Dama Pé de Cabra — Restaurant in Porto

✨ Dama Pé de Cabra: Where Flavor Meets Friendship in Porto, Lisbon

If you’re looking for a place that feels less like a restaurant and more like stepping into someone’s enchanted living room—Dama Pé de Cabra is it.

Tucked away in Porto, Lisbon, this tiny gem seats just 16, but its warmth could fill a cathedral. I arrived at 7 PM sharp and was greeted by Alvaro, who knew me instantly. Not in the creepy way—more like the “old friend you haven’t seen in years” kind of way. He opened the door himself (yes, you ring a bell to enter), and from that moment, I knew I was in for something special.

Alvaro is tall, joyful, and treats every guest like they’re the guest of honor. He walked me through the menu with the enthusiasm of a man who genuinely wants you to fall in love with your dinner. Although the menu is designed for sharing, I came solo—and not once did I feel like an afterthought. Alvaro curated a solo-friendly experience that still delivered the full flavor journey.

Starters? Cheese and sausage tasters, each lovingly explained—where it came from and why it matters. This was paired with cornflower with chestnut bread that tasted like Christmas in a bite. Main? Traditional pork dish with side salad. Dessert? Douro cake with a scoop of lemon ice cream, because Alvaro insisted. And thank goodness he did.

The best part? It wasn’t just the food. It was the feeling. As a solo traveler, I’m used to being rushed, overlooked, or given the table next to the bathroom. Not here. Alvaro treated me like a table of two, never rushed me, and even encouraged me to linger and savor. I stayed over two hours, and not once did I feel anything but welcome.

Later, I learned that Alvaro and his wife (the chef!) run this magical place together. And it shows. Every detail—from the ringing bell to the curated bites—feels personal, intentional, and full of heart.

Dama Pé de Cabra isn’t just a meal. It’s a memory. Go hungry. Go curious. And if you’re lucky, Alvaro will open the door...

best breakfast experience i ever had. the place is really small, just a few tables for 2-4 (up to 6) persons. the room (just one) was warm and cozy with a bottle shelf wall. typical, hand picked breakfast menus or a la carte orderings. the menu is small, but you will go with the menu. they did serve scrambled eggs with different tasting bread, freshly sqeezed orange juice and coffee with milk (cappuchino-like). we did order a mixes sausage/cheese plate for tasting. it was all tasty and welcoming. the eggs were a bit cold tough. but the most outstanding thing on this place is the waiter (owner?). he is a very welcoming gentleman talking with a morgan-freeman-like voice about himself, the place, you (the guests) and through the menu. if you order something, he will explain what this is exactly and where it came from. my girlfriend got in love with his kind manner. me as well. haha some items on the menu were not available, because his supplier didn't get enough milk or something. we really got this hand picked "just the best or nothing" feeling in there. you may have to wait outside if the place is full. because he doesn't want to get the room crowded. very exclusively behaviour. the (moderate) prices are really worth it. give it a try and compliment the owner...

Best.experience.in.Portugal.

Must.must.must.do!

We were walking by when the chef came over and asked us if we were looking for a table. Then he went through every single dish on the menu with careful detail including telling us where the ingredients were sourced from.

So, convinced we sat down and he gave us some suggestions. And we got THE bread. Whatever you get, DO NOT SKIP THE BREAD. It is something else. I have never tasted bread like that, we got the pumpkin and the chestnut one.

Next, for entrees, we got the traditional Portuguese tripes, and it was gooooood!

But the highlight for me was the pork damas. I’ve never had pork cooked so brilliantly that it would melt in your mouth. Especially with the delicious sauces they had.

And at every step of the way, the chef would personally see to it that everything was explained and we understood what we were eating.

At the end, the chef, which is his wife came outside to ask about the food. Of course we loved it and we told her we would definitely be back!!

So, as you can imagine, best experience in the entire Portugal trip. And we are definitely planning to go back.

If there is one single place I would recommend to try in Porto, this...