If you started by reading our Ultimate Aveiro Travel Guide, you know that we’re not writing for a basic tourist experience in the city. If the first part was an in-depth guide about what to see and do in Aveiro, this second part is all about accommodation, typical foods, cafes, and nightlife.
All spots mentioned in this post are marked on the map below by the green pins.
Everything is also marked on Maps.me. You can download the app for your smartphone.
Accommodation in Aveiro
Due to the international exposure that Aveiro has gained in the last couple of years, hostels and guesthouses have multiplied tenfold. Most options are located in the city center, around the Rossio area and Lourenço Peixinho avenue.
Still, and even without knowing how much you’re willing to spend on a room, we want to tip you off to the fact that most hotels and family-run housings in Aveiro are ridiculously overpriced. Sleeping in Aveiro is not exactly cheap when compared to other big Portuguese cities like Lisbon or Porto.
When Nuno and I travel we pick our accommodation based on price, proximity to the city center, and the reviews and comments on booking sites. Therefore, those were the criteria for our following selection:
Ponto de Abrigo: www.facebook.com/pontodeabrigo
Aveiro GuestHouse: www.facebook.com/aveiroguesthouse
What to Eat in Aveiro (typical food)
You can try many recognizable Portuguese flavors in restaurants across Aveiro. However, the secular connection its people have with the sea enriched the local cuisine with unique dishes.
Fish
There’s quality fresh fish everywhere in the city, but Maré Cheia is popular for knowing how to cook it well. Try the grilled fish, the fish stews, and the typical eels stew.
Dishes start at €16.
Closed on Wednesdays.
Meat
For traditional Portuguese meat dishes, we recommend 2 Duques (Closed on Sundays), Snack bar Picota, and Evaristo (Closed on Saturdays). They serve delicious homey food in generous portions, with prices starting at 7€.
At Cervejaria o Augusto in Rossio, try the bifana—an old-school Portuguese snack of fine pork steak in a loaf of bread.
On the outskirts of Aveiro, on Bairrada, the roasted suckling pig is one of the most appreciated dishes. It can be a pricey meal (that we suggest you eat only when you visit Bairrada) but to have an idea of what it tastes like, eat a sandes de leitão (piglet sandwich) for €4,50 at Tasquinha do Leitão, in Praça do Peixe.
Burger Joints
If you’re in the mood for a good burger, go to Revolta Hamburgueria, or to Porta 35 (a convenient option due to its location right in the Praça do Peixe).
Cafe Ramona serves the most famous burgers in town, but getting a table around here on Fridays and Saturdays can be tricky. Closes on Sundays.
Photo: Café Ramona
Vegetarian and Vegan Food
For our vegan friends, Vegifruit serves veggie options of soups, baguettes, and salads with fruit juices at great price deals. Closed on Sundays.
Other options are Musgo, Saladas+, and Ki a vegan and macrobiotic restaurant with desserts to die for. Closed on weekends.
Bakeries
Aveiro has to be the Portuguese city with more pastry and bakery shops per square meter. There’s at least one in every corner.
Try Ria Pão in the Rossio area, or Fanepão 88 closer to the Santa Joana Museum. You’ll find the counters brimming with cakes, pastries, cookies, and bread. To avoid the flood of people from 4 PM to 6 PM, make it an early afternoon snack.
On Lourenço Peixinho avenue, Pastelaria Ramos is known for the best cartuchos in town. We can describe them as gooey-chocolaty-cylinder-shaped-cakes filled with whipped cream.
Ovos Moles of Aveiro
Every bakery and pastry shop around Aveiro sells the famous Ovos Moles and all its derivatives such as fios de ovos, castanhas de ovos, broas de ovos… we could keep going.
Nonetheless, locals say that some ovos moles are better than others, and the best ones are sold at Confeitaria Peixinho and Maria da Apresentação e Herdeiros, two neighboring stores right in the city center.
Tripa de Chocolate
Compared to the favored ovos moles, tripas are the underdogs of Aveiro sweets. Maybe it’s the unfortunate name “tripa” (that translates into “gut/ intestines”) that makes people apprehensive, but the truth is that these semi-baked-waffle-doughs from heaven, are the most comforting and versatile baked-sweets around town. You can eat them on their own with a dash of cinnamon on top, or take it to the next level with a filling of your choices such as chocolate, ovos moles, jam, ham and cheese, and the list goes on.
Our favorite filling is apple jam and cinnamon because it tastes like warm apple pie. You can find them being sold until late at night on kiosks in Praça do Peixe and around the beaches near Aveiro. Enjoy!
Ice cream
To nibble on some ice cream go over to Gelataria Milano or to Gelados de Portugal. You’ll find flavors like ovos moles, port wine, and Portuguese custard tart to name a few.
Nightlife in Aveiro
Although Aveiro is not exactly “the city that never sleeps”, locals do know how to have a good time. At night, Praça de Peixe becomes the favorite spot for everyone to hang out and have a drink.
Most bars are closed during the day, but starting at 10:00 PM to around 3:00 AM music gets louder and the entire area gets occupied by the terraces of bars and cafes.
In case you’re wondering, Aveiro is a safe city even at night.
Bars
Despite not abundant (and most quite small) bars cater music to suit almost every taste. Here are some of the best options:
Toc’aqui: Portuguese and international music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
Kitten’s Irish Bar: One of Aveiro Irish pubs. It’s small and cozy with a wide selection of craft beers.
Guesthouse: Stands out for its good location and great terrace, perfect for hanging out with friends on sunny afternoons and warm summer nights.
Mercado Negro: In an old building with the façade facing the central canal of the ria is Mercado Negro. The bar has different areas distributed throughout an old apartment and is the only place during the winter where you can have a glass of red wine by the fire.
Mercado Negro also houses several exhibitions and concerts throughout the year.
Má Ideia: Chill place with alternative music and friendly staff.
Luxor Bar: An Egyptian themed bar with a sitting area and a dancing area. It’s located outside Praça do Peixe and has a cover charge.
Clubs
If going to bed at 3 AM is for babies, here’s where you can go next:
Sal Club: At walking distance from Praça do Peixe it’s the new acquisition to Aveiro night scene, that has gained a lot of popularity over the past year.
Estação da Luz: Considered one of the best nightclubs in Portugal. The cover charge is €10 and ladies’ nights are on Fridays.
It’s about a 15-minute taxi ride from Aveiro. Taxi fees should be around €10.
Photo: Estação da Luz
Cultural Options
Teatro Aveirense has a cool theater agenda that you can check on their website: www.teatroaveirense.pt
In addition, they do weekly screenings of indie and classic films.
For good theater (albeit a more humble lineup) we recommend the Estaleiro Teatral, at the Infante D. Pedro Park.
For good travel photography and film, visit Trilhos da Terra.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment or contact us.
Podes escrever-nos em português se preferires.
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Wonderful post! I am drooling at the food already. We are planning a trip to Portugal, so this goes right into my to-do list. Thanks!
You’re very welcome Soumya!
Hope to see you in Aveiro really soon. 😉
Awesome guide, guys! I want to go just to eat. These places look amazing.
Thanks, Kelly!
You should come, especially if you like sweet Portuguese treats.? Aveiro has some unique delicacies to die for, and the Pastry shops are DA BEST!