Grocery Shopping in Porto: Where to Shop to Find Everything from Ethnic to Organic
Ready to start exploring grocery stores in Porto? There are several grocery chains as well as many specialty grocers that you’ll find throughout the city. While you’ll find basic supplies in most stores, you’ll probably soon realize that a few favorite spices or cooking items are harder to find.
For certain ingredients, you may also choose to shop online rather than trying to find them in stores. As you get to know these stores you’ll decide which brands you prefer, and which stores reliably have the things you want.
We live in Porto, and have slowly worked over the last year to figure out where to go for which supplies, and what they are called. From different types of brown sugar, to molasses, to soy sauce, we’ll help you sort out which stores are most likely to have what you need when you head out grocery shopping in Porto.
In this article we’ll cover the major grocery chains, organic stores, specialty ethnic stores, where to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a few gourmet stores. We’ll end with some online resources for harder to find items.
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Basic Grocery Stores
There are several standard supermarket stores chains that you’ll find in Porto. These are spread across most neighborhoods, with the largest versions usually found at malls.
Keep in mind at some of these stores you may need to pre-weigh your fruits and vegetable (and sometimes bakery items). Look for a Tecla code next to products, usually three digits.
Weigh your product on the provided scale and enter this code to indicate what you are weighing. A small sticker will print out that you put on the item or bag. When in doubt, watch other shoppers, as not all stores use this system, some weigh produce at check out. This is one of our top travel tips for visiting Porto.
Continente
Norte Shopping (off Sete Bicas metro stop) has one of the largest Continetes. When you first enter the mall, you’ll see a Continete Bom Dia. The “bom dia” indicates this is the smaller version of the store, with only groceries.
The larger Continente is at the other end of the mall, down the escalator. Here you’ll find the full store complete with clothes, appliances, home section, stationery section, etc. Continente generally has the largest health and beauty section as well.
Continente has an international section where you’ll find things like asian noodles, British sauces, etc. Continente also has a sub-brand “Note” that is a stationery and gift store. You’ll find school supplies here as well as cute pens, notebooks, and more. There are also free-standing Note stores; you can scan your Continente card at both.
Auchan
Auchan is similar to Continente, you’ll find the largest one at Mar Shopping. They also have “My Auchan” stores, which are smaller and just for groceries. Auchan generally has the best baking and international sections, including the best selection of baking flours and sugars. The larger stores have an extensive bio (organic) section. You can also generally find food coloring in the larger stores.
Again, you’ll find housewares, stationery, plant care sections, and more at the larger stores.
Mercadona
Mercadona is a grocery store with a small health & beauty section. They tend to have higher-quality products at a good price. Most items here are the store brand, “hacendado”. It is not a complete store, so this may not work for a “one-stop shop”.
We prefer their pie/quiche dough (called quebrada) to other store brands. I have heard other people mention they prefer their brown sugar to other options. They carry bread flour (T65), which can be hard to find in other stores.
They also have Caesar salad dressing and sometimes ranch. They also carry Tzatziki and Veggie Stick snacks that our kids like.
Their pesto is quite good- you can choose a shelf-stable version or a fresh refrigerated version. They have an extensive meat and cheese section, including someone there to freshly slice prosciutto.
Pingo Doce
This is the most common and affordable main grocery store in Porto. You’ll find bigger and smaller stores. A complete grocery store with a bakery, meat, fish, and bio sections. Pre-made soups and sandwiches are available, and larger stores have a sushi station and café.
Lidl and Aldi
These discount stores carry a lot of off-brand products at good prices. Both are owned by German companies, and you’ll find some specialty German products. Standard bakery section, no fresh meat or fish department.
Great for basic groceries, limited on specialty items. For example, you can buy white sugar and basic flour here, but not dark brown sugar or more specialty flours.
They do carry tofu and hummus as well as a good selection of cheese and bio (organic). Once a year, Lidl has AlpineFest where they carry a series of specialty products including bratwurst, spaetzle, and sauerkraut.
Organic Grocery Stores
These stores carry organic items, often bulk nuts and grains, and a larger selection of health food supplies. Depending on the store, you may also find produce.
Celeiro
This store carries organic foods, as well as a good selection of gluten-free and lactose-free products. They also have supplements and cosmetics. Popular for no-sugar-added cranberry juice, Epsom salts, almond flour, and natural extracts.
A large organic chain, they have stores in both Norte and Mars Shopping, as well as Arrábida Shopping in Vila Nova de Gaia. You can also order from them online at https://www.celeiro.pt.
