Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lunch Tuesday to Sunday, and dinner Tuesday to Saturday) is fair at best, but the wine is
special. There are also walking trails.
Vintage House
( 254 730 230;
www.hotelvintagehouse-douro.com
; Lugar da Ponte; s €158-178, d €165-230; )
Occupying a string of 19th-century buildings right on the river, this luxurious sleep is ac-
tually very modern once you get past the distinctly English facade (a reminder of the key
role Brits played in the port trade). This is where BB King stayed when he rocked the
Douro. All rooms have terraces or balconies with river views.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
€€€
Eating
PORTUGUESE
€
Veladouro
(Rua Praia; mains €6-8; lunch & dinner Mon-Sat)
Simple Portuguese food, such as wood-grilled
meats, is served inside this quaint schist building or outside under a canopy of vines. From
the train station, turn left and go along the main road for 150m, then left again under a
railway bridge, and right at the river.
Ponte Romana
PORTUGUESE
€€
(Rua Santo António 2; mains €8-12; lunch & dinner Mon-Sat)
For nicely prepared traditional Por-
tuguese food, Ponte Romana is the place to go, with tasty fresh grilled sea bass, tender and
buttery grilled octopus, and
cabrito assado
(roasted kid goat). From the train station, turn
left and follow the main road for 600m; cross the stone bridge and you'll see it on the
right.
DOC
( 254 858 123;
www.ruipaula.com
; Folgosa; mains €27.50-29; lunch & dinner daily summer, closed Mon &
dinner Sun winter)
DOC serves haute cuisine to the well-to-do (check out the Ferraris and
Astons in the parking lot) on an outdoor deck over the Douro. The changing menu fea-
tures creative dishes such as monkfish with scallops, and Portuguese sausage samosa. It's
located 13km west of Pinhão, on the southern side of the river. For a real splurge, order
the €70 tasting menu.
PORTUGUESE
€€€
Getting There & Away
