The Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Porto, Portugal

Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city, but the gluten-free restaurants in Porto are much better than in Lisbon! There aren’t many, but they are so good.

Porto is along the Douro River. The city is relatively compact but filled with picturesque streets, azulejo tile, and riverfront restaurants.

This post covers where to eat in Porto, where to stay, and how to get around! I only took a few pictures of my food here.

Enjoy some pictures of Porto instead!

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Before you Travel

As a Celiac, you have to do research before every trip. Consider things like:

• Based on internet research, are there restaurants you feel safe eating at?
• What local foods are naturally gluten-free?
• Where are the grocery stores?
• Can you stay in a hotel/apartment with access to a kitchen?

You’ll have to do more research for a trip to Portugal than for a trip to Italy or Paris.

Tourism in Portugal is growing, and so is their knowledge of celiac disease. Many Portuguese dishes are naturally gluten-free; think fish and veggies. Be careful with cross-contamination since meals are often served alongside bread.

Check out the Portuguese Celiac Association. Please read up on the lists and resources they offer before you travel.

Even though the site isn’t perfect, I spent time looking through the restaurant reviews on Find Me Gluten Free. I also found some good results on Trip Advisor and Yelp. It’s a start.

If found restaurants in Porto to be celiac-aware instead of just gluten-free aware.

At the grocery store, some items have a red “sem gluten” (gluten-free) label. More importantly, you’ll find allergens listed in bold font on food labels. Wheat, barley, rye, and oats will all be bold. It makes it so much easier to check a label at the store!

As with anywhere, do your research and have a plan.

Just remember, my celiac isn’t your celiac or gluten-free journey (or anyone else’s). Some of the things I’m comfortable with, you may not be, and you may have a different experience with the restaurants than I did. I hope you do because I had a great experience! But, you do you, no judgment and no pressure. I hope to shed some insight to make your planning easier.

Portuguese Food in General

The Portuguese diet is relatively gluten-free-friendly. Cross-contamination is a risk unless you’re eating somewhere that is dedicated. The Portuguese were very willing to do what they could to understand and accommodate me. That said… I didn’t enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine, so we didn’t seek it out.

No matter what, you should be aware of a few things.

Shared Fryers are Still A Thing

I avoid fried foods as a rule; Unless I can be very confident that it is a dedicated frier. It just isn’t worth it, and it’s hard to explain why it would be a big deal. Many dishes are served with fries, so be aware of that and avoid them.

Bread

Bread is often served at the table. It is common for meals to involve bread on the side. It’s also common for your fish/meat to be served on top of the bread. Make sure you clearly communicate that you don’t want any bread.

Grilled Fish and Veggies

Traditional Portuguese food consists of a great deal of fresh fish and fresh veggies. At most restaurants, you can find an option for grilled fish and steamed veggies. It isn’t my ideal meal, but there were a few day trips where this is what I needed to do.

Even in small cities, I could mention that I couldn’t eat gluten and most of the staff understood what I meant.

Restaurant Cards

I’m on an island here, but I have never been successful with a restaurant card. I’ve tried repeatedly, and every time it has not only not helped but made communication more unclear.

I’ve even used the highly recommended ones on every other gluten-free travel site.

I understand wanting to take a restaurant card, and if it helps you feel better about traveling, you should take one. But don’t rely on it to make your travel days easier. You still have to do some work.

I hope you have better luck than me if you use one!

What I do Instead…

I use Google Translate when I have struggles with labels or communicating in restaurants.

Luckily, in Portugal, it wasn’t necessary. I was fine in small day-trip towns or larger cities.

I am fluent in Spanish, so I had quite the upper hand since Portuguese is similar. Pretty much everyone we encountered spoke English very well. It wasn’t an issue.

If a restaurant card makes you feel better, you should take one. It hasn’t worked for me, so I can’t recommend it.

A warning for Gluten-Free in Portugal (outside of Porto)

I found that it was common for there to be gluten-free options and knowledge of celiac even though nothing was marked on the menu. Luckily, in Porto, most things were marked where I ate.

It was stressful to ask questions and confirm my diet and allergies with the staff. I never enjoy speaking up about what I need.

 Every time they were confident and easy to work with.

But, steal yourself for some slightly more anxiety-inducing situations OR get a kitchen and keep snacks with you.

Contact restaurants before you travel to be sure of their ability to accommodate you.

Mourn the Foodie Experiences You Miss Out on

I am most jealous that non-celiac/food allergy travelers can eat wherever they want.
I’ve been traveling with celiac for over 10 years, and I still grieve the loss of the foodie experiences I can’t have.

I’d love to take a food tour, pop into that hole-in-the-way restaurant everyone loves, and try all the local delicacies. But I can’t. And it’s okay to be sad about that.

Consider the things you know you’ll miss out on before you go. Try to remember that it’s not worth getting sick!

In Porto and Portugal, I missed out on local pastries and the convenience of not having to plan every meal the day before.

I miss out on foodie scenes, but I’ve learned there’s something special about the small community of celiacs. We take care of each other. There are so many instant connections with bakery and restaurant owners!

Gluten-Free in Porto: The Restaurants

Com Cuore

Rua Trindade Coelho entrada 10 loja 11
Closed Monday
Near São Bento Station

Com Cuore is a dedicated gluten-free haven in Porto. Find sandwiches, crepes, coffee, and baked goods. They are open for lunch and early dinners. You can also try pastel de nata here! Your gluten-eating friends will be able to eat it everywhere, so it’s nice to indulge.

