Porto's best seafood is split between the city centre and the coast. You can eat very well without leaving town — and even better with a short metro ride. These are the seafood spots I actually book, and where I send everyone who asks.
By Edmund · Updated 2026-10-14
← See all 66 spots on the interactive mapOesters e Coisa is my answer for great seafood without going to Matosinhos: their two versions of scallops are always tasty, and if they have razor clams, that's super delicious. It's quite busy — book in advance.
Inside the Bolhão market, Peixe no Mercado serves tasty modern seafood dishes on the restaurant level — a proper meal, conveniently in the middle of the classic market hall.
For grilled fish straight off the boat, locals take the metro to Matosinhos. Follow the smoke down Rua Heróis de França — blocks of seafood restaurants grilling outside. O Gaveto's carabineros are a must when they have them, and A Marisqueira's seafood tower is a shellfish lover's heaven. That trip has its own page with everywhere I stop.
Lessa hides in Leça da Palmeira with almost no tourists — a high-calibre chef's small seafood-focused restaurant where everything is full of umami and great textures. And 30 minutes south, Zizi puts a terrace right on the sand: barnacles, sardines, local shrimp, and a seafood rice that hits different with sunset views.
Tucked away in Leça da Palmeira, well off the tourist track. A high-calibre chef runs this small seafood-focused room and the food is ultra delicious: umami everywhere, great textures on every plate.
Great seafood in city center. Quite busy, book in advance. Their two versions of scallops are always tasty. If they have razor clams, that's super delicious. Great seafood without going to Matosinhos.
Inside Bolhão market, so it is the easy seafood stop in the city centre. Start with the French toast with blue lobster, then the seafood rice or a grilled fish.
30-minute ride south to this beachside gem with a terrace right on the sand. Barnacles, sardines, local shrimp - everything from the sea here is fantastic. Ask the friendly staff what's seasonal and fresh today. Their seafood rice and tomato rice hit different with sunset views.
Oesters e Coisa — great seafood without going to Matosinhos. Their two versions of scallops are always tasty, and the razor clams are super delicious when they have them. Book in advance. For a meal inside the Bolhão market, Peixe no Mercado serves tasty modern seafood dishes.
Yes — Matosinhos is where Porto goes for grilled fish, a short metro ride from the centre. Follow the smoke down Rua Heróis de França, where blocks of restaurants grill outside. It's the single best seafood trip you can make from Porto.
For the city-centre rooms, yes — Oesters e Coisa is quite busy, so book in advance. The grill street in Matosinhos is more relaxed: the Rua Heróis de França spots are walk-in, and the atmosphere is perfect.
Grilled fish off the boat in Matosinhos, shellfish towers and scarlet prawns (carabineros) at the marisqueiras, scallops and razor clams in the city centre, and barnacles and sardines on the coast.