The best restaurants Algarve

A restaurant but also a commercial and cultural space. History has passed by and the products offered are steeped in tradition. The building dates from the 15th century. The entrance leads to a store offering jewelry, shoes, wines, liquors and delicatessen, with tastings. Two mezzanines; on one side a cultural space, on the other a restaurant with a warm and quiet atmosphere and simple dishes with traditional flavors. At the top, the roof terrace is ideal for breakfast, lunch or a drink.

At the fishing port of Sagres, slightly elevated, a large terrace and a large pleasant room with woodwork and braids of garlic and onions hanging await the gourmands in search of grilled fish. In the plates, good preparations: mariscos cream, various salads, fish massa with shrimps and mussels, fish of the day to grill (sold by the kilo). Finally, a regional dessert, maneira. Very good, with the most beautiful view of the sea as a bonus. No doubt, for seafood, this is the place to come!

This bar-restaurant, located at the entrance to the old town, offers a wide choice of fresh fish. Here, you will directly choose the fish you are interested in and weigh it. You can also taste the famous porco preto (black pork), and the house's speciality is the bifinhos de porco preto grelhado (grilled pork steak). The establishment also offers good desserts made from sweet potatoes, in the form of pies or pudding. The welcome is friendly and warm and the decoration is typical. An address appreciated by the locals.

It is a real ballet that is played in this large rustic tavern decorated with pots and bottles. In front of the communal tables, young waiters work efficiently and, behind the long counter, a battalion of cooks are busy preparing typical dishes such as one of the local specialties,arroz de lingueirão (rice with knives) or sericaia. Too bad for the big screen TV on, but the space is still alive even on a Monday night! A well-oiled machine with a good quality-quantity ratio.

This restaurant is a good place to eat fish and seafood. Its name, which means "the fish market", comes from the fact that the old fish market of Alvor is located nearby. The recipes are simple and based on the traditional cuisine of the region, with a creative presentation. We find the scallops or the famous tiger shrimp, freshly caught. The menu changes every day according to the arrivals: you just have to pass in front of the window of the restaurant to see if the catch of the day corresponds to your desires. Good desserts.

In the old town, close to the market, years ago, two fresh and fresh vegetarian dishes go out of the kitchens (open to guests) from this restaurant. In general, desserts are chosen first, because they are the first beautiful things you can see in the showcases.

Adjacent to the market, a small snack offers fresh seafood (shrimps, clams, fowls) and barbecue for less than nothing. And we eat it all day, not stop. The owners love soccer and don't hide their passion for the local club, the Olhanense, with scarves attached to the walls.

At the entrance to the city on the N 125 (towards Tavira), a really nice troquet. On the small terrace, in front of the parking lot, we discuss between tables and compliment the chef on his squid or grills, all excellent. It's good and cheap.

This restaurant is more focused on vegetarian dishes and is known for its health-conscious clientele. As an example, the plate composed of mushrooms, ricotta and spinach, or the quinoa and avocado burger. Everything is healthy, the fruit juices are succulent and dietetically correct. Even light desserts can be enjoyed in good conscience without fearing for its line. The portions are generous and the establishment often displays full capacity. A healthy cooking option far from the clichés of the tofu cube!

This little gourmet on the corner of the street is a real gem among the offerings in Lagos. As its subtitle suggests(Comes e Bebes), you come and sit in one of the high chairs to enjoy quality pesticides , accompanied by either one of the good wines the store has in store or a freshly drawn draught. For the tougher appetites, the chef will prepare - before your stunned and hungry eyes - an arrufadinho or tiras de polvo to die for. An atypical address with lounge music in the background.

In a large, soberly decorated dining room, you'll enjoy hearty, well-prepared seafood and local cuisine. A real treat, whether for grilled meat, fish or seafood platters. Admittedly, it's located in the new town, far from the picturesque old center (and therefore from the touristy establishments)... Not necessarily easy to find but, really, you won't regret the journey. On Sundays, the place is packed with local customers, as is its reputation.

A little away from the port, A Taska do Ricky is a simple looking restaurant, hidden in a small paved alleyway. However, its reputation has already spread across the country, so it is better to go there out of season to enjoy the service and kindness of the boss. In the spotlight, of course, fish in all its forms: grilled sea bream, shrimp in sauce and cataplana are great classics that are undeniably popular. But we also find the Francesinha de Porto, generous in cheese and also essential. Bom apetite!

