This was another spot I visited while I was in Portugal that was *not* on my list - a truly wonderful seafood restaurant around the corner was, that I got to before noon because I wasn't sure when they opened (turned out: 12:45 that day), so I was wandering around with an hour to kill and found this place. They have flights, including one that's 15 euros where you let them know what you're looking for and they pick out the 3 bottles, which is very neat. I told them I was in Porto mainly to try Port wines, and didn't have much familiarity with other, non-fortified Portuguese wines, and would love an intro flight, but no roses. Got a mini-lesson in the wine regions of Portugal, along with a wonderful green wine, a great Duoro valley red, and a truly fantastic red from Alentejo, a wine region I had not previously heard of, but immediately went on my radar the rest of the trip. (They also sell bottles; I bought a bottle.) Note, they said they only guarantee they'll do flights (as opposed to full-priced full glass pours) after 4 pm, but if they aren't busy for the food lunch rush, they'll do them earlier in the day (on a rainy Thursday in January they were more than happy to.) Actually liked the place so much, I came back the next afternoon and had another glass of a different Alentejo red - they only had one open for tasting in the price range that fit the "intro"-priced wine flight, so I spent... I believe 11 euros on a glass of a fancier bottle they recommended. It was also quite good, though I think I actually preferred the first one. Also had one glass of a very reasonably priced tawny Port while I was there - they had several, but obviously, I was already well into my plan to taste Port directly from all of the nearby tasting rooms across the bridge, so I just picked one here. (Unsurprisingly, it was also quite good.) They do also sell food, but I can't comment on it. Great place for quick wine tasting, though. read more

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Overall, a great experience. Originally found this via my Lonely Planet guidebook (yes, the paperback book, lol; old school, I know.) The space is upscale and has good air conditioning. I find the American country music playlist pretty amusing. The service is polite and the server spoke English well enough to explain where this wine came from, pairings for thiss and that wine, etc. I was only there for wine tastings, and maybe a snack to pair with. Good stuff overall. I love the menu! It's very explanatory; you could spent 30 minutes reading and absorbing some of the info about Portuguese wines, so definitely keep it after you order to browse and read. Pro tip: They have spit buckets. Ask for one and use it. Can taste more wines with less intoxication. Only miss was that they served me the aged white ports, which are chilled, a few minutes before the desert things that I was pairing them with. This let them warm up a bit before I could pair them with food, especially since I asked for small pours. Bathrooms: Spacious, bougie, clean, and functional. read more

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So, so delicious! Quaint,. Excellent wines. We had the baby clams and bacalau balls. Those were the best in town. Service was excellent and friendly. read more

The Wine Box - Baccalau balls and baby clams - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Porto, 13

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SInce this place was just down the hill from our Airbnb, my wife and i came here to sit and have a drink after our local food tour. We asked the staff to just bring us a flight of local wines to taste which included both reds and whites. Although the wines were decent we didnt think that any them were really note worthy to purchase and take back home with us. Overall we did like the bar and the environmental. There was not a lot of folks in there when we went and most of them were mainly there for lunch and a glass. Since it was the off season, it was nice an quiet. read more

On our way from the riverfront up to our AirBnB, we were on the hill of all hills. Halfway up, we stopped to catch our breath, looked over and BOOM...wine bar. Yes, please! We had hoped to try port wine while in Porto and it was our lucky day. This charming wine bar had knowledgeable, patient sommeliers who led us in the right direction and taught us all about port wine history and flavor profiles. There is a very expansive menu that breaks down the taste and body of each wine. They also have some bites if you need to soak up the booze a bit. We ordered a port flight with 1 tawny (a bit more of a nutty/caramel notes), 1 Ruby(sweet with berry fruits), and 1 white (very sweet with citrus notes). We were given a taste first prior to making our choices. Note that a flight pour is different than in the US. Probably 1/3 of the glass. This was a highlight of our Porto visit. Great service, wonderful options, and we learned a lot. Must-try! read more

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This place is fabulous. It's a cozy joint on the top of a hill on the streets of Porto, Portugal. My husband and I received this place as a must-try from the front desk at our hotel. We were starving and needed a quick bite to each other before, so we decided this was the place, and boy, we're glad we chose right. First, let's talk wine; the red wine was exceptional, then came the white wine and omg to the port wine. We talk food, the fish rolls; we're soft, fluffy, and pillowy, making eating the fish rolls amazing. I ordered a Greek salad that came with goat cheese, yummy! The olives were marinated in a rich Oliver oil, yummy! Light jazz was playing in the background. You're in Porto, Portugal, and this is how it should be! Obrigada! read more

