The story
On the edge of the Montesinho Natural Park, three kilometres from the centre of Bragança, O Javali has been serving the robust, wild flavours of Trás-os-Montes since 2003. Founders D. Maria do Carmo and Sr. Alberto Gonçalves built the restaurant with a clear ambition: to become a reference for the region’s cuisine by offering a genuinely traditional house with a serious wine cellar.
The name comes from the wild boar that roam the surrounding park. From the beginning, the menu has been anchored by game dishes, with the slow-cooked wild boar stew and boar rice earning the most recognition. This focus on honest, hearty cooking has earned O Javali a long-standing recommendation from the Michelin Guide and, in 2026, a Bib Gourmand award for good quality, good value cooking.
The cooking is rooted in the traditions of the region. Alongside the signature boar dishes, the kitchen prepares strong Transmontano classics: grilled veal steak, local sausages, butelo, roast lamb and kid, and trout grilled or in escabeche. The restaurant has been certified as a Casa Típica by Turismo de Portugal, a mark of its authentic regional character.
The family story continues with Flávio Gonçalves, the couple’s son. Having grown up in the restaurant, Flávio graduated in hotel management and now leads the kitchen. In 2017, he opened a second venture, the Taberna do Javali, within the citadel of Bragança. A more modern, relaxed space, the Taberna serves tapas, a wild boar hamburger and sandwich, and a boar francesinha, while still drawing on the same local ingredients.
The restaurant itself offers comfortable, welcoming rooms and a generous outdoor terrace.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
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