The Complete Guide to a Kosher Trip to Porto

Porto, Portugal's second-largest and famous wine city, hosts a small but significant Jewish community — around the impressive Kadoorie Synagogue, built in 1938 thanks to a generous donation from the Baghdadi Jewish Kadoorie family. The Sephardic citizenship law has brought a new wave of Israeli families to the city over the past decade. Here's a short guide to planning your visit.

Kadoorie Synagogue — the Kadoorie & Haim story

The Kadoorie - Mekor Haim Synagogue, one of the largest in Europe, was built through the effort of Portuguese-Jewish officer Barros Basto, who sought to revive the community of descendants of forced converts, and was funded mainly by a donation from the Kadoorie family of Hong Kong. An adjoining mikveh also serves the community. The Jewish Museum of Porto and the Holocaust Museum of Porto, both on the same street, round out the historical picture.

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Le J Restaurant

Le J - Restaurant et Sandwicherie Casher, on Rua de Vale Formoso, is Porto's central kosher option — with a menu blending Portuguese and Jewish cuisine.

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The Ribeira district — best from the Dom Luís Bridge

The Ribeira district, a UNESCO World Heritage site along the Douro River, is famous for its colorful houses clustered up the hillside. Practical tip: the best view of the district isn't from within it, but from the upper level of the nearby Dom Luís Bridge — cross on foot for a panoramic view over the whole Ribeira and the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the other side of the river.

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Between the moving Kadoorie Synagogue and the photogenic Ribeira district, Porto offers an authentic Portuguese experience with a Jewish depth most travelers don't know about.