Perola do Bolhão is a grocery store in Porto downtown, on Formosa street, very close to Bolhão Marketplace. I really like showing this grocery store to the people I guide around Porto, because it's a a very beautiful place with an Art Nouveau façade, covered with Portuguese tiles from the beginning of the past century, and it's also a landmark of the city.
When I guide people from other countries who're looking to get to know Portugal, I always assume they would like to discover the local products, the local gastronomy. So when I show this store to people, I always expect surprised reactions. It seems very beautiful on the inside, also because everything is so organized.
I appreciate the customized service provided by the owners --one of the major differences between it and big supermarkets. It's also a local store with national and homemade products. They also have some imported stuff, but I really prefer the homemade products, like the jams, the mountain cheese and the dried, caramelized fruit. I like to buy "alheiras" there, a typical Portuguese sausage mainly made of poultry, bread, olive oil, lard, garlic and paprika.
I have never tasted their codfish, but at the entrance there is an ad saying that they sell the best cod in the city...
Find your way with 136 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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