A fine afternoon around Arcos de Valdevez: views, ice creams and gluten-free food at Flume
Sometimes a fun afternoon in northern Portugal doesn't have to be complicated at all. Today we drove to a viewpoint less than ten minutes from Quinta Viva a Vida, ate ice cream in Arcos de Valdevez and finished with gluten-free food at Flume restaurant on the Rio Vez. It is precisely this combination of nature, tranquility and fine local spots that makes this area so special to us.
View at Baloiço de Penouços
We started the afternoon at Baloiço de Penouços, a viewpoint near Arcos de Valdevez.
From the big swing you look out over the green hills, small villages and valleys of northern Portugal. Especially for children, of course, this is immediately a fun place 😄
What we like about these kinds of viewpoints here in the region is that you often don't have to make much of an effort. No long hiking or crowded parking lots, just drop the car and enjoy the view.
And honestly: even after several times, we continue to be amazed at how green and quiet it is here.
Eating ice cream in Arcos de Valdevez
After the viewpoint, we drove towards to the center of Arcos de Valdevez. There we had ice cream at River Café, a fine local spot near the river.
There are also playgrounds nearby, making this a relaxing stop with kids. While the girls enjoyed their ice cream, we sipped a Gin Tonic and a Leffe Bruin on the terrace.
Not a trendy hot spot or tourist attraction, but just one of those relaxing Portuguese afternoons that actually makes everyone happy.
Hiking along the Rio Vez
From downtown, we walked along the banks of the Rio Vez toward Flume restaurant.
That walkway along the water remains one of our favorite spots in Arcos de Valdevez. Especially in the late afternoon, there is a peaceful atmosphere there. People stroll along the river, children play in the park and everywhere you can hear running water in the background.
It is precisely this relaxed pace that we love about northern Portugal.
Gluten-free food at Flume restaurant
We ended the afternoon at Flume restaurant, where we had a delicious gluten-free meal.
We were fortunate that the fryer had just been cleaned, so the batata bravas could also be safely eaten gluten-free. Moments like that remain extra nice for us, because clear communication around celiac disease is always most important to us.
When restaurants properly explain what is and isn't possible, you immediately notice how much peace of mind it gives during the meal.
The food was delicious and the atmosphere relaxed. Really one of those places where you can sit quietly for a few hours without feeling rushed.
Suitable with children?
Yes, absolutely.
What exactly made this afternoon so nice was that everything was close together:
- short drive
- no long walks
- playgrounds along the way
- an ice cream in between
- eating quietly at the end of the afternoon
This made it feel relaxed instead of a full schedule
Our conclusion
What we love about Arcos de Valdevez is that a nice afternoon here often comes naturally. A viewpoint, ice cream by the river and then a gluten-free dinner - that's all we really needed.
It is precisely this combination of nature, tranquility and small local spots that makes this a wonderful environment for us to live in and to receive guests.
From Quinta Viva a Vida you can easily discover the surroundings of Arcos de Valdevez, the Rio Vez and the nature of northern Portugal.
Quinta Viva a Vida was born out of our family and our experience with celiac disease: a place where gluten-free is truly safe, and the ideal base to discover northern Portugal.