6 Budget-Friendly Places for Lunch in Porto

Beautiful Porto is full of great places to eat, but with a busy tourist centre it’s hard to find good food at affordable prices. These six options for lunch in Porto won’t break the bank and make for top pit-stops when exploring the city.

1. A Sandeira

Billing themselves as the ‘best sandwiches in Porto’, A Sandeira might initially come off as a little cocky, but this tiny backstreet hero has got a lot to shout about. A wide range of sandwiches fill their menu – from smoked ham, brie and mango, to chicken, goat’s cheese and apple – all served in big portions on rustic bread. If these aren’t the best sandwiches in Porto, we’d be surprised.

A Sandeira runs a lunch deal where you can get soup, a sandwich, and a drink for just €5. Be warned – there are an extremely limited number of tables here so either arrive early or expect to wait outside. Trust us though, it’s worth lingering for.

Rua dos Caldeireiros 85 | Facebook | Instagram

Credit: A Sandeira

2. Black Mamba

Not a restaurant and not a typical shop, Black Mamba is a vegan burger fast food joint-cum-vinyl record store located just north of the city centre. This place prides itself on 100% natural food and an alternative, punky, underground feel. Black Mamba is like a meeting place for locals who love music, where you happen to be able to pick up some ethical munchies for just a few euros at the same time. Save room for dessert – the vegan cakes are to die for.

Rua dos Mártires da Liberdade 130 | Facebook

3. Aduela

More of a late lunch/after work snacks spot than anything else, Aduela Bar is one of the liveliest hangouts in Porto, where students and artists meet to drink wine and pick at tapas. There’s a beautiful little terrace here where you can pull up a pew and watch the world go by in the streets around you.

This place can get busy as the day goes on, so come mid to late afternoon if you want to nab a table. The menu is full of lots of toasts and open sandwiches, freshly prepared with interesting and classic combinations for an average of €4 each. Stay here a while grazing on food until the early evening when the atmosphere really picks up.

Rua das Oliveiras 36 | Facebook

Credit: Aduela

4. Petiscaria Santo Antonio

If you’re looking to experience traditional tavern-style Portuguese food, there are few better places than Petiscaria Santo Antonio. There are a couple of locations, but we swung by the one just around the corner from the infamous Livraria Lello bookshop in the city centre, making it a convenient stop during a hectic day of sightseeing.

The menu is made up of small plates of classic Portuguese dishes. The bacalhau com natas (salted codfish in a creamy sauce) is highly recommended and they have an extensive collection of wines for a midday tipple. This is the place to go if you want to taste comforting, homey Portuguese cooking for under €15 per person for a full meal.

Rua da Fábrica 93 | Facebook

5. ó maria

Bright and spacious, ó maria boasts a unique menu of sliders – mini round sandwiches with various fillings from pork loin with goat’s cheese to salted cod or grilled courgette that the restaurant lovingly calls mariazinhas. You can get two for €6.90 or three for €8.90, served with soup or crisps.

Drinks are also super affordable – try the passion fruit lemonade or a cheeky cocktail if you’re in the mood – and if they’re serving the lime cheesecake for dessert, do yourself a favour and order it. The staff are also very welcoming, making this one of the most friendly yet stylish places for lunch in Porto.

Rua da Conceição 106 | Facebook

Credit: ó maria

6. Duas de Letra

One of Porto’s best coffee shops, Duas de Letra is a great place to stop by for a quick latte (which, since we mention it, is known as a galão in Portugal), but their lunch menu shouldn’t be overlooked. The menu is a range of soups, salads, and toasts, but look out for the Prato do dia, which offers soup, bread, a main, and a drink for just €6.

There’s always a meat/fish option and a vegetarian choice, and it changes every day. They post the dishes on their Facebook page each day (in Portuguese) so check before arriving to see if it suits.

Passeio de São Lázaro 48

Where are your favourite places for lunch in Porto?
Which of these would you choose?