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This was an amazing jewel of a find. We were wandering Porto's streets in hope of experiencing port in Portugal and stopped in asking after tastings. Our hostess, Rachel, did a fabulous job walking us through all the different types, ages, and categories of port. The Wine Box is very cute and a wonderful way to spend an hour or so enjoying port or wine! Coming from our home in California where we have spent a great deal of time in wine country, the experience we had here was on par with any of the high end tasting rooms of Napa Valley! I would highly recommend and hope to be back to learn some more! read more

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Really stellar place. We stayed nearby and our host recommended it as did my brother who had been in Porto a few years earlier. They did not disappoint!! Great staff, great selection. It was so good we went back twice more for dessert and wine. read more

We got turned around by the river in Porto and stumbled upon the wine box. Upon entering, we were greeted by Susan. She saw we were hot from a long walk and offered us drinks right away. We had to catch a train to Lisboa, so we were short on time and the kitchen wasn't open until noon. She graciously made us an amazing meat and cheese tray. I can only imagine how good everything else was! Thank you for your kindness, Susan! We hope to stumble upon you again. read more

Terrible experience. Went for dinner. Great looking cozy room. Welcomed nicely & sat then it went down hill. Asked for assistance choosing local wines by the glass. Usually have great wine knowledge but Portuguese wines are one of the areas we know little about. Ordered a glass of white & red (ended up having another 2 later on), ordered first couple dishes as we didn't want them all coming at once but when handed an iPad to order we should have walked as it's all done by photos (Bourdain did say don't go to places where they have pictures of food). After waiting 45 minutes and still no sign of food & our glasses had sat empty for 15 minutes, we flagged a waiter down (4 wait staff for around 12 tables) we were able to order 2 more glasses (my wife asked for the same and I switched to a full body fruit forward red) which he suggested. He then brought some bread w/ garlic butter, oil w/ herbs & sardine spread, saying that the food was taking longer than expected. Another 20 minutes went by, we had been watching as the wait staff hung out together behind the bar together not paying attention to any tables, others having empty plates & glasses when finally our first dish came out (cheese gratin) which was hot at least but zero flavour & very oily. Then the next arrived (pork Bifana sandwich - local delicacy) which was awful. The bread was like glue & soggy, the pork had zero seasoning/flavour & the sauce was basically water. We finished with our food and after being ignored for 10 minutes put all our plates and glasses on the side of the table not being used. We wanted another 2 glasses but now none of the waiters were around. We had wanted to order more food initially as we were still really hungry but after no service and terrible food, we dodged a further bullet. Wanting the bill but again no staff. We got up and went over to the bar, waved down someone from the kitchen. They asked how was the food and we said awful. How does a room full of people not get service? Ridiculous. After they handed me the bill, the wines they had chosen for us were also their 3 highest priced premium wines by the glass. I told them that was beyond criminal and the waiter totally took advantage but we just wanted to move on. Paid & left. This is a tourist trap & no locals would ever go there. Shame as the room looks amazing. Wish I could give them -1 star. Don't know how they have any good reviews. Wouldn't go back if they paid us. Beware. We have had incredible meals all of Porto. This was one of the worst anywhere. read more

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This place is great and they speak very good English! Really enjoyed our first night in Portugal with some great food and wine! read more

The Wine Box - Grilled octopus! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Porto, 13

Great place and great food. We stumbled by this restaurant while walking around and were so glad we tried it out. Service was great, they show you how to pick tapas and dishes on the iPad and help recommend wines based on your tastes. I loved the white wine they recommended. My husband didn't like the first wine but they brought out a second wine that he liked better. Both glasses were reasonably priced too, 3-5 euros. We ordered a number of tapas and every dish was delicious. Clams, prawns, fried potatoes, chorizo stuffed mushrooms were some of our favorites. For dessert, we had a lime pie and nata du ceu which were soooo yummy. Not too sweet and left us wanting more. I wish there were restaurants like this in every country we visited. Definitely one of the best meals during our vacation. All this for 44 euros. Can't believe you can get such high quality food for such a reasonable price. Highly recommended! read more

The Wine Box - Soooo delicious! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Porto, 13

Really cute place. We couldn't get reservations inside but sat outside, which was nice too. The food was good. And plenty of wine to select from. But wish the portions were bigger. read more

Fantastic service. Good food and a relaxing vibe. I recommend the burrrata and ham salad.

