It’s one of the most extravagant dining rooms in all of Portugal, but the Vila Foz Restaurante is more than just a pretty face. The fine-dining restaurant at the Vila Voz Hotel serves a cuisine that is assured and precise but also surprising and pleasurable.
Chef Arnaldo Azevedo literally grew up in the kitchen; his father was also a chef. His style here is both focused and relaxed. In a nod to the hotel’s location in front of the Atlantic Ocean, fish and shellfish play starring roles.
Although there’s a short a la carte menu, the way to go is one of the tasting menus. The five-course Rebentação and the six-course Maresia menu are both largely pescatarian, with plates like langoustine with razor clam rice, and monkfish with Portuguese cabbage and copita. The five-course Novo Mundo menu, meanwhile, is fully vegan.
While it’s hard to argue with the splendour of the dining room, the most memorable way to enjoy a meal here is to book the Kitchen Seat, a two-seat counter right in front of Azevedo, who tells stories about the dishes that he’s serving.
For more information visit the Vila Foz website.
Vila Foz Restaurante
Vila Foz Hotel & Spa
Avenida Montevideu, 236
Foz do Douro
Porto
Phone: +351 222 449 700
Email: restaurantevilafoz@vilafozhotel.pt
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 19:30 to 22:30