O SOLAR DOS LEITOES This is a hidden restaurant on the outskirts of Monsanto. It serves delicious traditional Portuguese cuisine and some of the best grilled fish in Lisbon. It has been a family business for three generations and is in a remote, run-down residential area in Buraca. It is not easy to find, and it is definitely off the tourist track. Even taxis with satnav still seem to have a problem finding it! Do not let this put you off. You will be dropped off at the bott

TABERNA REAL DO FADO As we were in Portugal and Porto, it seemed a good idea to take in a Fado evening. This Fado Taberna is a perfect way to end the day with a group of friends or in a romantic environment with a loved one, and it is a good introduction to Fado music. I loved the guitarists' performance, and the performers' voices were outstanding, even though I did not know what they were singing about. The dinner was perfect for the price: €40 per person for all the food

RESTAURANTE O LUSITANO This is our second visit to this Restaurant in Matosinhos, Just north of Porto. All the seafood is cooked on the...

A visit to Porto and the Port Houses/Lodges across the River Duero in Vila Nova de Gaia. To get there, it is a pleasant walk across the famous Dom Luís I Bridge. We chose to visit. COCKBURN'S PORT LODGE On arrival, we chose the €20 tour, which everyone seemed to have. This includes three port tastings at the end of the tour. More expensive tours, up to €65, include a vintage port tasting and a cheeseboard to complement the wine. Our excellent tour guide, whose name I unfortun

RESTAURANTE O LUSITANO Jonathon Lipsin adds his second trip across the border into Portugal and Porto. I am writing this because I...

A Food experience across the border in Porto, Portugal by Jonathon Lipsin RESTAURANTE FLÔR DO BALDO Today, my friends took me here in Porto, Portugal, to a working man's restaurant seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It is by a river with big trees not unlike those in California looming outside the windows of an industrial-style, huge dining room. There is a wood-fired oven and long banquet-type tables, all with dishes set upside down as is the custom here. True enough, cl

Our first stop is the beach town of Praia da Rocha. I last came here in 1998. I noticed that the main strip does not resemble that time. It is now full of karaoke bars and shops selling tourist ware, apart from the classical Bella Vista Hotel and Spa.  We spent our first two nights at the HOTEL DA ROCHA    Four Stars Avenida Tomás Cabreira, 8500-802 Praia da Rocha, Portimão +351 282 424 081 www.hoteldarocha.com It is a nice, clean hotel with friendly staff. The swimming pool

CANTO We came to Canto, a recent creation of Simon Shaw, of El Gato Negro Tapas fame, on an unusually sunny Sunday Lunchtime In Manchester, for a meal before going to the football at Old Trafford later that day. You will find this younger sibling of Simon's in the heart of Manchester's latest to be redeveloped neighbourhood, Ancoats, on Cutting Room Square. It is quite a stunning, ample space with blue Portuguese tiles that reminded me of a recent visit to Braga. They use th

RESTAURANTE VISTAS  One Michelin Star We had a short hop over the border into Portugal for a round of golf at Monte Rei Golf & Country Club. The course is set on over 400 hectares in the East Algarve countryside. This refined country club with villa accommodations is 9 km from the Praia da Manta Rota beach and 13 km from the Castle of Castro Marim. We topped off our afternoon on one of Europe's best golf courses with dinner at Restaurante Vistas, which has stunning views ove

BAIRRO DO AVILLEZ For our third and final lunch on our short Lisbon trip, we decided on something more modern and trendy after two very traditional restaurants. From the outside, the place looks relatively small, but it is actually two restaurants in one building. The front is the Taberna and delicatessen, which serves small plates and tapas and has a buzzy atmosphere. The rear is the Páteo, which is a full restaurant with modern interpretations of Portuguese cuisine. We at