Maçaroca
An organic grocery store that also has fresh fruits and vegetables, bins of nuts and grains to buy in bulk, breads, juices, and more. Lots of vegan, dairy-free, and sugar-free options. R. São João Bosco 244. macaroca.pt
Quintal Bioshop
A small organic market with products that range from organic wines to vegan and gluten-free pasta sauce from Italy. They also carry spices like Zaatar and Sumac, as well as healthcare and beauty products. Rua do Rosário, 177
Mercado Orgǎnico, Foz
Located in Foz, this organic store uses zero-waste plastics and carries lots of items to buy in bulk. They also have an extensive spice section, organic cleaning products, and a series of wooden children’s toys. Located at Diu Street 231, Foz do Douro. Buy online at https://www.mercadoorganico.pt
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Most neighborhoods have a local “fruitaria” that sells exclusively fruits and vegetables. The quality is generally very high, though selection is seasonal. Many only accept cash. For more specialty items or a greater selection, here are a few places to try.
Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos
Known as the fish market in Matosinhos, fresh seafood dominates the first floor, with a ring of restaurants around. The upper floor of this bright, open market is full of fresh fruits and vegetables, live chickens, eggs, and more.
This is often a great place to find fresh sage, dill, fennel roots, and pickling cucumbers, as well as fresh flowers and plants. R. França Júnior.
There are lots things to do in Matosinhos, it’s worth a trip!
Feira de Produtos Biológicos do Porto
This feels like a farmers market, and sets up every Saturday from 9 – 2 in the Parque da Cidade do Porto. You’ll see various stalls with fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Not large, but good quality.
In July 2025, the market moved from the edge of the park near Soundwich, to behind the parking lot “parque da cidade circunmalaçao”, just off the Estrada da Circunvalação, take the park entrance just before the Galp Station. Google maps has updated the location.
Feria de Senhora da Hora
A large outdoor market, close to the Estádio do Mar metro stop. Every Saturday starting at 9. You’ll find everything from sausages to shoes. Parque Fr. João Gomes Laranjo 132.
Ethnic Specialty Grocery Stores
These stores are in or around downtown Porto and specialize in an international region or country.
Looking for a modern or ethnic restaurants? These are our favorites non-traditional places in Porto, from pizza to ramen.
Supermercado Asiático Chen
This is the largest Asian market, which includes sections of dishes and utensils. Lots of varied food options here, from noodles and snacks to teas and sauces. R de Bolhão 105
Supermercado Asiático
Specializing in products from Japan and China, and includes a large snack aisle.
Not a huge store, fresh vegetables up front. Praça da República 103
Woori Korea Market (W Mart)
A spacious store with Korean beauty products at the front and food at the back. Includes refrigerated and frozen food. Large footprint, but not a ton of product. Rua de Santos Pousada 199
La Patilla
This store features South American products. You’ll find rum, tortilla chips, dulce de leche, alfajores, and other Latin snacks. R. do Rosário 212.
Gastronom Slaviansky
An Eastern European market, sometimes referred to as “the Russian Market” by expats. This store has products from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and more. You’ll find all sorts of options here, including vodka and caviar. Often a good source for sour cream and pickles. R. do Dr. Ricardo Jorge 39
A-1 Indian Mercado
Located in Boavista, this store has some standard merceria stock as well as Indian ingredients, including masala corn puff snacks, jaggery pesi goor, and Thumb’s Up soda. Rua Nossa Senhora de Fátima 429
Flor D’Açafrão- Aromas de India
This small Indian store has bulk spices, bulk teas, incense, and essential oils. R. de Miguel Bombarda 321.
Orient Gate
Middle Eastern grocery where you will find everything from spices, to rice, packs of pita, to pomegranate molasses. R. do Breiner 43.
Gourmet Stores
These are upscale stores that focus on high-end products, often including wine, port, olive oil, and more. These are great for gifts or a gourmet treat for yourself!
El Corte Inglês
This mega-department store has two large supermarkets in its flagship location in Gaia. The regular grocery store contains a mix of domestic and international products. Their cheese and meat sections are large. They also have New York-style pastrami in their meat department.
Their gourmet section is even more upscale. Here you’ll find gift-worthy chocolates, olive oils, pates, teas, and more from around the world. Avenida da República 1435, Vila Nova de Gaia
They also have a grocery store in Foz called SuperCor, which has both the gourmet and regular grocery sections. Rua de Aleixo da Mota 306.
Bolhão Market
Bolhão Market is a food and drink tourist destination. You’ll see many tourists walking around sipping wine and tasting meat and cheese platters. There are sections for pastries, meats, seafood, cheeses, canned goods, and more.
They also have hard-to-find items like Turkish Delight and exotic fruits and vegetables. You’ll find seeds for planting, several spice stalls, different varieties of mushrooms, as well as white strawberries and dragon fruit when in season. There are also great food gifts here, from canned sardines to gourmet olive oils.
