Restaurante O Gaveto, Afurada

Restaurante O Gaveto, in Afurada, the small traditional fishing village on the south bank of the Douro estuary in Vila Nova de Gaia, is widely regarded as serving the best cataplana in the area — a copper-pot seafood stew cooked slowly with shellfish, fish, and aromatics until the flavours concentrate. Afurada itself remains a working fishing community largely untouched by the tourism that has reshaped much of central Porto, and the restaurant's reputation has grown specifically around this dish rather than a broad menu, with roasted octopus (polvo assado) as its other standout. The dining room is plain and unpretentious, matching the character of the village, and the restaurant draws diners willing to make the trip specifically for the cataplana rather than passersby, since Afurada sits somewhat off the main Porto and Gaia tourist routes. Because cataplana is typically prepared to order and shared between at least two people, and the restaurant's reputation draws steady weekend crowds, reservations are recommended, particularly for larger groups wanting the dish at a specific time. A visit pairs naturally with a walk through Afurada's narrow fishing-village streets before or after the meal.