A foodie guide to Time Out Market Porto

Time Out Market Porto is located in the south wing of São Bento railway station (Estação Ferroviária de São Bento), a historic train station that first opened in the 19th century. With heavy influences of contemporary French architecture, the station's white walls are decorated with murals made up of around 20,000 blue tiles, making it quite the iconic sight. 

Transformed from an old warehouse and parking lot, Time Out Market Porto is now a modern food hub that spans 2,000 square metres, designed by renowned Porto architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, a Pritzker Prize winner in 2011. The market features a spacious two-storey indoor area, an outdoor space, and a 20-metre-high glass and iron tower by architect Souto de Moura, with inspiration taken from old water reservoirs that existed in train stations.

Time Out Market Porto is home to 12 restaurants and two bars, with the Souto de Moura tower housing a wine tasting room and a select shop. Just like other Time Out Markets around the world, everything here is editorially curated – from various eateries to a range of cultural experiences and activities. A regular stomping ground for locals and tourists alike, this is the place to be if you're ever looking to sample a variety of Portuguese dishes, Port wines, and international cuisines.

One restaurant you absolutely have to check out is run by chef Rui Paula, who leads the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Casa de Chá da Boa Nova. Among the signature dishes he brought to Time Out Market Porto, we absolutely loved the grilled octopus dish served with sweet potato textures (€18). The tenderness of the Octopus, the play of textures with sweet potato puree and chips, and the garnishment of red pepper sauce, olives, and olive oil all worked perfectly together to create a dish that's bursting with flavours.

Another one of our favourites is the truffle and beef stew doughnut (€10) by chef Ricardo Costa, who has led The Yeatman (two Michelin stars) since 2010. Using local ingredients, chef Costa whips up a variety of Portuguese dishes with culinary influences from his hometown in Aveiro. The truffle and beef stew doughnut is a savoury spin on the classic Portuguese sweet treat Bola de Berlim, which is usually sugar-dusted and filled with an egg yolk-based cream. With every bite, you'll get to savour the tenderness of the braised beef, with flavours enhanced by the truffle oil and a sprinkling of olive powder. 

When in Porto, a sip of their famous Port win is a must. Head up to the Souto Moura tower and rest your feet in the Sala de Prova wine tasting room to soak in stunning views of the city – including the iconic Clérigos Tower – try some of the best wines from local winery Bento Amaral, and pair it with dishes from a menu curated by chef Luís Américo. The wine tasting experience starts at €25 with four to six different wines to try. Make your reservation here.

Up on the second floor is Okra, a popular pizzeria known for their inventive flavours and delicious Neapolitan pizzas made in a wood-fired oven. Try the duck and radicchio pizza (€16), which comes loaded with smoked duck, truffles, and parmesan, along with radicchio, arugula, and honey. The springy mouthfeel of the duck and the unique umami that ties the whole thing together will definitely have you going back for seconds. 

Chef Rafaela Louzada from the restaurant Gruta has also joined the ranks at Time Out Market Porto, where she focuses on using fresh local seafood to serve up a range of mouthwatering dishes. The refreshing ceviche (€14) is an absolute must-try, but we also love the fresh coconut moist cake with tamarind-peanut praline (€7) which offers a sweet and tangy taste that's really something quite special.

If it's tipples that you're after, Time Out Bar has a great selection of cocktails and draft beers to choose from. Their signature cocktail, O Verdadeiro (€9), is inspired by the Portuguese term for 'the true one' and puts a fun twist on classic sangria by using different types of port wine.