The Best Seafood Near Forte de Gaia, by the Record

The old events room of a 19th-century Porto mansion, all gilded frames and palatial mirrors, is now a Michelin-starred dining room where the menu splits between a fully vegetarian route and one that follows the Atlantic tides. The chef's cooking is quietly serious about Portuguese fish and seafood, and a two-seat counter tucked into the former bar lets a pair of diners cook alongside the kitchen in what amounts to a private dinner party they didn't have to host.

1. Michelin Guide 1 Star

The setup here is almost too simple: pick your fish from a stall in the Matosinhos Municipal Market, hand it over, and let the kitchen grill it. This casual seafood spot is the informal offshoot of the fine-dining Vila Foz, and the cooking stays deliberately out of the way, letting whatever came off the boats that morning do the talking. The counter faces the stoves and the terrace spills into the market noise, which is half the point.

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant

The building is shaped like a boat, which feels either very on-brand or slightly too literal depending on your tolerance for themed architecture. Inside, this seafood restaurant spreads across two floors with nautical décor that stays on the tasteful side of maritime kitsch. A display of fresh fish and shellfish greets you at the door. The menu leans hard into the sea, with rice dishes, grilled fish, bacalhau, and a seafood açorda stew sharing space with a few solid meat options.

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant