A Pérola do Bolhão

A Pérola do Bolhão is a traditional grocery store, located a couple of steps away from Mercado do Bolhão, in downtown Porto. Very much like A Favorita do Bolhão, this grocery has a large variety of quality products, from mountain cheese to dried fruits, from good wine to delicatessen and Portuguese traditional cookies. Before the products catch your eye, the façade will: beautiful Art Noveau entrance covered in Portuguese tiles. If you look closely you’ll realize that the images are of women holding tea plants and coffee plants, as the lettering on top refers to Tea (“Chá”) and Coffee (“Café”).

This grocery has been open since 1917 so they have quite an experience in dealing with customers. They’re extremely nice, know their products, dive great suggestions and know the city very well. So if you go to Pérola do Bolhão and then don’t know where to go next, ask for a tip. They’ll surely help you discover Porto and it’s amazing spots.

Every time I go to downtown Porto I find myself taking a photo at the façade of this grocery. There’s something special about those tiles. The bright colors. The designs. That’s something you’ll find around Porto: tiled façades. Different shapes and sizes. Different colors and patterns. Don’t worry because you won’t miss the tiles. They’ll catch your eye!

A Pérola do Bolhão is located very closely to a couple of Porto’s landmarks: Mercado do Bolhão and Majestic Café. You’ll be in walking distance from São Bento train station or  São João National Theatre and if you walk a little further you’ll find Sé Cathedral. Santa Catarina street is the main comercial street in town.

The grocery is open from monday to friday, from 9:30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 7:30pm. On saturdays they’re open from 9:30am to 1pm. Enjoy your shopping!