"We’ve given a lot of thought to our offering and space"

Alex South

Editor

Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes will open the doors to a neighbourhood restaurant and bar in Largo de São Domingos, the riverside, historic centre of Porto.

The restaurant, Cozinha das Flores will celebrate the food culture, wines, techniques, and ingredients of the North.

The adjacent 12-seat bar, Flôr, will embrace a fun and contemporary take on Portugal’s global food culture, serving a light breakfast in the morning and a menu of inventive cocktails through day and night, with mixologist Tatiana Cardoso at the helm.

Cozinha das Flores and Flôr form part of adjoining sister project, The Largo — 18 rooms across 5 heritage buildings — that will open later this year.

Whilst much of Nuno’s childhood was spent in his hometown of Lisbon and the nearby Alentejo region, his mother’s family are from the North of Portugal.

The years of research and development leading up to this opening saw Nuno embark on a personal journey of discovery, throughout which he unearthed and nurtured a deep connection with the city of Porto and its people.

The culmination of this journey is manifested at Cozinha das Flores — a joyful and harmonious intersection between community, craft, creativity, heritage and food.

Commenting on his aims, Nuno said: “My hope is that both Cozinha das Flores and Flôr will become an integral part of the city of Porto, a ‘home’ for both locals and visitors alike; a welcoming, convivial and bohemian experience suitable for anytime of the day or occasion. We’ve given a lot of thought to our offering and space, but I really would love our guests to come out of Cozinha das Flores and say, ‘man, this place is fun!’”

Under the creative direction of Nuno Mendes, Cozinha das Flores will champion the region and showcase the expansive and generous gastronomy of Northern Portugal.

Inspired by traditions, the menu is a sunny meeting of new and old techniques that, according to Nuno, “will have a true dialogue with the city.”

Commenting on the new restaurant Nuno said: “I believe one of the most meaningful ways to connect to a place and its people is through food and drink; our aim with Cozinha das Flores and Flôr is to really capture the essence of the region and strike a balance between creativity and authenticity”.

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A post shared by Nuno Mendes (@nunoviajante)

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