Porto Hostel/ albergue with pilgrim dinner

[urbanmamma]

Hi
I will be walking this September and was hoping to find an Albergue that offers a dinner for pilgrims to launch the journey as several do on the CF. Are there any recommendations? If not in Porto, is there something a bit further along the way?
Thanks so much,
Mary

 

[Grousedoctor]

A real must eat at and stay at place on the CP is Casa da Fernanda halfway between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima. This was one of my favorite places and highlights along the Camino Portuguese. You probably wouldn’t get there until your third night out, but it is a memorable experience. Since September can be a busy time, I’d contact Fernanda and see if she has a bed on the night you would be passing through. Our dinner and the following breakfast with her were delightful. If you go to that stage on bronze.com, you’ll see exactly where she is located. Bom Caminho.

 

[urbanmamma]

A real must eat at and stay at place on the CP is Casa da Fernanda halfway between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima. This was one of my favorite places and highlights along the Camino Portuguese. You probably wouldn’t get there until your third night out, but it is a memorable experience. Since September can be a busy time, I’d contact Fernanda and see if she has a bed on the night you would be passing through. Our dinner and the following breakfast with her were delightful. If you go to that stage on bronze.com, you’ll see exactly where she is located. Bom Caminho.

I appreciate that, I have seen several posts highlighting this special spot.

 

[grdemedeiros]

Another is O Lagar de Jesus, which is, for many pilgrims, the last night before Santiago de Compostela.

Albergue do São Sebastião in Rubiães (hosted by the lovely Sonia) does not offer a communal dinner but has a nice patio with a pool, plus a kitchen. When we were there earlier this month, those factors created a homey/communal atmosphere. Albergue do São Sebastião is a logical spot to stop two days after Casa da Fernanda (one day after Ponte de Lima). In our case, about 1/2 of the Pilgrims we met at Fernanda's also stayed with Sonia, so that contributed to our experience.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/o-lagar-de-jesus.87175/

 

[urbanmamma]

Thanks so much

 

[roving_rufus]

Porto is a city, and while there is a pilgrim albergue it is far enough from the centre, many opt for a commercial hostel instead.

The Camino Portugues is different from the Frances - and apart from one or two notable exceptions those albergue organised communal aspects such as dinner are fairly uncommon.

 

[Corned Beef]

Sandeman Hostel on the southern side of the river does this @ €10. Depends on numbers though.

 

[Lleslie]

O ninho in Rubiares also does a fantastic communal dinner

 

[Miki Goldie]

A real must eat at and stay at place on the CP is Casa da Fernanda halfway between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima. This was one of my favorite places and highlights along the Camino Portuguese. You probably wouldn’t get there until your third night out, but it is a memorable experience. Since September can be a busy time, I’d contact Fernanda and see if she has a bed on the night you would be passing through. Our dinner and the following breakfast with her were delightful. If you go to that stage on bronze.com, you’ll see exactly where she is located. Bom Caminho.

Gronze.com. I found 'Yes' hostels in Porto and Lisboa great. ( especially breakfasts)...

 

[Jo H]

At Antas Guest House at Antas, about 11kms past Esposende, Rachael provided a delicious communal meal the first time I stayed there. It has a great kitchen and outdoor dining table for guests and beautiful garden and pool.

 

[Dilbin]

Hi
I will be walking this September and was hoping to find an Albergue that offers a dinner for pilgrims to launch the journey as several do on the CF. Are there any recommendations? If not in Porto, is there something a bit further along the way?
Thanks so much,
Mary

Hiya. I'm not sure if you intend to walk the central or coastal route. I have done nearly all these routes on more than one occasion. I do believe your initial question was with regard to communal dinner at the beginning and if not then en route. I've yet to find a communal dinner in any of the albergues in or around Porto except one at the far side of the airport in Mosteiro which I do not recommend. Food etc was fine but the prices were deceiving and not pilgrim friendly(I'm not being a cheap skate ) However I would suggest maybe stay at Senhora de hora or somewhere like that and cook up pasta with bread, wine and cheese and create your own communal dinner. Anytime I've done this I have found it a great way to meet and chat with other pilgrims. Generosity, kindness and love is I believe the true heart of the Camino and many a pilgrim will be drawn to this.
As many have said Ninho(Rubiaes) and Casa Fernada are amazing places to stay and experience joy although do please book them ahead. All that been said some of my favourite meals were on top of a hillside somewhere beside waterfalls or a steam with nothing but the ingredients of my last supermercado trip. Have a wonderful Camino, may the road rise to meet you and "your' God be with you every step of the way. Daniel. P.s We are walking the Mozarbe from Almeria in September so may send you a smoke signal

 

[urbanmamma]

