Bar Douro, London Bridge
Bar Douro, London Bridge
Bar Douro is a charming little Portuguese bar and restaurant housed in one of the old railway arches on Southwark Bridge Road, drawing inspiration from the cervejarias and tascas that are found in Portugal.
I adored the interiors with the azulejos tiles and momentarily forgot that I was in close proximity to London Bridge and instead felt like I was on holiday in Portugal!
Here you will find a modern spin on classic Portuguese food with small sharing plates full of massive flavours, made fresh to order in an open kitchen.
I loved the counter style seating and we perched ourselves in the corner so we could people watch as well as see the chef preparing the food. There is also an option to sit outside, as long as the weather plays ball!
The menu is full of enticing dishes to choose from and we perused it whilst sipping on Portuguese Red Wine. There is a great variety to suit everyone and I know I will be back to try more dishes soon!
The wine list is also amazing and is the largest selection of Portuguese wines in the UK exploring Portugal’s varied regional offering, celebrating indigenous grape varieties and traditional wine making techniques.
First to arrive from our selection was Sourdough & Bar Douro olive oil and Presunto de Porco Preto alentejano, which is Acorn-fed black pig ham.
Sourdough & Bar Douro olive oil and Presunto de Porco Preto alentejano
Both moreish and so tasty!
Next up was the Croquetes de alheira, which are smoked Portuguese sausage served on a picturesque Portuguese tile. Morsels of smoky, flavoursome heaven!
Croquetes de alheira
If I see potatoes (especially with garlic) on a menu you bet they are being ordered and so the Batatas a murro, Garlic punched potatoes, was a no-brainer. They were utterly delicious!
Batatas a murro – Garlic punched potatoes
Next up was Gambas à Guilho, Garlic prawns, which were on par with those indulged on seaside – fresh with punchy flavours!
Gambas à Guilho | Garlic prawns
The sauce was so silky and tasty that we couldn’t help mop it up with the bread!
The final of our savoury dishes was Cachaço de porco & molho de Bifana – Pork neck & Bifana sauce, which again was a beautiful dish which just tantalised the taste buds.
The sauce had lovely aromas and strong flavours and a little kick. Absolutely loved it!
For dessert I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to have Pastel de nata (custard tart) and this was served with Cinnamon ice cream.
Pastel de nata
We also tried Baba de Camelo – Caramel mousse, which was dreamy and indulgent, halfway in between a semifreddo and an angel delight, sprinkled with roasted hazelnuts for added texture.. The perfect sweet end to a fabulous meal!
Baba de Camelo – Caramel mousse
It is such a lovely spot and I highly recommend checking it out for a fabulous experience, especially if you like wine and small plates.
The ambience is fabulous, the staff are wonderful and I love the aesthetics – a special place nestled in the railway arches where you can hear the occasional rumbling of a train. I know I certainly will be back for more!
Bar Douro, Arch 35B, 85B Southwark Bridge Rd, London — Visit www.bardouro.co.uk for bookings and more details.
I was hosted by Bar Douro but all views, photos and opinions are my own.
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