For those of you wanting to socialise before the wedding, we’re suggesting a couple of restaurants to be used as a meeting point so you can enjoy Porto together and get to know each other before the big day!
This is totally optional, of course. We’ll be sending out Facebook invitations closer to the date just so we can have an idea of the number of people interested and will book a table under our names “Stu & Mariana”. We can’t guarantee we’ll be able to join you on all of the below due to our wedding preparations, but we’ll do our best to at least pop by to see you.
Wednesday night suggestion:
Casarão do Castelo at 20:00 for tasty seafood
Rua Santa Catarina 74 Leça da Palmeira
4450-635 Matosinhos
Casarão do Castelo isn’t a cheap restaurant by Portuguese standards, but it’s known as the best seafood restaurant in the North of Portugal!
Away from the tourist crowds of the centre, you’ll need to catch an Uber to find it in the old fisherman’s village of Matosinhos, but it’s well worth the ride. The quality of the food is extraordinary, super fresh, tasty and traditional. The atmosphere is warm and the service impeccable; this is where locals go to celebrate special occasions!
When ordering please be aware that a “dose” is enough for three people and “half a dose” is plenty for two. We recommend ordering a variety of dishes to share, so you can try them all!
Casarão do Castelo Tripadvisor
Thursday night suggestion:
Ar do Rio at 20:00 for a Francesinha
Av. de Diogo Leite 5
4400 Vila Nova de Gaia
On Thursday night we recommend dining at Ar do Rio by the Douro River in Gaia, where you can catch the sunset facing Porto, it’s the best view in town!
It’s a relaxed and affordable restaurant and we strongly recommend trying their Francesinha!…
But, what’s a Francesinha? The direct translation is French girl, but don’t fret, It’s actually a sausage, steak and cured meat sammich, covered in a thick cheese, tomato and beer sauce.
Ar De Rio
Friday evening suggestion:
Drinks at 20:00 by the Sea at Restaurante Esplanada do Molhe
Restaurante Esplanada do Molhe
Esplanada 28 de Maio 22
Praia do Molhe
Foz do Douro - Porto
This one we will be here for!
Join us at 20:00 for a drink by the sea before the big day.
Please note that the restaurant is right by the sea. Cross the road to the esplanade by Centro commercial da Foz, walk towards the sea and down the stairs towards the beach; the restaurant should be to your right.
Restaurante do Molhe Facebook
Monday 29th May:
Douro Tour "Around the World" with CMTour
Pick up at 8:15
Palacio do Freixo
Av. Escritor Costa Barreto 421,
4300-316 Porto, Portugal
- Contact
- Carlos Monteiro / General Manager
- Email address
- geral@cmtour.pt
- Cel
- +351 962 033 675
- Paypal Payment to
- reservas@cmtour.pt
- Price
- €87.50 (with a discount; remember to mention you are part of Stu and Mariana's group)
Before you head back to the UK, why don’t you join us for a tour of the Douro valey, a World Heritage Site, where the mountains have been carved into vineyards and the river soaks in the sun?
At 08:15 this friendly company will arrange the pick up from Palacio do Freixo and drive us to Régua (1.5 hours drive).
We will stop at a viewpoint to take in the scenery, visit Quinta do Tedo for wine tasting and have a quick coffee at stunning Vintage House.
We’ll then take a boat and enjoy a white port with biscuits on our way to Quinta da Romaneira.
We’ll experience the local cuisine at restaurante Ponte Românica in Pinhão, visit view point Casal de Loivos and head to family owned farm D’Origem and find out how they make their olive oil!
We’ll finish at Pinhão’s train station to see the beautiful tiling before we head back to Porto for a well deserved rest.
For more information on the individual spots and venues:
- Quinta do Tedo
- Vintage House
- Miradouro Casal de Loivos
- D’Origem
- Estação Ferroviária do Pinhão
- Douro Valley