Hiya. I'm not sure if you intend to walk the central or coastal route. I have done nearly all these routes on more than one occasion. I do believe your initial question was with regard to communal dinner at the beginning and if not then en route. I've yet to find a communal dinner in any of the albergues in or around Porto except one at the far side of the airport in Mosteiro which I do not recommend. Food etc was fine but the prices were deceiving and not pilgrim friendly(I'm not being a cheap skate ) However I would suggest maybe stay at Senhora de hora or somewhere like that and cook up pasta with bread, wine and cheese and create your own communal dinner. Anytime I've done this I have found it a great way to meet and chat with other pilgrims. Generosity, kindness and love is I believe the true heart of the Camino and many a pilgrim will be drawn to this.
As many have said Ninho(Rubiaes) and Casa Fernada are amazing places to stay and experience joy although do please book them ahead. All that been said some of my favourite meals were on top of a hillside somewhere beside waterfalls or a steam with nothing but the ingredients of my last supermercado trip. Have a wonderful Camino, may the road rise to meet you and "your' God be with you every step of the way. Daniel. P.s We are walking the Mozarbe from Almeria in September so may send you a smoke signal

Thank you so much. I was asking about a place in Porto to launch from as I have done on my previous caminos. I do know how setting a table to share with others truly sets the stage for beautiful Camino magic. I can see that, as with all the rest, this camino in front of me will hold its own unique plan, and I will lean in and trust it. Buen Camino Peragrino!!

 

[Enzed]

Hiya. I'm not sure if you intend to walk the central or coastal route. I have done nearly all these routes on more than one occasion. I do believe your initial question was with regard to communal dinner at the beginning and if not then en route. I've yet to find a communal dinner in any of the albergues in or around Porto except one at the far side of the airport in Mosteiro which I do not recommend. Food etc was fine but the prices were deceiving and not pilgrim friendly(I'm not being a cheap skate ) However I would suggest maybe stay at Senhora de hora or somewhere like that and cook up pasta with bread, wine and cheese and create your own communal dinner. Anytime I've done this I have found it a great way to meet and chat with other pilgrims. Generosity, kindness and love is I believe the true heart of the Camino and many a pilgrim will be drawn to this.
As many have said Ninho(Rubiaes) and Casa Fernada are amazing places to stay and experience joy although do please book them ahead. All that been said some of my favourite meals were on top of a hillside somewhere beside waterfalls or a steam with nothing but the ingredients of my last supermercado trip. Have a wonderful Camino, may the road rise to meet you and "your' God be with you every step of the way. Daniel. P.s We are walking the Mozarbe from Almeria in September so may send you a smoke signal

Agree with favourite meals sometimes not being official pilgrim meals.
Whilst fernadas is a good experience.....I have fond memories of being in Agueda and being invited to join 2 couples to share a pasta meal in a private albergue. Good conversation was enjoyed........its those little unplanned moments which make the camino special.

 

[TashH]

I stayed at House of Sandeman in Porto (Gaia) before I started my Camino. They do a €10 hostel dinner. The other guests were predominantly pilgrims. It was a wonderful way to start my Camino and I would intermittently see the people I met here along the way. A wonderful experience. I highly recommend House of Sandeman.

 

[urbanmamma]

I stayed at House of Sandeman in Porto (Gaia) before I started my Camino. They do a €10 hostel dinner. The other guests were predominantly pilgrims. It was a wonderful way to start my Camino and I would intermittently see the people I met here along the way. A wonderful experience. I highly recommend House of Sandeman.

I just booked there!! Thanks

 

[Dilbin]

Yes those unplanned are so wonderful. On the way to Caldas de rei I read about some cascades a bit off Camino and followed them all the way up. Sat at the top and had my lunch with a family of geese.
P.s If ye do get to Caldas and have time there is also a beautiful river walk that ends up at a wonderful old Mill and gorgeous waterfalls where you can swim, sunbathe and relax. So nice that I had to bring my wife there just to share the experience.

 

[urbanmamma]

Yes those unplanned are so wonderful. On the way to Caldas de rei I read about some cascades a bit off Camino and followed them all the way up. Sat at the top and had my lunch with a family of geese.
P.s If ye do get to Caldas and have time there is also a beautiful river walk that ends up at a wonderful old Mill and gorgeous waterfalls where you can swim, sunbathe and relax. So nice that I had to bring my wife there just to share the experience.

I love wild swimming and will add this to the map!!! Gracias

 

[David Tallan]

Sandeman Hostel on the southern side of the river does this @ €10. Depends on numbers though.

In 2018, I stayed at Yes! Hostel in Porto, recommended by some other local pilgrims who had returned from a Camino Portugues and stayed there. They also had a communal dinner. But it wasn't a pilgrim albergue, so it was generally young people backpacking around Europe in the dinner rather than other pilgrims. Not that I complained, having once been one of those young people backpacking around Europe.