One of the most popular ways of enjoying a live Fado show is to have dinner at a Fado restaurant in Porto. Some restaurants have occasional Fado shows, but there are some special places that fully dedicate their space and decoration to Fado, and they always have Fado singers and guitarists during their opening hours. This guide focuses precisely on these venues, as the overall Fado experience is better.
This type of experience is particularly recommended if you want to dine and listen to Fado throughout the evening, spending a longer moment with family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere with Fado and food.
The show is split into small sets and is usually alternated with the various dinner moments (starter, main course, dessert, coffees, and digestifs). Each Fado part lasts approximately 15 to 20 minutes and you can excpect to hear two singers each night: a female voice and a male voice.
If you’re looking for concerts without dinner, check out my guide on the best Fado concerts in Porto. And if you want to dive deeper into Fado culture, history, and all your options in the city, I’ve put together a complete guide to Fado in Porto.
Fado Houses with diner in Porto
Here are Porto’s Fado Houses, where you can enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine alongside live Fado performances.
1. Casa da Mariquinhas
Casa da Mariquinhas is the most intimate place on this list, and it’s quite different from the others at this level, which provides a spectacular experience.
This is a small space with good acoustics, favorable to the complicity between the audience and the artists. The setting creates a connection that’s hard to find elsewhere.
As is normal in Fado Houses, you will hear a male voice and a female voice accompanied by guitarists in a show presented in small parts during dinner.
Casa da Mariquinhas is located in Ribeira, near the Douro River, at Rua de São Sebastião 25, 4050-468 Porto.
Book a table at Casa da Mariquinhas
2. Fado Português
Fado Português is run by the prestigious Fado singer Sandra Correia, and here you will find a familiar space to enjoy Fado.
Although it’s not in Porto (it’s very close, in Vila Nova de Gaia), it has views of Porto and the Douro River. In this simple and unpretentious space you may not see some of the luxuries of other Fado Houses, but you’ll certainly enjoy an intimate and familiar environment, away from the touristy circuit of Porto’s Historic Center.
For dinner, you can choose à la carte or a special menu that costs €45. It’s open every day from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Since Fado Português is open until later, you can also join after 11:00 PM without having dinner.
Fado Português is located at Rua Valente Perfeito 275, 4400-330 Vila Nova de Gaia, in a residential area, near Gaia’s docks.
Book a table at Fado Português
3. Taberna Real do Fado
Taberna Real do Fado may not be as old as some Fado Houses in Porto, but it has an experienced and competent team.
The place’s name comes as a tribute to two old Fado houses in Porto: the Taberna de S. Jorge and the Cozinha Real do Fado. This way, it honors the legacy of Fado in this city and demonstrates the intention to preserve the tradition.
The space is comfortable and cozy, located in Porto’s Historic Center in an old building with granite walls.
It requires a minimum consumption of €40, which is enough for a complete dinner. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 PM to midnight.
Taberna Real do Fado is located at Rua Dr. Barbosa de Castro 58, 4050-090 Porto, near the Cordoaria garden and the Porto Court.
Book a table at Taberna Real do Fado
4. Mal Cozinhado
Because of its architecture, Mal Cozinhado it’s one of the most distinct places to hear Fado in the city.
This is one of the most original places to listen to Fado in Porto. It’s a historic building next to the Douro River, with granite walls and floor and a ceiling with wooden beams that are more than 6 centuries old. It’s a large space with granite arches where you will hear a Fado show divided into several parts during dinner.
If you want to listen to Fado during dinner in Porto, this is the best option if you value being in a really different space from the others, where you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
Mal Cozinhado is located at Rua do Outeirinho 13, 4050-450 Porto, in Ribeira do Porto.
5. O Fado
O Fado has the best reputation when it comes to the quality of its cuisine, which is in the hands of Manuela Almeida, wife of Artur Almeida, the owner of this place.
O Fado is one of the most famous and oldest Fado Houses in Porto. The management is in charge of the Almeida family, who take the greatest care with their business.
The consumption is à la carte. Being also one of the most popular Fado places in town, I recommend booking in advance. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 PM to 1:00 AM.
If you want to go to a Fado House where you can eat traditional Portuguese food cooked at the same level as the best restaurants, don’t hesitate to go here.
O Fado is located at Largo São João Novo 16, 4050-556 Porto, near Ribeira do Porto.
I hope this guide helps you find the right Fado dinner in Porto. If you want to learn more about Fado in general and discover some curiosities about Fado in this city, check out my complete guide to Fado in Porto.