I had an incredible chocolate croissant that I can’t believe I didn’t get a picture of!

NOLA KITCHEN

Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre 25
A 5-minute walk from São Bento Station

The American in me read this as New Orleans, Louisiana, and I expected cajun food. Well, it’s definitely not that! NOLA stands for No Labels. They strive for fresh seasonal foods.

The restaurant isn’t dedicated gluten-free, but I felt confident eating here. They cater to vegan and vegetarian diets as well.

My meal at NOLA was one of my favorites on the trip. If we’d had more time in Porto (or had found it earlier), we would have gone back!

McDonald’s

Praça da Liberdade 126
Near São Bento Station

McDonald’s is never my first option. I didn’t love it before I was diagnosed with celiac, so I never really missed it. But McDonald’s is convenient in a pinch. It’s nice to know the options.

This McDonald’s (and most in Europe) has the option to order electronically on a giant tablet in the store. You select your gluten allergy, and the system populates your options. There are gluten-free buns and gluten-free fries/sauces to choose from.

Honest Greens Santa Catarina

Rua de Santa Catarina 184

Honest Greens isn’t dedicated gluten-free, but it’s about as close as you can get without the designation. The only thing in the restaurant that contains gluten is the bread. It’s a small European chain and a good stop for a fresh and safe option.

VietView

R. de Cedofeita 502

Vietnamese food is always a go-to for me when I need something reliable. This restaurant is out of the main city center. If you’re desperate for something and like pho, it’s worth checking out!

A Despensa

R. do Conde de Vizela 141

If you miss Italian food or don’t love Portuguese food, A Dispensa can hook you up with pasta! It’s not dedicated gluten-free, but it is a good change-up.

Viva Creative Kitchen

Largo São Domingos 33

Viva Creative Kitchen has some vegan/vegetarian options and gluten-free offerings. There isn’t a lot of gluten on their menu. It is more geared toward seafood, so check the menu before you commit!

Tasquinha do Bé

R. de Belomonte 116
This restaurant is temporarily closed. Be on the lookout for when it’s open again. If you’re interested in trying a traditional Franceshina sandwich, this would be the place to do it!

Where to stay

There are two locations I would consider staying. This 2-day itinerary for Porto gives an idea of what you want to see and where you want to be.

Sé Porto/São Bento Station

This is the top of the hill in Porto. Two of the must-see sights are found here. All 3 of my favorite restaurants are nearby, so this would be my top pick for the area to stay in!

If you’re going to be in Porto for more than a day or two, you’ll want a kitchen (or you can repeat the few restaurants you’re comfortable with).

We used credits to stay at the Intercontinental Porto. You can’t go wrong with the Intercontinental for a luxury stay just around the corner from São Bento Station. We weren’t in Porto for long, so I was comfortable with a hotel.

But, to be on the safe side, be sure to look for apartment-style lodging. The Sao Bento Residences are an excellent option.

Ribeira District

This part of Porto is along the river with beautiful buildings rising up the hill. Most restaurants in this area were Italian or Portuguese restaurants. Since those weren’t my top picks for cuisine, we didn’t eat in this area.

As beautiful as it is, the most unfortunate part is that you’re at the bottom of the hill. The funicular goes up and down the hill. Or, you can walk up the mountain (okay… that’s an exaggeration).

There are great apartment-style options in the area in FLORES 36 by YoursPorto or Porto River.

If you want hotel options, you should look at Editory House or Armazém Luxury Housing.

How to get around Porto

Tiled buildings and beautiful aesthetics throughout the city. Porto is easy to navigate. There are so many cute streets and alleys to wander around. Walking is the best way to see the city.

I also understand that the hills are a challenge! Luckily, there are lots of options for transit when you’re tired of walking!

Public Transit

The city has a solid system of metros and trams to get around.

The Funicular dos Guindais connects the bottom of the hill in the Ribeira district and the top of the hill in Batalha. This is the only transit into the Ribera district.

To use public transit without worrying about the cost, get an Andante card or a Porto City Pass.

Porto is divided into zones for public transit. Zone 2 will cover central Porto and most of your site seeing. Tickets are €1.20 per ride or €4.15 for a 24-hour pass.

The Andante 24 card is an actual 24 hours. If you use it at 1:00 p.m. to start it you’ll have access until 1:00 p.m. the following day.

The airport is in Zone 4 (€2 per ticket or €6.40 for the Andante 24).

Many of the best gluten-free restaurants in Porto are near São Bento Station. Even if you aren’t exploring near São Bento, it’s very well connected to the rest of the city.

Other Options

Porto also has a hop-on-hop-off bus that works if you want to avoid figuring out transport.

Another option to consider if you’re traveling with a group is taking a few ride-shares. Ride-share apps are very affordable in Portugal, especially if you’re traveling with a few people.

Getting to Porto

By Air

Porto is a very easily accessible city! The Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport has international arrivals from all over Europe.

We even took a United flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Porto. This makes arriving in Porto very easy. The airport is connected to the city by a metro line.

By Train

Porto is also easily accessible by train. The trip between Lisbon and Porto takes 2.5 hours.

From Porto to the beaches in Faro takes 6 hours. The trains have wifi and are comfortable.
The same rail lines will connect Porto’s São Bento Station to the surrounding cities for day trips or travel to smaller towns.

After Porto

After your gluten-free adventures in Porto, consider checking out a day trip to Braga or Guimarães.

Lisbon has so much to offer:

Things to do

Gluten-free restaurants

Day Trip: Guimarães

Day Trip: Aveiro

All of my Portugal content