London has an absolutely great variety of cuisines, but nothing beats the traditional food from our country. Thankfully, there are many Portuguese restaurants in the city centre whose food taste exactly like home. It is true that most of them are on the pricier end, but some of them really are worth treating yourself to at least once.
Bar Dour
One of the best, Bar Dour, serves traditional food from Porto, my hometown, including the so-popular sardines and the best fish in London (you can almost feel you are in Porto!). The environment is welcoming, though the decoration is definitely much posher than the typical restaurant you would find in this Portuguese city. It is located between Southwark and London Bridge station.
Santa Nata
Santa Nata in Covent Garden is definitely for nata lovers. If you are one of the few that has never tried natas, then this is a must-go place. This bakery/coffee shop produces the creamiest egg custard (the secret to the perfect nata), exactly like the ones youād have in Portugal. This sweet tart is all over London, even in non-traditional coffee shops and restaurants, but not many produce real, good-quality ones. Santa Nata also has a large window that allows customers to see the full production.
O Cantinho de Portugal
O Cantinho de Portugal restaurant has an extensive menu of authentic Portuguese food only, if you want to try more than the typical sardines, Porto wine or custard tarts. It is family-run, and it is located in Stockwellā an area well-known for being the home of many Portuguese people. Iād suggest you go for the Francesinha, codfish or monkfish.
Estrela
Another one that Iāve visited and would recommend is Estrela. Once again, this is a family-run business and all the staff is Portuguese. They tried to compile all the best of the Portuguese culture and cuisine to provide a friendly space to their customers while honouring traditions. The food is absolutely divine, and they accept reservations for events too ā in case you feel like throwing a memorable Portuguese party! Find Estrela in South Lambeth Road (closest station is Oval).
A Toca
Last but not least, there is A Toca ā I celebrated my 18th birthday here with some friends, so this place is definitely dear to my heart. The staff is very welcoming, the decoration is 100% what you would find in typical Portuguese restaurants in Porto or Lisbon, and the food is deliciousā though, I have to mention, a little more expensive than in Portugal. A main meal would be around Ā£12-16. This one is located in Camden.
These are just a few of the many Portuguese places in London (most of them are around Brixton and Stockwell) ā Iāve tried these and can safely say you wonāt regret coming here! Plus, Portugal has an extraordinary cuisineā a lot of fish dishes (the most popular being the codfish), great beer and beautiful desserts. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do, always!
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