The Royal Cocktail Club

The Royal Cocktail Club is exactly what Porto needed—a serious cocktail bar that doesn't take itself too seriously but takes the drinks very seriously indeed. The space is intimate and contemporary, with a marble-topped bar that feels both elegant and welcoming. What sets this place apart is their own fermentation lab downstairs, where they develop house-made infusions and processes that give their cocktails a unique identity you won't find anywhere else in the city.

The menu is a journey through the five elements—Água, Terra, Fogo, Ar, and Éter—each cocktail telling its own story with interesting ingredients and thoughtful presentation. The drinks are complex but approachable, elegant without being pretentious. The staff genuinely cares about guiding you through the experience, whether you're a classic cocktail purist or someone looking to explore something new. The lounge downstairs with their board game cocktail menu adds a fun, clubby touch that makes you want to stay late.

This is the kind of place where you go to appreciate cocktails as an art form, not just to get a drink. The average price per cocktail sits around €12, which is fair for the quality and creativity you're getting. If you're in Porto and want to experience what the city's cocktail scene is really about, this is where you need to be. Just be prepared to spend some time—there's no rush here, and that's the point.