Bolhão and Santa Catarina
Market, shopping street and francesinhas
Bolhão is the city's central municipal market, and Rua de Santa Catarina is the Baixa's main shopping street, about 1,500 metres long. Rua Formosa and Rua Passos Manuel add old groceries, a theatre and several francesinha restaurants.
The Bolhão Market is open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 18:00, and closed on Sundays and holidays. The food outlets keep longer hours, Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 00:00. Around it on Rua Formosa are Confeitaria do Bolhão, founded in 1896, and A Pérola do Bolhão, a grocery from 1917 with an Art Nouveau front tiled with images of the spice routes.
Rua de Santa Catarina has a partly pedestrian stretch, some Art Nouveau facades and Café Majestic, a Belle Époque café. The Chapel of Souls is covered in azulejos from 1929 and is free to enter. Nata Lisboa, farther along the street, is open daily 08:00 to 19:00.
Rua Passos Manuel holds the Coliseu Porto Ageas, which opened in 1941, and Maus Hábitos, an art space and concert room on the fourth floor. Bufete Fase serves only francesinhas and has a capacity of 14, and Café Santiago is another francesinha restaurant on the same street.
Getting there
The market is at Rua Formosa 322, and Rua de Santa Catarina is the main shopping street of the Baixa. Rua Passos Manuel, with the Coliseu and Maus Hábitos, is part of the same area. Via Catarina is a shopping centre on Rua de Santa Catarina.
What to see
Go to the market early, then walk along Rua de Santa Catarina to the Chapel of Souls. Rua Passos Manuel is a short detour for the Coliseu and Maus Hábitos.
Where to eat and drink
Casa Guedes on Praça dos Poveiros is known for its roast pork shank sandwiches. Mercearia do Bolhão sells cod, Port, cheese and sausages, and is closed on Sundays.
Nearby neighbourhoods
The best of Bolhão and Santa Catarina
Things to do in Bolhão and Santa Catarina
What's on in Bolhão and Santa Catarina
Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.
Learn to Play D&D: Beginner Session Activities
Sun 8 Nov · The Card Garden
A beginner session for learning Dungeons and Dragons at The Card Garden.
10:30 to 12:30 · Map · Source: Meetup (group named on each event) · 🎲 Learn to Play D&D 5.5 - Beginner Session | TheCardGarden, Porto
Learn About Volunteering in Porto Activities
Tue 10 Nov · Novo Imperador Cafe
A meetup at Novo Imperador Cafe to share volunteering opportunities and meet other volunteers.
18:00 to 20:00 · Map · Source: Meetup (group named on each event) · Learn about volunteering in Porto
Opera Porto Style Performance
7 dates from 13 Nov to 21 Nov · Various locations in Porto
Short opera sketches staged in public places across Porto, including the Bolhão market, the airport and São Bento station.
Map · Source: FIATO · Ópera à Moda do Porto
Opera: Einstein's Barber Performance
Sat 14 Nov · Palácio do Bolhão
An opera performance at Palácio do Bolhão.
11:00 · Map · Source: FIATO · Ópera “O Barbeiro de Einstein”
Operometer Activities
Sat 14 Nov, Wed 18 Nov, Sat 21 Nov · Palácio do Bolhão
An interactive festival experience at Palácio do Bolhão.
Free · 10:00 and 14:00 on 14 November, 20:30 on 18 November, 18:00 and 20:00 on 21 November · Map · Source: FIATO · Experiência “Operómetro”
Recital in Memoriam Rodrigo Pinto Concert
Sat 14 Nov · Lapa Church
A memorial recital at the Igreja da Lapa, part of the International Organ and Sacred Music Festival.
21:30 to 23:00 · Map · Source: FIOMS, Festival Internacional de Órgão do Porto · Recital in Memoriam a Rodrigo Pinto †
Passos no Escuro: Possession (1981) Activities
Wed 18 Nov · Cinema Passos Manuel
A cult film session of the Passos no Escuro series, shown with Portuguese subtitles.
