Minho cooking, francesinhas, petiscos and the city's convent sweets.
Tell me what you fancy, where you are or who you're with — I'll take it from there.
Rojões, bacalhau, cabrito and vinho verde, just like home.
Portuguese and regional cuisine restaurant in Aldão, about 5 km from the centre. Visitors usually praise the varied starters and the house dishes, like the posta (thick-cut beef steak) and the bacalhau (salt cod) 'à Cancelas'. Best to book, as it fills up.
Regional Portuguese restaurant open since 1990, in Paçô Vieira, on the road to Fafe (about 4 km from the centre). It's famous for its house bacalhau and its charcoal-grilled meats, great for sharing.
Traditional tasca tucked away in an alley next to Largo do Toural, steeped in tradition and closely linked to the Festas Nicolinas. It has just a few dishes a day of homestyle Minho cooking, and the red vinho verde is served in a bowl (malga).
Family restaurant in Fermentões, next to the church, about 4 km from the centre. It's a simple place serving homestyle food, with daily fish and meat options at affordable prices.
A regional cuisine restaurant on one of the prettiest squares in the Historic Centre, Praça de Santiago, with outdoor seating. A great stop for alheira or bacalhau with a vinho verde.
Restaurant and snack bar right on Largo da Oliveira, in the heart of the Historic Centre, with outdoor seating on one of the city's prettiest streets. The bacalhau dishes are the highlight; book ahead, as it's usually packed.
Restaurant on Largo do Toural, the city's main square, right on the doorstep of the Historic Centre. Known for classic Portuguese cooking, like bacalhau com broa (salt cod with cornbread crust) and polvo à lagareiro (roast octopus with olive oil and potatoes).
The most famous sandwich in the North, with sauce and fries.
One of the oldest beer halls in Guimarães, over 60 years old, renovated and reopened in 2024. It's a go-to spot for francesinha (a hearty meat-filled sandwich covered in melted cheese and a rich sauce) in the city, with versions like the special with pork loin, the poveira and even a vegetarian one.
A restaurant inside the city walls, in the Historic Centre. Lots of people go there just for the francesinhas, especially the 'Vimaranense', and there's a vegetarian version too.
For sharing at the table, at the counter or on the terrace.
A tiny tavern on a cobbled square next to the Historic Centre, perfect for snacking and sharing. Order the rojões (marinated fried pork chunks) and a red vinho verde; book a table by phone, as it's small.
A neighbourhood tasca in the Couros area, open since 1981. The speciality is the prego, but there's also caldo verde, moelas and francesinhas, all with a fino (small draught beer) on the side.
Petiscos spot way up on Penha, about 6 km from the centre, perfect after you've gone up by cable car or on foot. Generous portions of moelas, fried bacalhau, pataniscas and arroz de tomate.
Toucinho do céu and tortas de Guimarães, from the convent tradition.
Century-old house of Guimarães convent sweets, on Rua de Santa Maria. The recipes come from the Poor Clare nuns of the Convento de Santa Clara, and it's the classic place to try Toucinho do Céu and Tortas de Guimarães.
Pastry shop founded in 1953, a benchmark for Guimarães sweets, now on Rua de Santa Maria. The tortas fly off the shelves, so go in the morning or order ahead.
Opening hours and prices change: check directly with the restaurant before you go. Information gathered from public sources.