A Guide to Porto by Nuno Henriques

A Guide to Porto by Nuno Henriques, Founder of Toino Abel

Toino Abel is the first Portuguese basketry brand, led by Nuno Henriques. Named in honour of his grandfather, each basket is made by hand using traditional weaving techniques, translating rural craft heritage into contemporary design.

Inspiration can come when we give ourselves the time to slow down, breathe and look around. The colour of a building, a conversation drifting from a café, the way people gather in a neighbourhood square or a shop window that makes you stop for a moment. Travel creates space for these small discoveries. A chance to wander, follow curiosity and find beauty in the everyday.

It is this spirit that inspired The Creative Clubhouse, a new series in collaboration with Wilde and Roadbook, all about exploring cities through the people who help shape their creative character. Bringing together local artists, designers and makers, the Creative Clubhouse series is an invitation to experience a city through the details they notice, the neighbourhoods they return to and the places that continue to inspire them.

The series began in Porto, where craftsmanship, culture and creativity are woven into the fabric of the city. Here, traditions are preserved but rarely stand still, with a new generation finding their own ways to carry them forward. To see Porto through a different lens, we asked Nuno Henriques, founder of Portuguese basketry brand Toino Abel, to share the places he finds himself drawn back to. From gardens and record shops to neighbourhood institutions, independent kitchens and creative spaces, this is Porto through Nuno’s eyes, and an invitation to slow down, wander and see what you might discover.

“I have been coming to Porto for many years. I find inspiration in the quiet everyday moments: gardens hanging by the river, narrow, winding streets and buildings that appear to lean into one another. I love how different architectural eras and styles coexist with ease.

From a longstanding record shop to a century-old charcuterie, the city’s creatives are preserving tradition while giving it a future. I see the same spirit in my own work. It is what draws me back to Porto.”

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Rua de Dom Manuel II, 4050-346 Porto

With manicured lawns and vibrant flowerbeds, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal is among Porto’s most elegant green spaces, with views across the Douro River. Peacocks and chickens roam the grounds, while bridges cross ornamental ponds. The gardens surround the domed Rosa Mota Pavilion, a modernist landmark that hosts exhibitions and concerts. Bring a picnic and join the locals amongst the camelias at golden hour.

Materia Prima

Rua Miguel Bombarda, 232, 4050-377 Porto

At Materia Prima, vinyl, CDs and cassettes share space with zines, notebooks by Portuguese stationery brand Serrote and flipbooks by animator Regina Pessoa. In a city that values slow craft, it feels like a celebration of tactile, analogue creativity. The staff are always happy to guide you through the collection.

Hotelier

Rua de Anselmo Braamcamp 324, 4000-079 Porto

Hotelier is artist Paula Lopes’s experimental creative space and self-described 'multiversal atelier’, with an independent programme of exhibitions, music and sales. Regular concerts bring together electronic, jazz and sound art, playfully staged in an imaginary swimming pool. Go along for weekly Friday buchas (bites to eat). They’re often vegan and always creative, with a focus on food waste reduction.

Casa Lourenço, Charcutaria e Garrafeira

R. do Bonjardim 417, 4000-125 Porto

With its traditional frontage and century-old history, Casa Lourenço is a charming grocery shop stacked with hand-picked hams and the country’s best cured meats, plus certified sheep's cheeses from Serra da Estrela, Beira Baixa, Trás-os-Montes and Alentejo. The cellar carries Douro, Dão and Alentejo wines alongside a serious range of olive oils. Put together your own board to take back to your apartment, with a bottle of white port as an aperitif.

Out to Lunch Kitchen and Out To Lunch Store

Rua da Restauração 313, 4050-506 Porto

Stop by this Japanese restaurant for a curry lunch or full izakaya dinner, and make sure you save time for the adjoining concept store. The same team curates ceramics, clothing, jewellery and independent magazines from Japanese and global makers. Menus change with the season, always served with sake, natural wine and a vinyl playlist.

Earlymade

R. do Rosário 235, 4050-524 Porto

This Cedofeita concept store presents a tight edit of international brands, each connected to Portugal’s rich textile industry. Founders Patrícia and Emanuel Sousa create original knitwear using restored vintage Brother knitting machines from the 1970s and 1980s, working alongside a network of local makers, some still knitting from home. The result is a considered approach to production that combines traditional techniques with contemporary design, preserving specialist skills while creating pieces made to last. The shop’s delightful windows are a creative canvas, featuring rotating artworks and installations.

Fundação de Serralves

R. Dom João de Castro 210, 4150-417 Porto

Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira's museum sits within a vast, leafy park where biodiversity projects join an Art Deco villa, a rose garden and whimsical treetop walk. Inside, you’ll find contemporary works and a film centre dedicated to pioneering director Manoel de Oliveira, while the shop stocks limited editions by Portuguese artists and designers. Though slightly outside the centre, it is well worth the trip, and entry is free on the first Sunday of every month.

RCA (Rádio Clube Agramonte)

R. João Martins Branco 180, 4150-431 Porto

This former swimming pool is now an open-air amphitheatre for concerts and vinyl DJ sets, with a bar menu spotlighting Portuguese craft beers. RCA was founded by Californian Kevin Bowman and Porto native Miguel Freitas, who met on a master's course in Madrid and built the place around, in their words, "craft beverages, music, and vibes." Come for a gig, stick around until the last set finishes. A very local spot.

Fiasco

Av. de Rodrigues de Freitas 133, 4300-096 Porto

By day, Fiasco is a vinyl shop curated by Porto-based Italian collector Luca Massolin. Visitors are encouraged to linger over coffee and small plates from Urraca, a kitchen run by the team behind Mafalda's.

At night, cocktails take over (the ‘Fontainhas DC’ is as punchy as its namesake). DJs spin everything from jazz to electronic, often using records pulled straight from the shelves. Lynchian red marble interiors are designed by Diogo Aguiar Studio, and a gallery downstairs showcases local artists.

The Creative Clubhouse is a series by Wilde and Roadbook celebrating the people, places and ideas shaping Europe’s creative cities. Through gatherings, conversations and local guides, we invite artists, designers and makers to share what inspires them, offering a different way to experience a city, one rooted in curiosity, creativity and the everyday.