The Francesinha is not only a typical Portuguese sandwich, it is so iconic that it is considered the queen, if not of Portugal, certainly of the city of Porto. Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, is in fact famous not only for its namesake wine -a must-have on the list of things to taste in Portugal- but also for this dish that looks as delicious as caloric.
The name of such a dish is not coincidentally reminiscent of the homeland of the well-known “Monsieur et Madame Croque”: in fact, anyone who has been to France will surely have come across one of the typical local dishes, Croque Monsieur, also found in the Croque Madame variant. The Croque Monsieur is a toast inside of which is ham and the outside of which is then covered with cheese and béchamel; the Croque Madame additionally features a fried egg placed as a “crown” on top of the cheese pouring.
But why am I telling you about these very light dishes? Because the Francesinha was born precisely in memory of -and even a bit in defiance of- that French toast. The “francesinha” is the Portuguese version of French toast, designed to be digested with a good glass of Port and a few hours of walking along the banks of the Duero, the river that bisects the city of Porto (if you want to find out the 10+1 things not to miss in Porto, read this article!).
Eating the Francesinha is a true mystical experience: the “sandwich” is so filled that you must use a knife and fork to eat it! Bread, an ingredient that usually turns out to be primary in a sandwich, disappears under the tower of ingredients of which the Francesinha is composed: mortadella, sausage, beef, ham, cheese and fried egg are the real stars of the dish; and to keep the calories in check, it is customary to serve it covered with a spicy meat sauce and a side of fries. In short, not one of the lighter dishes on the Portuguese menu, but definitely one not to be missed on a trip to Porto.
Like any self-respecting traditional recipe, Her Majesty the Queen of Port also has its secrets , and each restaurante where it is cooked adds its own unique touch of flavor. A number of bars and small restaurants in the city have gained relevant notoriety for the goodness of the Francesinha, the first among them surely being the Café Santiago, on Rua de Passos Manuel, a place that I can’t help but recommend to you because, as touristy as it is, if it is so well known there must be a reason.
Another very typical restaurant where locals use to eat francesinha is called “Barcarola.” There are 2 in the city and they are not very “touristy.”
However, the more one travels, the more one discovers how it is often the less traveled and more unexpected places that turn out to be little hidden gems, making the experience – culinary and otherwise – a precious and unique memory. In fact, if you have time, the suggestion is to treat yourself to a nice stroll through the back streets of the city, letting your intuition and nose guide you, stopping to peek into seemingly unfamiliar bars and choosing the designated place to indulge in Francesinha and other typical Portuguese dishes based on the sensations that place gives you. If your stomach can handle it or if you have company, you might even opt for a double experience: split a Francesinha at one of the top bars on the list and then eat the second half at a less touristy establishment, so you can leave the final judgment to your palate.
On how to eat it, well, the Francesinha has only two rules: arrive on a well-empty stomach and, most important, enjoy every bite until the last forkful.
Whether or not you decide to follow my itinerary in Porto, trust me, a taste at the “Queen of Porto” is to be put on the agenda! And if you try it, let me know what you think.
View this post on Instagram
The term tajine is Berber-derived and indicates both the type of North African pot made of earthenware or ceramic and the typical Moroccan traditional
Porto is probably one of the most beautiful and characteristic cities in Europe, but not among the most famous compared to Barcelona, Prague or,
The skin is the largest organ in our body. Its job is not only to protect us from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria,
¿El destino más feliz del mundo? Está más cerca de lo que crees 🇵🇹✨
Lisboa encabeza el Holiday Happiness Index de BookRetreats, que valora cinco ingredientes para unas vacaciones felices: sol, descanso, alimentación saludable, naturaleza y actividad física. ☀️🌿
Y entre las callejuelas de Alfama, los miradores sobre el Tajo y las paradas para un pastel de nata… cuesta resistirse a sus encantos 🥹💛 Aunque sus cuestas también se hacen recordar 😂
📍Te comparto mi itinerario para descubrir Lisboa en 3 días: qué ver, por dónde pasear y cómo aprovechar tu escapada.
1️⃣ Baixa y Chiado: Praça do Comércio, Rua Augusta y paseo por Chiado. Termina con el atardecer en el mirador de San Pedro.
2️⃣ Alfama y sus miradores: callejea por Alfama, visita el Castillo, la Sé, y descubre los miradores de Santa Luzia y Portas do Sol. Por la noche, escucha fado 🎶
3️⃣ Belém: Monasterio de los Jerónimos, Torre de Belém y Monumento a los Descubrimientos. ¡Con parada obligatoria para probar los pastéis de nata! 😋
🔖 Guarda el reel para tener la ruta a mano y envíaselo a esa persona con la que te irías a Lisboa.
#lisboa #lisboalovers #itinerariolisboa #viajaraportugal #itinerariodeviaje
🇵🇹 ¿Lisboa en 3 días? Empieza por perderte en Alfama ✨
Calles estrechas, fachadas de colores, azulejos y cuestas que te hacen parar… unas veces para recuperar el aire y otras para sacar otra foto 😂📸
Alfama es de esos barrios que apetece recorrer sin prisa, mirando hacia arriba y dejándote sorprender por lo que aparece al doblar cada esquina 💛
Si estás preparando tu itinerario de Lisboa en 3 días, reserva tiempo para pasear por aquí, disfrutar de sus miradores y terminar el día escuchando fado 🎶
📍Alfama, Lisboa
💾 Guarda este reel para tu próxima escapada a Portugal y envíaselo a quien se vendría contigo.
¿Ya conoces Lisboa o sigue en tu lista? 🥰
#Lisboa #alfama #lisboalovers #viajaraportugal
🎄✨ ¿Y si este diciembre te regalas una escapada a Londres?
Pasear bajo las luces de Regent Street, perderte entre mercadillos navideños, tomar algo calentito y dejarte llevar por la magia de Winter Wonderland… 🇬🇧❤️
📅 Del 4 al 8 de diciembre de 2026 nos vamos con My Friend In a descubrir Londres en su versión más navideña, en un grupo pequeño y con mi acompañamiento durante el viaje 🤗
¿Te apetece venir, pero no tienes con quién? Puedes apuntarte por tu cuenta: ¡nos conoceremos en el viaje! ✈️🫶
👇 Comenta LONDRES y te envío toda la información.
#londresennavidad #viajealondres #viajesengrupo #ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀʟᴀɴᴅ #viajarsolaengrupo
Estas son las fechas ya confirmadas, en Europa, para 2026 🎄✨️
¿Cuál quieres visitar este año?
Y sí...uno de ellos lo vamos a vivir junt@s 👀🤶
#viajesengrupo #navidad2026 #christmasmarkets2026 #navidadeneuropa #mercadillosnavideños 🎄🎄
© 2024 All Rights Reserved
Made with ❤ by eatravelove.com
