Enjoy the  great gastronomy that the Douro Region has to offer.

With this rich cuisine, you will be eager to try some of the delicacies that the region has to offer. There are countless recommended places where you can try traditional dishes, from the most traditional to the most sophisticated, with prices that suit every budget.

Cuisine

The region’s gastronomy is unquestionably one of its most important treasures and, regardless of culinary tastes the typical dishes are always widely appreciated. There are plenty of restaurants in the region and most of them serve typical Portuguese food, with local products cultivated by the restaurant owners or by farmers and shepherds in the area.

From the appetisers/starters to the main course, the flavours are always intense and unforgettable. The most famous meals are:
 

Meat dishes
The Douro region is well-known for an endless number of meat dishes, which include the famous roasted baby goat with rice and potatoes, wild boar stew, posta mirandesa, cozido à portuguesa (boiled meat, sausages and cabbages), partridge on a skewer, arroz de cabidela and feijoada à transmontana.

Fish dishes

The region’s fish is caught in the Douro river and its tributaries, and is served fried or marinated. The codfish is also a famous alternative to meat dishes.

Desserts

Typical desserts will make you put any diet or doctor’s recommendations on hold. Traditional pastries such as the peixinhos de chila or the biscoito da Teixeira are famous in the region. The region is also known for the delicious pão-de-ló (sponge cake) and the bolo-rei (fruit cake), manly eaten during local celebrations. The rice pudding and the aletria (vermicelli with cinnamon) are also some of the region’s specialties.

Sides
Most of the time, meals in Portugal are served with bread. If you visit the Douro region, you must try the traditional breads made with meat or olive oil. Normal bread can be savoured with regional honey or home-made jams. Regional cheeses and smoked sausages can also be eaten at any time of the day, either simple or with a piece of bread.

Seasoning
Olive oil is used in most dishes, whether to cook the dish or as seasoning. Every dish is seasoned with salt, even though it can be replaced by herbs, which are plentiful in the region. Rosemary, parsley and bay leaves are some of the most commonly used herbs, mainly to cook meat.