As you’ll quickly find out, not everything in Porto is new and trendy. For a traditional Porto food, try this family-run dining establishment that has been cooking up a storm since 1985, dishing out wood-fired lamb, fish, veal and creamy spuds to diners in search of a hearty feast. If you’re here as a twosome, snag a spot at the counter to be right in the thick of the action, and for the perfect sweet ending be sure to order creme do céu: biscuits, custard and mousse galore.

We don’t hold back about the stuff we love, and when it comes to Adega São Nicolau, we love everything. There’s a menu full of great dishes – chicken bordelaise, tongue stew, octopus fillets with rice, or the perfect appetiser, cod cakes. Then there’s the desserts (all homemade) or the outdoors tables, overlooking the Douro river.

One of the most traditional restaurants in Porto is hidden in Bonfim, the hipster neighborhood that divides the tourist area from the the oriental part of the city. I’m talking about Cozinha do Manel, a restaurant that has been cheering Porto’s palates for the past 30 years.Cozinha do Manel is one of the most welcoming traditional restaurants in Porto: you enter through a narrow hallway, from where you can take a sneak peek at the delicious desserts displayed on the fridge. The hallway gives access to a cozy dining room, covered in granite and tiles.The starters are simply to die for: alheira assada (traditional Portuguese sausage) from Trás os Montes and queijo da Serra (soft sheep cheese) are mandatory at my dining table.

Cozinha do Manel is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most coveted restaurants in the city of Porto. There are several public figures who consider this a must-visit restaurant and are keen to exchange it for some of the Michelin restaurants in Invicta. The space is very characteristic, and the decoration is made up of newspaper clippings and various photographs on the walls that help tell the story of this restaurant, which has been open since 1989.

A charming and traditional spot that’s regularly ranked amongst the best restaurants in Porto, A Cozinha do Manel is a popular eatery in Bonfim. Whenever I’m craving something comforting and wholesome, this is where I find myself drawn to. Packed with colorful Mediterranean-style tiles, photo frames, and mismatched trinkets, the interior almost feels like an antique showroom.

Walking into A Cozinha do Manel (“Manel’s Kitchen”) is so much like arriving at grandma’s house on Sunday that it almost confuses us. There is no one to greet you at the door, no cloth napkins folded over employees’ arms. The stone walls are crammed with vintage plates, napkin drawings, and photos of customers with owner Zé António, who welcomes everyone like family.

One time, I was supposed to catch a Flixbus at the station Campanha, but unfortunately, I missed it. Had I known that right next to me there was a restaurant that served delicious traditional food, in a beautiful setting, it would have saved my evening!. I had the pleasure of returning there and was very happy with my dinner.

Walking into A Cozinha do Manel, a narrow traditional restaurant hidden outside the tourist area in trendy Bonfim, is like a kind of time travel. Most of the seats are at a bar, with a display of wines in the back and a collection of vintage cookware hanging overhead. Black-and-white photos decorate the opposite wall.

A traditional Portuguese restaurant, a Cozinha do Manel opened in 1989 by the Mendes family, making it a family-run restaurant. With a rustic appeal, they specialize in meat and fish dishes, as the best traditional Portuguese restaurants do. We recommend the codfish and alheira, a meat and bread sausage.

A Cozinha do Manel is a hugely popular place that has attracted a stellar list of clients, including sports stars and politicians. Despite the A-list appeal, the food is affordable, with classics such as duck rice and roast veal among the recommended dishes.

A Cozinha do Manel – this restaurant in Bonfim came highly recommended by locals. I tried the baked veal dish which comes with rice and creamed spinach.