If you’re after the finest seafood in Matosinhos, look no further than the waterfront. This coastal gem offers a staggering array of exceptional choices, from upscale establishments where you’ll savor a life-changing meal, to casual tascas where you can stumble in and have a revelatory dining moment on a whim.
Café Onda
Café Onda stands out as one of the few spots in Matosinhos that serves really good francesinha without an outrageous wait. (Yes, we’re talking about you, the tourist traps.) In fact, you could gather a group last minute, show up here, and it’ll likely not be a problem. Although the steak is an automatic order at a lot of places, we prefer the classics here, like the well-cooked version with homemade potatoes.
The atmosphere is somewhere between casual café and sports bar, and you’ll notice a pleasant smokiness because it’s made with a smoker-friendly terrace.
Tio Fafá Hamburgueria – Porto
This Porto burger joint feels like it’s stuck in the 1990s, and we love that. We also love Tio Fafá’s smash burger, which feels a little like a classic diner burger, but with the toppings and sauces order elevated. The cheese is satisfyingly melty, and the bun is soft and sturdy, but still light enough that you could easily eat more than one burger. The fries come out hot and crispy, and the brownie dessert hits just right.
With friendly service and fair prices, it’s the kind of spot that makes you want to come back.
Boulevard Burger House
$ | 226 000 570 | WEBSITE
At the charming Boulevard Burger House in Matosinhos, you’ll find classic burgers, tempting desserts, and a chicken burger that’s best avoided. This place sets itself apart from other burger joints with its pretty, intimate setting, and while the friendly service could use a bit more energy, the real reasons to come here are the solid burgers and sweet finales. The standard burger is good but nothing extraordinary—a reliable choice that won’t disappoint.
Save room for dessert, though; those are where this little spot truly shines. Just steer clear of the chicken option, unless you’re curious about a texture some have found strange and off-putting.
O Tubarão
Yes, you still have to make the trip out to Matosinhos for O Tubarão, but that’s part of what makes it memorable. Many locals agree that this is some of the freshest seafood in the entire region, so find an excuse to skip the tourist spots and arrive early to secure a table by the water. (They usually start getting busy around 7pm.) While you’re here, get the sardines along with your grilled fish. Since the menu focuses on the catch of the day, there’s no reason not to go all out.
CURB
$ | WEBSITE
CURB doesn’t just make some of the best burgers in Matosinhos. They make some of the best burgers in Portugal, full stop. The patty manages to be fresh, juicy, and tender all at once, and there’s always the perfect amount of cheese to give it some richness. We especially love the double cheeseburger, which might just be the best use of simple ingredients we’ve come across.
CURB is also extremely efficient, which is part of what makes dealing with the lack of waiting area on a busy night so worth it.
Pizzeria Posto 94
For many Matosinhos locals, there’s Pizzeria Posto 94, and then there’s everything else. This beachside spot has been a go-to for years, and the defining feature of the pizza is the thin, flavorful crust that crisps perfectly around the edges while staying tender underneath. The toppings are, dare we say, to die for. Get a whole pie, even if you come here alone. It travels beautifully for a sunset picnic by the water.
O Manel
$$ | 229 350 477 | WEBSITE
Even the most traditional seafood spots are often places you just grab a quick meal and go. That’s what makes O Manel different. It’s a small but welcoming restaurant, with a cozy dining area where you’ll find people lingering over grilled fish, enjoying conversation, and soaking in the very good atmosphere.
Unlike many tourist-focused spots, this is not fancy fusion cuisine—it’s classic Portuguese meat and fish options (including a delicious vegetable soup for vegetarians), plus the grilled squid cooked over coals, which is the best thing here.
BOX 208 Italian Food
Several years ago, there was an Italian food renaissance in Matosinhos. Suddenly, you could find trattorias on every corner, and the locals were revising their dinner plans to include handmade pasta and wood-fired pizzas. Now that the dust has settled, we’re ready to declare a standout: BOX 208 Italian Food. We’re fans of this Matosinhos spot, and not just because it looks like a rustic Italian villa, complete with warm lighting and tasteful decor.
Their ravioli al tartufo is rich, but balanced, with earthy truffle filling and creamy sauce coating each delicate parcel. Each bite is deeply satisfying in a way that’ll haunt you for days. The spaghetti ala carbonara with grana padano cheese delivers that perfect salty-savory punch, while the shrimp pizza offers a delightful twist on tradition. Yes, prices have crept up—expect to pay around €25-35 for mains—making it more of a special occasion destination than an everyday haunt.
But the friendly, attentive staff and that divine shortcake dessert make it worth every euro. The beautiful, comfortable space even has private indoor parking, which feels like a luxurious bonus. BOX 208 Italian Food remains that rare place that actually transports you, however briefly, to Italy.
A Chalandra – Restaurante
$$ | 229 382 060 | WEBSITE
A Chalandra – Restaurante in Matosinhos has two standout qualities. The first is their commitment to high-quality food with fresh and well-prepared ingredients, and the second is their pleasant atmosphere with white tablecloths that create an elegant dining experience.
Their menu features a variety of dishes, including a delicious fish soup that tastes somewhere between traditional Portuguese and modern coastal cuisine, where the fresh flavors of the sea come through against a creamy, savory broth. We like their cream milk dessert, made with rich dairy and topped with a delicate caramel glaze and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Pleasure Sushi Bar
$$ | 919 925 372 | WEBSITE
Pleasure Sushi Bar is a sushi spot with deep roots in Matosinhos. The owner comes from the same tradition behind the city’s best fish markets, and excellent seafood in a number of styles flows freely through their veins. If you’re only getting one dish here, make it the sashimi platter, a mix of tuna, salmon, and sea bream with 5-star quality. But there’s also the temaki—a very good hand roll that uses fresh ingredients from the local waters—and the vegetarian options, which you can get any day.
Settle down at a table in the calm, bright environment with your sushi-loving friends, and order as much as you can eat. The attentive service from Mr. Pedro and his team makes it a wonderful dining experience, though the menu could use more pictures for clarity.
A Cozinha Do Mariz
A Cozinha Do Mariz is a Matosinhos take-away spot in a converted storefront from a local family, and we go back and forth on our favorite dish here. It’s either the barbecue chicken, which one customer described as the most delicious they’ve ever had, or the grilled cod, which is really more about the perfectly fried fries than the fish itself.
The food feels equal parts utilitarian and special—grab a quick meal for under €15 on the way home, or order a few platters and have a casual feast with friends in the simple, brightly lit space.
Sergio Crivelli
One of Matosinhos’ most authentic Italian spots, Sergio Crivelli has been serving the community for years, and yet their approach has a thoughtful twist. You’ll find very good gluten-free pizzas here—classic margherita, pepperoni, a great quattro formaggi, etc.—but there’s a lot of other stuff worth trying. Take, for example, their white sangria, which has a refreshing, almost citrus-forward profile, but is still perfectly balanced.
You can also get this drink variety with a splash of prosecco on top, if that’s more your style. Their signature offering is the gluten-free dough pizza, made in a separate kitchen to ensure safety. It’s as good as it sounds.
O Gaveto
$$$ | 229 378 796 | WEBSITE
If you spot someone in Matosinhos carrying a takeaway bag from O Gaveto, there’s likely a generous portion of traditional cod inside. It’s prepared with perfectly flaky fish and expertly seasoned potatoes, with bright, briny olives scattered throughout. The classic seafood spot also serves surprisingly fresh barnacles and scallops, and delicate oysters on the half shell, all just steps away from their own parking lot with an attendant. Consider your future seafood cravings satisfied.