Great first meal in Porto. The Wine Box recently celebrated its four year anniversary. Staff is friendly. I love how patrons use an electronic device to order. It makes it easy. Get the charcuterie board and sardine montadito. read more

The menu is quite varied. Some typical Portuguese food, but lots that wasn't. My husband loved one of the dishes he got (meat, cheese, and paprika sauce), while I didn't have any food I loved. The wine menu is extensive. The downside is the space. All of the wine racks are against the walls and the seats/tables are against the wine racks. I found it quite disconcerting to have the staff reaching across my table while looking for a particular wine. Everything in the restaurant is a tight squeeze, even more so than in other restaurants in the area. The iPad ordering process was inefficient, at best. It required the waiter to explain items, because there are pictures without any explanations. If you already know what a Francesinha is, you're good, but the picture just shows a blob with gravy on top. The waiter hands you the iPad and still takes your order, too, as I recall. I left without understanding why the restaurant bothered with the iPads. read more

I thought the food was quite good here. When I am back to this city again, I will make sure to come back here again. If you wonder why, the 4 star. I ate a piece of hair while I was eating bread that came out with out dishes. read more

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For the size of city Porto has a high number of quality restaurants on a per capita basis. This one is a gem. Hidden just by the entrance to a tunnel it features a wine shop and a small restaurant. We were fortunate to get a table as shortly after we were seated the place filled up. This is definitely THE place for tapas. The menu is quite elaborate with seafood being the dominant star. We ordered a number of items and were delighted with the preparation. Most memorable were the clams and the razor clams which are not widely offered in the US. Service was prompt, with a smile and courtesy. A winner! read more

The Wine Box - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Porto, 13

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Be careful! They will accept your reservation and when you arrive they will tell you they cannot accommodate tonight.

Everything is an up-sell, from "would you like some bread for the table?" (charge) to "you asked for the 4€ wine but instead, surprise! I just had you try the 7€50 and you already said you liked it so I can assume I should pour your glass now?" Waiter claimed "we have tap water but it's not drinkable." Say what? You order from a touchscreen. The men's room garbage can is stuck closed -- simple to fix which suggests employee negligence. It's close to a major traffic tunnel and there were some pesky gnats attracted to the cheese. Food was fine, decor is nice, and the wait staff is friendly despite the upsells. In the end, probably not worth it. Better to ask some locals where they get their fade on. read more

This place is incredible. The small plates are great, the pasta carbonara is off the charts and the wine selection is unmatched (and very reasonably priced). I'd give this place 6 stars if I could. read more

Great little spot. Super cozy, delicious food and great wines. We had the couvert, meat and cheese platter, and octopus Galicia. Super happy it's close to our hotel because it's exactly what the doctor ordered. read more

Great little restaurant conveniently located one block off the river in Porto. The waitstaff is incredibly nice, and the vibe is relaxed. TIP: order the goat cheese and jam puff pastries-- absolutely amazing. We went back here a second time during our short stay in Porto just for these. The sommeliers are extremely knowledgeable and recommend your wine choice based on your order. Always spot on. Definitely worth stopping by during your stay in Porto! read more

Fantastic experience! The service was expedient, informative, and all around great. The menu was available on an iPad with pictures, descriptions, and names of food & drink options and available in multiple different languages. Our server was very knowledgeable about wine and was able to guide us to find a new Portuguese red wine we absolutely love after learning a bit about our tastes. Beyond the great experience and great wine -- the food was delish too! We shared a bunch of tapas and walked away happy and full. Highly recommend this spot when in Porto. read more

I went to the Wine Box alone to grab a quick lunch. The menu of the day (various tapa options) was delicious and reasonably priced. The service was kind & friendly, too, and they had no shortage of delicious wines! I would definitely drop by for a tasting if you're in the area! It's a great setting to go alone or with a group of friends (you may need to call ahead, though, because there's not much space). read more

