"The Stoner" burger was tasty and beer was refreshing- a vegan spot worth checking out!read more

This place's menu is limited but interesting (within their limited range of making burgers), and…read morethe folks are friendly. Like a lot of food in Portugal it's a bit low on flavor (to think all those Portuguese sailors traveled the world looking for spices...). I got the "spicy" 666 burger, but most bites weren't noticeably spicy in either sense (heat or flavor), though it did have more flavor than lots of other veg food in Porto. The record store is pretty small and the restaurant is a pretty large part of the space -- though they do seem serious about the vinyl. To eat here you'll have to be okay with persistent punk/rock, though it's not loud (either that, or I'm deafer than I thought).

Some people find this a magical place that they are convinced inspired J.K. Rowling to create her…read morevision of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books. Others see it as the overcrowded, moneymaking result of its own publicity. Given Jamie W and I had to pay 12€ per person in advance to enter, I lean a bit more to the second camp, even though we appreciated the ornate combination of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, especially the stylized, curving red staircase in the middle (Photo 6). The staff credits the payment against a potential book purchase, but make sure you know what you want beforehand because casual browsing was nearly impossible given the streaming masses taking selfies. The bookstore dates back to 1906 but didn't become a heavy tourist magnet until the Harry Potter phenomenon exploded. Ironically, Rowling never took inspiration from this shop as she admitted not being aware of the bookstore while living as an English teacher in Porto in the early 1990's. If you can shift your perception of the space from a bookstore to the pure tourist attraction it has become, you may feel more satisfaction with a visit. As Instagrammable as it is, Jamie and I spent a mere fifteen minutes here. We were overcome by the swarms pouring in, even though the staff made a valiant effort in controlling the number of people at any given time. I really don't mean to discourage you from visiting. Just dial down your expectations of wizardry accordingly. RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/N4i04zdRK2

A not so magical overcrowded bookstore…read more Livraria Lello is one of Porto's most popular stops, renowned for its stunning bookstore interior. Its double spiral staircase is promoted as an inspiration for Harry Potter despite JK Rowling denying ever having set foot while living in Porto. From afar, we were met with huge lineups outside the stained glass exterior. Once inside, it was overcrowded with many tourists roaming about. The decor features wood carvings, stained glass, and an iconic red spiral staircase right in the center. If you're the first one visiting at 9am, it might be a beautiful experience. But for everyone else it's congested and claustrophobic while squeezing wall-to-wall like a tourist trap. There are too many tourists scheduled for each entry time. Staff were nice enough to allow our entry at 10:30, despite coming an hour after our scheduled entry time due to jet lag. Another saving grace is the €12 silver entry fee can actually be used as credit towards book purchases. There were books of many languages on the second floor while a number of classic novels were available. For €15, we picked up Great Gatsby with edge gilding from this so-called most beautiful bookstore in the world. That's great value as we paid only an extra €3 for the book. Skip it or hit it? With overcrowding, I recommend to skip unless you manage to reserve the 9am slot or visit in the offseason.

Livraria Lello gets all the attention in Porto but I'm going to push this treasure box of a shop as…read morethe best place for readers (vs Instagrammers and fans of Harry Potter). Located on Rua des Flores and just a few blocks from the train station, Chamine appears tiny from the outside. Step inside and you'll find out that there are actually several levels with over 1,000,000 books and publications. Things are well organized by topic and language too. And it's not just books- there are old records, magazines and even some vintage posters. I stopped because they were displaying a vintage liquor poster from the 60's in gorgeous condition. The kind owner Pedro explained that 2000 had been printed and the company had gone out of business just a month later so his father had bought the whole lot at auction. For a VERY reasonable price I could not say no. While my treasure was wrapped (very well) we were invited to explore the 2nd floor which houses a family museum of sorts including several very rare posters. My purchase made it home safely and is currently getting framed. We had a genuinely wonderful experience here and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves old books.

This is a lovely bookshop with a very antique feel! There are beautiful vintage typewriters and…read morethings on display here, and a mix of paperbacks to gorgeous antiquarian books to be found.

A real find! Looking to get off busy Sta Catarina I asked yelp for coffee near me and got this…read moregem. On a quiet side street--R. Formosa--and not easy to find. Great little bookstore with nice music, funky art, assorted antiques and friendly staff. Simple coffee shop menu. Atmosphere! The scent of old books. And to think I almost walked another block to Starbucks!

Great coffee and bookshop. Excellent coffee with a quirky and friendly vibe. Recommended.read more

One of the only spots we could find open on a Sunday night, and I'm so happy we decided to come!…read more First off, their playlist that night was on point - chill beats of Tom Misch, Honne, and FKJ. We loved the whole atmosphere too with books lining the walls, a record player, tea pots, etc. You can choose to sit outside, inside, or upstairs. The 2 bartenders were nice and spoke English. The have a pretty extensive drink menu with beers, wines, and cocktails. My only regret is not trying their port tonic! I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting if they want a chill night.

Best Porto tonics in the city!! Awesome music too! So glad to have found this place. Really nice…read morestaff, very friendly and interested in getting to know their customers.