Casa Guedes Rooftop — Restaurant in Porto

Casa Guedes – A Rooftop Gem in Porto with Some Hits and Misses

During my visit to Porto, I had the pleasure of having lunch at Casa Guedes, a well-known spot famous for its pork sandwiches. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, with a few highlights and minor drawbacks worth noting.

Ambiance & Setting

The rooftop terrace is undoubtedly one of the restaurant’s biggest draws. We arrived at just the right moment, securing a great spot before a rush filled the space. The view, the atmosphere, and the open-air setting made for a fantastic dining experience.

Food & Drinks • Pork Sandwich: Simply outstanding. Perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor—this is exactly the kind of dish that earns Casa Guedes its reputation. • Mixed Vegetables: A disappointment. Drenched in oil, with at least five centimeters of excess fat pooling at the bottom of the bowl. The overwhelming amount of garlic further unbalanced the dish, making it difficult to enjoy.

Service

The staff was efficient and attentive, ensuring that everything ran smoothly despite the growing crowd. Service was on point from start to finish, which added to the overall positive experience.

A Small but Important Note

One thing to watch out for: the appetizers brought to the table are not complimentary. This is a common practice in Portugal, so if you’re not interested, be sure to clarify before indulging.

Final Verdict

Casa Guedes delivers exceptional sandwiches and a stunning rooftop setting, making it a great stop in Porto. However, the kitchen could benefit from a lighter touch on certain side dishes, particularly when it comes to excess oil and seasoning. Would I return? Absolutely—for the pork sandwich and...

We stopped in for dinner. Our server Pietro was exceptional. We had a minor issue with our pork dish, and he immediately offered to speak with the manager to remove the dish from our bill, stating we want to ensure you are happy with your meal.

Pietro was on break when we were ready to pay our bill. The server working with Pietro was not as accommodating. He stated the manager did not approve for the bill to be adjusted. When we asked for the manager's name, the server stated he could not tell us without the manager being present (I've never heard of such an absurd response)!

The server returned with someone who was supposedly the manager. However, the man never addressed us nor gave his name. The server stated that the bill was adjusted and began to speak in a condescending manner to us, saying the next time we should be advised that the pork dish is naturally fatty.

By this time, we just wanted to close out our bill and leave. The response of the second male server worker with Pietro was quite unprofessional and rude. Maybe he could benefit from further training on customer service.

Fortunately, Pietro was back by the time the other server appeared with the man who was supposed to be the manager. I say supposedly because, again, this man never addressed me or my husband nor stated his name. The man just stood there next to the server as if he were a prop.

Thank you, Pietro, for being a great server. Customer service is a key factor for people returning to a restaurant.

Unfortunately I am not sure we'll return to...

On our last night in Porto before heading back to the States, we decided to have dinner at Casa Guedes after seeing all the amazing reviews. There was a line when we got there and at first we thought about skipping it, but we decided to wait. Good call because we were seated in less than ten minutes and got a rooftop table with a great vibe.

We sat next to a couple from Kansas and ended up chatting the whole night. Our server, Paulo, was awesome. Super friendly, knew the menu inside out, and gave great recommendations. He suggested a white sangria with oranges and ginger that was insanely good.

We started with the cod cake topped with soft sheep cheese and the roasted pork rissole with caramelized onion and port wine. Both were amazing, but the pork cracklings might’ve been my favorite dish of the night. We were starting to get full but had to try their famous Francesinha, so we went with the Guedes version. It was rich, flavorful, and super filling, especially with the fries.

For dessert, Paulo talked us into the lime tart and the chocolate mousse. Both were delicious and the perfect way to wrap up dinner. To top it off, the music playing was from Flavor Trip, which we actually listen to back home, so that was a fun surprise.

Now I get why this place has over 12,000 reviews. The food, the people, and the vibe were all incredible. If you’re in Porto, Casa Guedes Rooftop is a must. Sit on the rooftop if you can....