A Cozinha por António Loureiro

A Cozinha por António Loureiro, holding one Michelin star, sits in Guimarães, the historic town regarded as the birthplace of Portugal, and is the flagship restaurant of chef António Loureiro, built around hyper-local Minho region ingredients pushed through creative, technically ambitious preparation. The menu changes seasonally and draws heavily on foraged and small-farm produce from the surrounding Minho countryside, with lamprey (lampreia), a regional delicacy caught in nearby rivers during its short spring season, among the most sought-after dishes when available. The kitchen's style favours precise, modern technique over rustic simplicity, positioning the restaurant closer to Porto's fine-dining scene than to Guimarães' more traditional tascas, while still staying rooted in genuinely local Minho ingredients rather than importing a generic international style. The dining room is refined and quiet, suited to a slower, multi-course tasting-menu meal rather than a quick lunch. Given the single Michelin star and Guimarães' growing profile as a food destination beyond its UNESCO-listed historic centre, reservations are essential and should be made well in advance, particularly during the lamprey season in spring.