You’re an architecture fanatic….and you’re hungry. You’re in the Porto area. You really need a place to satisfy your passion for design as well as feed your growling stomach. Fortunately for you, Portugal Confidential can recommend the perfect place to fulfill these needs…Ar de Rio!
This café and restaurant is just across the River Douro from Porto in Vila Nova de Gaia. It is perfectly situated on the banks of the river with spectacular view of the water and the historic buildings of Porto. Enjoy your views from the comfort of the enclosed dining room, or step out to the esplanade to take in the fresh river air. In either space, you can’t help notice the innovative, yet simple and unobstructed design.
“The new space is pretty much about skin becoming structure,” says architectural firm Guedes + DeCampos, designers of the project. “It had to be that gentle, not only in order to maintain a strong coherence in the set, but also to correspond to the breathtaking landscape.” It’s essentially a steel frame defined by a transparent honeycomb structure. This solution provides a transparency and versatility between the open and closed spaces. The expressive honeycomb pattern brings constant play between light and shadow to the dining room. Ultimately, it is a playful optical effect of mass and lightness.
When you’re done marveling at the cool architecture and taking in the fantastic views of the river…sit down, grab a menu and enjoy a meal. The menu is perfect for grazing. There are simple dishes of omelets and sandwiches. There are Portuguese favorites such as Bacalhau Açorda and grilled fish. And there is a nice selection Chef Specialties. Try the skewered monkfish and prawns, the black beer steak, or Brazilian feijoada. Yum!
So, come for the extraordinary architecture, marvel at the gorgeous views, and stay for the satisfying meal. Experience Ar de Rio.
For more information, visit the Ar de Rio website.
Ar de Rio
Avenida Diogo Leite, 5
Cais de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
Phone: +351 223 701 797 & +351 223 702 137
Email: arderio@arderio.pt
Hours: 12:00 to 01:00
Photo Credits: FG+SG Fotographia