhos (a kind of hot dog) at Gazela, or a prego (steak sandwich) at Pregar.

Another favourite spot is Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, by the sea in Leça da Palmeira: it’s a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in a building designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira. If you love fish, Matosinhos is a little town north of Porto with fantastic restaurants: O Valentim, 5 Oceanos and A Marisqueira de Matosinhos are among the best. For a trendy atmosphere with good music, try Grupo Cafeína in the Foz neighbourhood. And in Vila Nova de Gaia don’t miss Enoteca for beautiful views of the river.

Which are your favourite bars?
Having a great time is easy in Porto as the best bars are mostly concentrated around Galeria de Paris and Cândido dos Reis – often inside 100-year-old buildings such as the Casa do Livro. In the summer the hotspot is Base, an open-air urban garden facing the monumental Torre dos Clérigos belltower. And Praia da Luz in Foz has sea views and good vibes – you can catch a marvellous sunset there.

What’s exciting from a cultural standpoint?
Porto is full of young artists and designers, as well as great museums. Cedofeita, the art district, is the city’s trendiest quarter. One weekend a month there are markets selling art, music and wine – the atmosphere is wonderful. We’re also one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a lot of ancient monuments. The Serralves Museum has excellent contemporary art and architecture – and a beautiful garden. Of all the wonderful theatres in the centre, visit Casa da Música, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas: it’s one of the most important concert halls of the past 100 years.

Where would you go shopping?
First, Livraria Lello – it’s one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Classic Porto chocolate brands such as Arcádia and Chocolataria Equador have wonderful shops in the old city. And for a fully immersive Porto experience, try the Mercado do Bolhão, where you can find fresh food and some pretty lively vendors. It’s next to Rua Santa Catarina, a great spot for international fashion brands.

What’s your favourite thing about Porto?
Ultimately, it’s the excellent quality of life. Porto combines many wonderful things: it’s an authentic, cosmopolitan city by the sea, with a mild climate.

Portfolio recommends…
While most people visit The Yeatman, Porto’s best hotel, for its two-Michelin-starred restaurant, our tip would be to go for breakfast by the rooftop pool. For a quintessential lunch, head to O Rápido, next to the iconic São Bento station; or for something more elaborate, try Cantinho do Avillez, next to the Savills office. And don’t underestimate the fun of a Six Bridges river cruise – they often include tapas and a wine cellar visit.

JOANA LIMA,
SAVILLS HEAD OF DOWNTOWN OFFICE IN PORTO
joana.lima@savills.pt

Pictures from top: a hillside view of Porto (unsplash) and agent Joana Lima; Porto at dusk (unsplash); enjoy the colourful waterfront properties (unsplash); visit bookshop Livraria Lello (unsplash); and breakfast looking out across the pool at The Yeatman