€6 · 22:00 · Map · Source: Passos no Escuro · POSSESSION (1981)
Concert in the Feminine Concert
Thu 19 Nov · Casa Comum, University of Porto Rectory
A concert at Casa Comum in the University of Porto Rectory.
Free · 21:30 · Map · Source: FIATO · Concerto no fe-mi-ni-no
FIATO on Vinyl Listening Session Activities
Thu 19 Nov · Casa Comum, University of Porto Rectory
A listening session held at Casa Comum in the University of Porto Rectory.
18:00 · Map · Source: FIATO · Sessão de Escuta “FIATO em Vinil”
Corpo de Barrar tattoo fair Market
Sat 21 Nov · Maus Hábitos
Tattoo fair on the fourth floor where tattooists and collectives show and sell their work, organised with Birra and Neura Studio.
Free entry · 14:00 · Map · Source: Maus Hábitos · Corpo de Barrar, feira de tatuagens
Show all 16 events
NATIVUS:ENSEMBLE Final Concert Concert
Sat 21 Nov · Teatro Helena Sá e Costa
The final concert of NATIVUS:ENSEMBLE, led by Bruno Pinto, at Teatro Helena Sá e Costa.
17:00 · Map · Source: Cultura em Expansão (Câmara Municipal do Porto, Ágora) · Concerto final de NATIVUS:ENSEMBLE
Opera: Ti Chitas Performance
Sat 21 Nov · Palácio do Bolhão
An opera performance at Palácio do Bolhão.
19:00 · Map · Source: FIATO · Ópera “Ti Chitas”
Ti Chitas: The Voice That Is a Mountain Performance
Sat 21 Nov · Palácio do Bolhão
A show by Questão Repetida at the Palácio do Bolhão, part of the second FIATO festival.
19:00 · Map · Source: Teatro do Bolhão · Ti Chitas - A Voz que é Uma Montanha
Vocal Health Workshop Activities
Sat 21 Nov · Palácio do Bolhão
A workshop on vocal health for artistic voice in room 5 of Palácio do Bolhão.
14:30 · Map · Source: FIATO · Workshop “Saúde Vocal na Voz Artística”
The Devil in Me Performance
Fri 27 Nov, Sat 28 Nov, Sun 29 Nov · Palácio do Bolhão
A production by Visões Úteis at the Palácio do Bolhão over one weekend.
19:00 on Friday, 21:00 on Saturday, 16:00 on Sunday · Map · Source: Teatro do Bolhão · O Diabo em Mim
Passos no Escuro: Kung Fu à Portuguesa (2026) Activities
Wed 2 Dec · Cinema Passos Manuel
A cult film session of the Passos no Escuro series.
€6 · 22:00 · Map · Source: Passos no Escuro · KUNG FU À PORTUGUESA (2026)
Show 3 events nearby, outside Bolhão and Santa Catarina
Lost in the Woods Performance
Wed 18 Nov · Teatro Helena Sá e Costa, Centro Histórico do Porto
Sketch of an opera that reworks versions of the Little Red Riding Hood tale.
Free entry · 21:00 · Map · Source: Teatro Helena Sá e Costa (ESMAE) · Perdida no Bosque
Cinema de Bairro film cycle at the Fine Arts Faculty Festival
Sat 21 Nov · FBAUP Aula Magna, Bonfim
Fortnightly Saturday screenings of classic and auteur films: Tarkovsky, 24 Hour Party People, Shoplifters and a Miyazaki feature.
16:00 · Map · Source: Universidade do Porto (Faculdade de Belas Artes) · Cinema de Bairro
Cinema de Bairro film cycle at the Fine Arts Faculty Festival
Sat 5 Dec · FBAUP Aula Magna, Bonfim
Fortnightly Saturday screenings of classic and auteur films: Tarkovsky, 24 Hour Party People, Shoplifters and a Miyazaki feature.
16:00 · Map · Source: Universidade do Porto (Faculdade de Belas Artes) · Cinema de Bairro
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