This is a great place to taste a few traditional Portuguese dishes, including cheeses and bolinhos de bacalhau. R Formosa 322
International Food Stores
These stores specialize in a mix of international products, including foods from the US and the UK.
El Corte Inglês
As mentioned above, this Spanish department store has a large grocery that includes international brands. Their regular supermarket includes items from Scottish jam to American cereals. Their gourmet section includes British teas and biscuits among many other delicacies.
Casa Chinesa
Don’t be fooled by the name. Located close to Bolhão Market, this shop has been selling a mix of domestic and international food products since 1939.
You’ll find biscuits from smaller towns around Northern Portugal, wines and liquors, gourmet honey, a large selection of flour, dried spices, and more.
The older duo who run the store are very sweet and helpful. We found dried sage here, which is difficult to find in Portugal.
This store is also on our list of places to shop for the holidays as they carry some beautifully packaged good. R. de Sá da Bandiera 343
Glood Porto
Glood is a small store just off the Carolina Michealis metro stop. Here you’ll find seasonal products for Christmas and Easter, as well as a mix of international food and snacks year-round.
Expect things like treacle, Marmite, Tim Tams, Mexican hot sauces, papadum, and tamarind sauce. Occasionally, they carry canned pumpkin, though it sells out quickly. They also have an online store. Rua de Oliveiria Monteiro 198. https://www.glood.pt/
PLEASE NOTE: As of August 2025, this store has closed, they are under new management, and hope to reopen physical stores soon.
Frag Fuel
Just down the street from Glood, Frag Fuel focuses on imported snack foods. You’ll find lots of different sodas, candies, energy drinks, and salty snacks. R. da Boavista 881. https://fragfuel.pt/
Will & Jones Trading Co
Newly opened in Matosinhos, this specialty store offers a variety of imported foods, ranging from Italian pistachio cream to Hello Kitty biscuits, Swedish Fish, and sugary American cereals. R. Manuel Dias da Fonseca 210.
Online Stores
When you can’t find what you need locally, you can often order supplies online. These are some great food stores that ship to Portugal with no additional customs fees.
The Chili Experience
This online store has a huge inventory, from old bay seasoning, to French’s mustard, to Skippy peanut butter. Americans will find cranberry sauce, instant grits, and light and dark corn syrup.
They also carry Cream of Tartar and real vanilla extract. They also have sections of products for Indonesian, Indian, Korean, Mexican, Peruvian, Chinese, Thai & Japanese cooking. You’ll also find gluten-free and vegetarian products. https://thechilliexperience.com
iHerb
Grocery, health, and wellness products, including lots of vitamins and supplements. Also, a great source for double-acting backing powder and inexpensive US spices.
Baking powder in Portugal (as well as UK brands) is single-acting, which means it starts to “act” as soon as it gets wet. This is fine for things that go directly into the oven. Double acting means that it first acts when wet, and then again when heated. This is essential for things like pancakes and waffles, where the batter sits around before you cook it all. https://pt.iherb.com
MexPro
With a physical store in Maia, this is a Portuguese brand of Mexican food that began with a focus on making Mexican chilies available in Portugal. You’ll find all sorts of dried chiles, corn tortillas, and salsas as well as clamato, concentrated tamarind, horchata, and Jamaica juices. R. Nossa Sra. Caridade 952. https://mexpro.eu
Algarve Spice
Spices, herbs, and teas are shipped throughout Portugal. Includes chopped dill, fenugreek, whole cardamom, and more. https://algarvespice.com
Emporio Italia
Italian products from San Marzano tomatoes, to pastas and sauces. Includes biscuits, panattones, and jams as well as meats and cheeses. www.emporioitalia.pt
Farinhas Paulino Horta
This store sells exclusively baking flours and seeds. They have wheat flours, rye flours, corn flours, semolina flour, organic flours, etc.
In Portugal, flour is identified by type- tipo 55 being the most common baking flour. T65 is bread four, whole wheat is called “farinha integral”. You’ll also find oatmeal, chia seeds, poppy seeds, and pumpkin seeds. https://farinhaspaulinohorta.pt/loja
There You Have It
All of the best places to grocery shop in Porto and Northern Portugal, from local grocery stores to online options for harder-to-find items. You’ll quickly find your favorite chain stores, as well as specialty stores to source baking supplies or comfort foods from your home country.
We have a list of things we ask friends and family to bring when visiting from the US, but the longer we are in Portugal, the smaller that list becomes.
In general, we’ve found that with a little digging, we can find almost anything somewhere in Porto. We hope you’ve found this list of shopping resources helpful!
Don’t miss how to order coffee in Porto, our favorite traditional dishes, and of course, things to do around town!
Don’t miss our list of the best traditional restaurants in Porto.