We tried eating at the Wine Box per a recommendation from our hotel across the street. We arrived at 10:20pm, our first night in Porto, and they did not want to seat us. The restaurant closes at midnight so there was plenty of time and there were people sitting down that hadn't been served yet. The waiter said that the kitchen was closed and would only serve guests already seated. Very disappointing first night in Porto regarding late nite food options especially at Wine Box. read more

Cool setting in central location. Delicious tapas style snacks, knowledgeable staff. Music kind of got to us after awhile. Could've used something a lil more upbeat. But it's a chill joint to try some local wine and food. read more

The "wine box" is the perfect name for this tiny and cozy gem in Porto. It is a very tiny restaurant featuring some of Porto's best tapas and wine. I HIGHLY recommended making a reservation as they only have 6 or 8 tables. My friend and I do not eat fish so enjoyed their cheese board along with mushrooms in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The servers are wonderful and will recommend a wine based on what your preferences are and what you order. read more

This is a small and cozy place near the river. We managed to get a table without waiting. The bacalhau croquettes were delicious! They bring 6 small balls in a plate, it's a tapas place. The owner has a passion for Spain so the place is inspired by his passion. It is tapas, small plates. I also had the tortilla Española, it was good, but I wonder if it was fully cooked.... I never had a tortilla that had a runny egg... weird... and I have had many! Other than that, I enjoyed the visit. Service was good. You order on a tablet. They have a good wine selection. Place is on the pricier side. The vibe is cozy and romantic. read more

We passed by this place and decided to try it. The vibe is relaxing and the service was welcoming. The food was just okay though. I wouldn't come here for food but it's an okay spot if you just want wine. read more

Wine and appetizer very tasty and good. You make your order on an iPad which at time can be challenging but staff is willing to help. Porto is a beautiful place even when raining :) read more

We popped into The Wine Box for an after-dinner drink while on holiday in Porto. We only stayed for 1 drink but the service was the top notch quality we'd come to expect in Porto! We were brought a little snack, despite only have a glass of wine each and everything was done with a smile! I would have loved to have stayed and over-consumed wine all night, but I was too full from the aforementioned dinner! read more

It was a real discovery. Close to praça Ribeira; this small place got it all. Huge wine selection, small tasty tapas and dishes, perfect service and reasonable price. Absolutely recommended. read more

Very cool restaurant with an abundance of wines. Electronic ordering and friendly staff. Great for tapas. My son returned for the calamari. It likely would've gotten 5 stars but we waited for over an hour for mini burgers. The waitress must have been training. Could easily be a 5 if not for the miscommunication multiple times about the order. We ended up getting it to go as it was quite late. I did fill up on the bread though :) read more

Me and my family went to the Wine Box in the evening, because we wanted to eat something not too heavy. We ended up eating a lot because the food was so good! Definitely recommend this place if you want to eat good, varied and tasty food (whether you want to eat a 'proper' meal or something small). The wine was also amazing, and they have their own wine advisor, which is a big plus. read more

We had a superb evening here. The food, the wine and the service were all great. Oh and the port.

This place is super cute and has a fun vibe. The menu overall is satisfying, and some of the tapas that we tried were great! (I recommend the cheese plate).HOWEVER. Our waiter was extremely rude. At first we thought his sarcasm was a joke, and as it continued it was incredibly off putting. He was not attentive whatsoever and seemed to not care about the customers whatsoever. This place has so much potential, just hire better staff. Wish I could've had a better experience. read more

On our first of our girl's trip to Porto, we wanted something near our apartment, fast, and not too heavy. We decided to try out this tapas and wine bar. The restaurant is tucked in a corner under one of the main bridges that connect Porto and the Port cellars on the other side of the river. The interior decor is quite nice, with entire walls paneled in old branded wine box panels. However, this is where the effort seems to stop. We ordered the octopus a la gallega, patatas braves, fried calamari, and the sautéed Porto sausage. The octopus was quite nice. Nearly as good as anything I have tasted in Spain. I have to say that I also quite liked the Porto sausage (it has a unique smoked taste). However, the rest was simply ... meh ... and disappointing. The patatas braves were boring, the calamari rings were very very bready and served with really bad mayo. It was perfect quantities for us that night, but the positives kind of stop there. It is too bad that it seems all the energy was used up on the decor and none saved for perfecting the small dishes. read more