Cana Verde — Restaurant in Porto

This place is da bomb! Not only that the food are delicious, but it truly shows you what a quality family owned restaurant looks like. We came early at 11.30 and the place was empty, but we saw almost all the tables had a ‘reserved’ card on top. At around 12, people started coming in and swarming up the place. It was amazing how well known this small restaurant is, despite it being in a very small alley and had a very simplistic entrance.

Once we were seated, the waitress offered a hand written menu, all in Portuguese, which only contains 6-7 main dishes, aside from starters and side dishes. She kindly explained what they were in English (also heard her speaking French and Spanish to other customers). From this experience, I guess the menu changes everyday, depending on the best produce they have for the day. Very charming, i would say…

We ordered a house specialty duck rice dish and grilled dorado fish as main, on top of a vegetable soup as starter. The soup is creamy and hearty, very warm to get your stomach ready. The duck rice came in a clay plate and looked a bit like fried rice. The duck tasted really yummy, not overpowering, and it had a bit of shredded melted cheese on the top which created a balance of flavor in your mouth. Now the real star is actually the grilled fish. The dish looks very simple, but the flavor is freaking ah-mazing! It was salty, umami, juicy and crispy. Accompanied by boiled potatoes that was also cooked/boiled perfectly. Will definitely come back to the restaurant for this dish (fingers crossed they have it available on their menu :))

At the end of our meal, the owner gave us a complimentary shot of digestives (Port white). In overall, very happy with the service, the food and the atmosphere. Truly a...

I recently had a delightful dinner at Cana Verde, a warm, laid‑back bistro in Porto that feels like a natural extension of local wine culture. The moment I walked in, the leafy, plant‑filled interior and soft lighting created a welcoming, relaxed mood—even before I sat down.

I started with a platter of petiscos—smoked sardines, olives, and creamy goats’ cheese—each bit fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The highlight was the grilled octopus with chickpea purée and fresh herbs: tender, smoky, and beautifully plated.

For the main, I chose a braised short rib served with seasonal vegetables and a silky sauce. It was deeply savory and comforting, the kind of dish that makes you slow down and really taste every bite. For dessert, I couldn’t resist a slice of almond tart—crunchy, sweet, and just the right finish to the meal.

The wine list focuses on local and natural labels. I had a glass of Vinho Verde that was crisp and citrusy—an excellent match for the seafood and light meat dishes.

Staff were friendly and attentive, offering tasting notes without being pushy. The pace of the evening felt just right: relaxed, unrushed, and fully in tune with the food and atmosphere.

Cana Verde is a peaceful gem for anyone who loves farm‑to‑table flavors, regional wines, and a quiet, welcome setting in Porto. I’ll definitely be returning to explore more dishes...

This restaurant is amazing. Typically I don’t write reviews but I felt I got so much value for my money that I wanted to give back in a way that is hopefully more useful than a monetary tip.

I had the grilled sardines, salad and red wine. I also heard really great things about their duck rice so I wanted to get that too however I knew I wouldn’t have enough stomach space for both. They don’t normally do take out but they found a plastic container for me so I could have it later (I unfortunately don’t have time to make the trip back otherwise I would have just done that).

The fish was sooo soft and delicious. I did take a few spoonfuls of the duck rice and it was amazing as well.

I tried putting some sardines on the bread and the owner came by and added olive oil to it and left me the bottle of oil and gave me more bread when I ran out. I didn’t get charged extra and .. it was so good with the additional olive oil :)

There was also a nice complementary surprise shot of port wine at the end as a digestive!

The place seems unpretentious and authentic. It’s already highly rated so certainly there were some tourists but there appeared to also be some locals.

Anyway, this restaurant is amazing, so go check it out. You won’t be...