Porto Design Travel: Meet the Makers of Creativity

Porto. A city that doesn’t tiptoe onto the stage it sashays on with boldness and flair. And let me tell you, meeting the makers of creativity in vibrant Porto quickly became the thread that stitched our trip together. While I’d already been swept away by architecture in Braga (see my Braga blog post), Porto was all about connection with the creative souls shaping the city today.

Portrait-style artworks inside window-like recesses in Porto’s historic centre

My travel partner was my mum, an artist, art lover, and all-round kindred spirit when it comes to marvelling at the creative. We make the perfect double act: she drops to her knees in reverence before the brushstrokes of masters, while I swoon over the lines of a chair, the patina of a table, or the story hiding in a piece of ceramics. Between us, Porto didn’t stand a chance. It was going to be seen, savoured, and stitched into our memories one creative corner at a time.

Now, let’s just clear one thing up. Did we go to the famous Livraria Lello bookshop? The one that offers timed fifteen-minute visit slots? Absolutely not. We decided Porto would unfold on our own terms. No rushing, just long, lingering strolls with time to pause whenever something beautiful caught our eye (which, in Porto, is often).

Stay where history hugs your elbows

We checked into Hospes Infante Sagres, a hotel that has long been part of Porto’s story. Opened in 1951 as the city’s first five-star hotel, it underwent a thoughtful renovation in 2018, balancing its 1950s grandeur with fresh notes of modern luxury. Think velvet, ornate chandeliers, and a seasonal rooftop plunge pool with sun loungers. Its location? Spot on. Step outside and you’re immediately swept into Porto’s creative heartbeat.

Porto’s art district: where creativity runs deep

Our happy place? The stretch where Rua de Miguel Bombarda meets Rua do Rosário. This is Porto’s art district, humming with energy and filled with the sort of design discoveries that make me itch to start sketching.

Inside CC Bombarda, an indoor bespoke centre, I met with Mordomias, a furniture supplier—could a Portugal project be in the cards for next year? Just across the way, Allire showcased beautifully crafted, locally made pieces. And because I never travel without a little “project shopping list,” I was on the hunt for a cork side table for my Italy Lake Residence project —a finishing touch that Cork Matters delivered with flair.

We also stumbled upon Scar ID, a boutique featuring independent local designers. With mum’s sewing background and my own fashion design past, it was a match made in heaven. A few more favourite finds included Aguas Furtadas and Land, each with a personality all of its own.

Art that takes your breath away

At the National Museum Soares dos Reis, we wandered into a contemporary ceramics display. Interesting, yes but it was the museum’s broader collection that truly made us weak at the knees. Exquisite artwork that reminded us why travel and art feel inseparable. It was one of those light-headed, heart-fluttering moments that demanded an immediate café stop.

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Where to eat vegan and drink coffee

If you’re wondering whether we found decent coffee along the way (sorry Portugal, but flat whites aren’t exactly your national treasure), fear not, because we did. And Porto’s vegan food scene? It’s thriving, creative, and endlessly satisfying.

• A Padoca do Rosario: home to the best vegan custard tarts, plus a full bakery and savoury bites.

• My Green Pastry: a French-style vegan bakery serving impossibly decadent pastries that are somehow gluten- and sugar-free.

• Roots: dinner here was a highlight—great food, lovely ambience, and just a short walk from our hotel.

• Simpli Coffee: unmissable. Truly.


Try your hand at making

Of course, Porto isn’t just about consuming design, it’s about creating, too. You can roll up your sleeves at either for tile-painting workshops

• Prometeu Artesanato

• Boiler Studio

Or, if jewellery is your thing, head to Jewellery Experience, where you can design your own piece with a little expert help.

Textiles with soul

Mum and I have spent years sewing together, so discovering makers in Porto who work with textiles felt like stepping back into an old memory. Each one takes fabric and turns it into something entirely their own:

• Koselig creates beautiful bags and other accessories

• By Danny Tejada designs clothing that feels both crafted and contemporary.

• Pano Cru brings dolls to life with charm and character

  
  

Meeting them reminded me why fabric holds such power. It carries memory, texture, and storytelling all at once. And the makers behind them? Warm, talented, and full of generosity.

Vintage treasure hunts

Finally, for the vintage lovers among you don’t leave Porto without ducking into

• Antike

• Mon Pere Vintage

• Arranca Coracors

Each one is a trove of personality, character, and little sparks of history just waiting to find a new home.

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