If we had to sum up our experience at Laguna, it would be top-notch service and a scrumptious meal.

We stayed in the city center, surrounded by bars and restaurants, but we didn’t want to dine in a crowded environment, given we had children and seniors in our party; so we decided to venture a bit further away after consulting Google Maps to see restaurants that were still within walking distance. This is how we discovered Laguna, and we are so glad we did!

The restaurant is located across the Circular Pedestrian Bridge, Ponte dos Botirões, and past the free parking area at Canal S. Roque. Walk along the canal for about five minutes, and you’ll see the floating Laguna Restaurant on your left.

The restaurant’s lower floor is indoors with windows that slide open to let in the breeze. The upper deck is where patrons can enjoy the afternoon sun, complete with a bar to serve cocktails and other beverages. We walked in to make a reservation for later that evening and continued our sightseeing before returning later that day.

The sun was just setting when we returned at 7:30, and our table was already set with finger foods and starters to help us get settled in. The modern interiors feature pink velvet chairs with gold trim and matchy leather booths, with gold decorative fish elements suspended from the ceiling. Light window drapes billow in the evening breeze. A dark, deep sea blue contrasts against the gold and pink accents to complete the interiors' luxurious colour and material palette.

Our table was set up by the window where a window was already propped open to let in the fresh air. Although the menus were only available in Portuguese, our server attentively explained all of the items to guide us through each section, making recommendations along the way.

After we placed our order, we enjoyed the flavourful seaweed and fish spread with our bread basket and our first sips of wine. If we didn’t want to save room for our meal, we would have asked for a second helping of the seaweed spread!

For our appetizers, we enjoyed the Tuna Crudo and fresh oysters. The Tuna Crudo with pistachio and fish roe was refreshing, with a slightly tangy sauce perfect to kickstart our appetites. Needless to say, the oysters are just as fresh as the ones we are lucky to enjoy on the West Coast.

For our mains we had the Beef “Laguna”, Sapateira e Vieiras, duck breast with squash and braised pork cheeks. Of the four mains, we enjoyed the duck breast and the seafood dish the most. The duck breast was cooked perfectly with the juicy fats retained in the slightly crispy skin, and the meat was cooked through while still being moist.

The Sapateira e Vieiras comes with crab and shrimp Açorda in a separate small pot, a popular traditional bread soup. The dish is also served with crispy scallops and a garlic and coriander dip. The Açorda is flavourful and hearty, and if we had bread, we would have used it as a dipping sauce!

It you still have room, the desserts on the menu would be perfect paired with a sweet Tawny port as you breathe in the evening air with the gentle sway of the boat moving to the rhythm of the waves.

If you have Aveiro on your travel bucket list, we would recommend that you add Laguna to the list, whether it’s for a hearty brunch or for a relaxing dinner. The tranquil setting on the water offers the ideal escape from the bustling tourist haunts in the city center. We hope you have a chance to enjoy a scrumptious feast here!

Visit

Laguna Restaurante

+351 919 115 306

Av. Dr. David Cristo, 3800-366 Aveiro, Portugal

Photography by Florence Leung