TABERNA DOS MERCADORES

POLVO COM ARROZ NO FORNO -- O MELHOR DO MUNDO

The Ribeira in Porto – the historic district at the edge of the Rio Douro – is filled with architecture, charm and restaurants. 

Many of the restaurants are fine, but they aim low toward the tourist palette.

The Taberna hosts visitors, but it has a small menu with a handful of entrees done perfectly.

It is a beacon of gastronomy.

I dined for lunch twice during my 36-hour visit.

The far and away winner is octopus with rice, cooked an oven.

A huge dish, fit for two people, comes to you for the low price of 24 euros.

The wine list is curated, and for a city famed for its fortified wine, has plenty of vintages from France and points beyond Portugal.

Servers are efficient and hardworking.

Desserts are homemade and delicious.

Let’s keep this our own little secret, for world class fin and shellfish and curated wine list in a warm atmosphere.

CARRIS HOTEL PORTO RIBEIRA

LUXURY IN THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A FAIR PRICE

My visit included shopping at the legendary Livraria Llelo bookstore and dining at the restaurant row on Flores Street.

Footsteps from the Carris Hotel is the small, 5-star Taberna Dos Mercadores.

I lined up a half hour before opening two days in a row to eat phenomenal seafood rice, then seafood feijoada the next day.

Desserts and wines are also amazing.

I will be seeking out Carris branded properties for all my future travels.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/carris-porto-ribeira.html?aid=1664544&label=review_am&sid=ef59c27ba8cd54f9be48a5eb5408d352&all_sr_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;checkin=2022-09-30;checkout=2022-10-01;dest_id=280642;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=1;req_children=0;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0__18000;srepoch=1664289895;srpvid=055b67b2ea540298;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

CARRIS HOTEL PORTO RIBEIRA

 LUXURY IN THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A FAIR PRICE

The staff is super well trained.

I was treated like someone booking a presidential suite for a month, when I was just a one-night visitor rolling into town early one day and heading to Lisbon late the next.

Porto is such a fabulous city.

I should have stayed 3 nights.

Everything is within walking distance of the hotel.

I visited nearly a dozen classic churches, photographed azulejo adorned building facades and at pastel da nata.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/carris-porto-ribeira.html?aid=1664544&label=review_am&sid=ef59c27ba8cd54f9be48a5eb5408d352&all_sr_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;checkin=2022-09-30;checkout=2022-10-01;dest_id=280642;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=1;req_children=0;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0__18000;srepoch=1664289895;srpvid=055b67b2ea540298;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

CARRIS HOTEL PORTO RIBEIRA

LUXURY IN THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A FAIR PRICE

The desk staff suggested a fabulous locals restaurant, so I could eat fresh seafood while avoiding the mediocre tourist spots that dominate the popular neighborhood.

There was a gourmet grocery very close by, so I could have a bottle of port for the room and eat pastries on my balcony.

The room was worth three times what I paid -- at least.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/carris-porto-ribeira.html?aid=1664544&label=review_am&sid=ef59c27ba8cd54f9be48a5eb5408d352&all_sr_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;checkin=2022-09-30;checkout=2022-10-01;dest_id=280642;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=1;req_children=0;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0__18000;srepoch=1664289895;srpvid=055b67b2ea540298;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

CARRIS HOTEL PORTO RIBEIRA

LUXURY IN THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A FAIR PRICE

The suite had a huge comfortable bed, lavish bath plus a separate sitting room.

I could enjoy city and water views from the small balconies.

Thick glass closed around them to make a double layer of soundproofing.

The hotel itself is in a series of preserved historic buildings, adapted inside with a super modern and comfortable lobby, bar, front desk staff.

My light luggage was stored for late afternoon departure after noon check out.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/carris-porto-ribeira.html?aid=1664544&label=review_am&sid=ef59c27ba8cd54f9be48a5eb5408d352&all_sr_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;checkin=2022-09-30;checkout=2022-10-01;dest_id=280642;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=1;req_children=0;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0__18000;srepoch=1664289895;srpvid=055b67b2ea540298;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

CARRIS HOTEL PORTO RIBEIRA

LUXURY IN THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A FAIR PRICE

I asked for an early check-in, quiet room and small upgrade if available.

In return for barely more than 100 euros in high season, I was upgraded to a suite with 7 balconies.

I also got benefitted from very early check in, for a very tranquil and quiet room (despite a prime location with a fair amount of noise at street level)

The location is perfect -- crawling distance of Porto's Rio Douro riverfront and in the heart of the historic Ribeira district.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/carris-porto-ribeira.html?aid=1664544&label=review_am&sid=ef59c27ba8cd54f9be48a5eb5408d352&all_sr_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;checkin=2022-09-30;checkout=2022-10-01;dest_id=280642;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=28064204_88537171_1_1_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=1;req_children=0;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=28064204_88537171_1_1_0__18000;srepoch=1664289895;srpvid=055b67b2ea540298;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl