Gentrification poses a significant threat to Porto’s unique identity, making it more important than ever to take action. The city’s authenticity is invaluable, and locals play a crucial role in preserving it.
In a world of fleeting trends, safeguarding our cherished places and traditions is essential—they are the heartbeat of Porto. At Taste Porto, our mission is to protect this legacy, ensuring that visitors not only see a postcard version of the city but also experience its true essence, alive and thriving.
Gentrification definition in Porto: what is it after all?
Gentrification is the process of wealthier individuals or businesses buying and renovating properties in deteriorated urban neighborhoods. While this can improve property values, it often displaces long-time residents and small businesses.
What we are witnessing in Porto is slightly different, with both positive and negative examples. For a comparison, read about Boston’s experience with gentrification.
The Pressure on Porto’s City Center
Porto’s city center is under immense pressure from the growing number of tourism-related businesses. Every week, new tourist apartments, restaurants, bars, hotels, and tour operators emerge to cater to the increasing number of visitors eager to experience Portugal’s second-largest city, now one of the trendiest destinations in Europe.
To accommodate the demand for lodging, dining, and cultural experiences, Porto needs these businesses. However, it also needs to preserve its authentic, eye-catching traditional establishments.
Definition of Gentrification in Porto
What makes Porto special is its endless number of traditional Tascas, not the modernized “fake tasca” versions, but the cozy, family-run restaurants. The city thrives on places like the Bolhão Market, which, after its well-deserved facelift in 2023, remained a hub for traditional vendors, rather than turning into an upscale gourmet marketplace.
The charm of Porto lies in its beautifully tiled buildings, vibrant traditional colors, and hospitable people communicating through a mix of languages and gestures. The city’s appeal is also in its easily accessible great food made from high-quality ingredients—not just gourmet fusion cuisine.
Of course, Porto can embrace both modern and traditional elements, but we don’t want it to become another Paris, Rome, or Barcelona. Porto is Porto, and we must preserve that.
Art and Renovation in Porto
Some small businesses are modernizing, while others are disappearing—often because owners are offered large sums to sell. In some cases, elderly owners have taken these opportunities to retire comfortably.
In at least three cases I know of, the owners were elderly and at retirement age, seizing the opportunity to enjoy their golden years in financial comfort.
A different example is a once-decrepit restaurant run by elderly owners in their 70s. Their grandchildren took over, renovated the space, and now run a thriving restaurant, maintaining its original values. Even today, the grandmother still helps polish the cutlery.
Finding Balance
While real estate development is necessary, it must not be driven solely by profit. Rental prices must remain fair so long-time residents aren’t pushed out of the city center. Some may argue that this is idealistic and that property owners need to maximize their earnings. But with sensible rent control, local businesses can modernize at their own pace without being overshadowed by corporate chains.
This is where the Porto de Tradição program comes in. Established by the Porto City Council, this initiative aims to safeguard and promote the sustainability of local commerce, particularly establishments of historical, cultural, or social significance.
Recognized establishments benefit from various incentives, including access to municipal funds for rehabilitation and modernization, tax exemptions, and participation in promotional activities.
Keeping Porto’s heart intact requires time, patience, and thoughtful urban planning.
Preserving Porto’s Culinary Heritage
Since 2013, Taste Porto has been committed to sharing traditional food, drinks, and culture with travelers eager to experience Porto’s rich culinary history. After more than a decade, we don’t promise whirlwind tours of tourist hotspots or visits to the trendiest restaurants. Instead, we offer:
- Authentic flavors that echo Grandma and Grandpa’s kitchen;
- Visits to places filled with our guides’ childhood memories;
- Meetings with local business owners that add richness to our neighborhoods.
Ricardo Brochado, founder of City Tailors, captures concerns about gentrification in Porto in this blog post, now featured on the Taste Porto blog as part of the fusion between City Tailors and Taste Porto.