Just a few steps from the best wineries in the Algarve, Veneza Restaurant has built its reputation on the wines that accompany the menu. In the 1970s the restaurant was an Italian-themed dance hall, hence the name. Today gondolas and paintings have been replaced by stalls of bottles with lilting names. In this impressive cellar, you will taste homemade cold cuts, fried pork with xerum or desserts with carob. The flavors of the Algarve in all their splendor.

Here a fun place. Formerly a fishing boat before being served tourist routes, Rivolé was converted into a restaurant. Fish dishes are extremely naturally honoured. Although the decor is a little rustic, wine list and is complete. To discover le feijoada búzios (buccinas) or the different cataplanas. Definitely an address apart.

You can stop at this establishment with grilled dishes and fish. For them, the big eaters will be in the angels since, for 7,50 €, they will have à (will)! On Sunday, it's cozido a.

It is one of the best places on the waterfront, one of the great classics too. So it's not surprising to see many foreigners who have found the address thanks to a travel guide. It serves a rather international cuisine where fish (tuna, salmon, sole) and seafood (shrimps, scallops...) are king. It is of course not the best market in the area, but you have a superb view of the sea from the roof terrace. Undoubtedly, the price includes the exceptional setting of the establishment

This very family address proposes an exclusively regional kitchen. That's good, we are here for that. The service room is also typical, decorated soberly with ceramics on the walls. The Portuguese speakers will take advantage of it to exchange with the waiters or the owners who know very well the region and who do not hesitate to inform the travelers of passage on what one can find in the interior, just to go to seek a little quietude. On match days, chances are you'll be sitting in a sound atmosphere.

The travellers who will be seated there will be spoilt for choice as the card is so complete. In the large room inside or on the beautiful terrace, we enjoy a very pleasant and attentive service. The restaurant is named after Manuel Chaparro, a chef who, in the 1960s, prepared the region's specialities. Octopus salad, or snails as a starter; in the dish we fall for one of the local specialities: the black pig in the style of Aljezur. All the typical Algarve fish and seafood dishes are available.

With your eyes fixed on the castle of Silves, you will taste here an excellent regional cuisine. On the map, you will find the specialities of the Algarve: arroz de tamboril (anglerfish), peixe cozido, cataplana, feijoada de buzinas. In other words, Portuguese rice, fish, Portuguese bouillabaisse, stew.... Excellent duck dishes too. You should also enjoy the rustic decoration of the room. This is enough to spend an excellent traditional meal in a typical setting where tourists and locals meet.

A few steps from Praia do Amado, on the edge of the cliff, you arrive at a large esplanade with a view of the sea, a magnificent site where you are guaranteed to eat fresh fish. The chef's skills are evident in complex dishes such as cataplana de polvo. If you opt for more classic dishes, you'll have to go and weigh your fish, which will then be grilled and served with salad, all to be enjoyed in summer with a local white wine, before finishing with the almond pie. A little more expensive than elsewhere, but you also pay for the exceptional setting.

The restaurant is in one of the pedestrian streets of the historic centre of Tavira, close to the Roman bridge. At this address, a warm friendly and smiling is always made to the guests. With its original interior resolutely Art deco and by its culinary suggestions, this restaurant offers international cuisine and contemporary taste with music. An excellent selection of dishes made with local produce is also available. On the walls, you can discover the works of local artists (temporary exhibitions). A good address.

Originally a grocery store that was converted into a Veneza dance hall in 1970, this restaurant, which still bears the name of the Italian city, transports you into a long-standing family business. You can choose between two spaces: the terrace, which offers a local atmosphere on the city's busiest pedestrian street. Or the dining room where you can enjoy your meal with light background music. You can enjoy traditional Portuguese dishes such as monkfish orameijoas cataplana or international specialties (Chateaubriand). A sure value.

Located just behind the Sé Cathedral and below the castle, Café Inglês is the perfect place to sip a beer or juice while dreaming of the sunset. There are always a few snacks to nibble on at any time. You can of course eat more substantial dishes in the restaurant area. The big and colorful salads are excellent and varied. The house also organizes musical evenings with jazz and Afro-Latin concerts as well as exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and photographs.

The unavoidable cataplana (stewed fish with tomatoes, onions, potatoes and spices), the arroz de mariscos (rice and seafood) and the divine orange roll with childhood flavors are honored in this small restaurant. Here, a simple marine decor sets the tone and you can feel that the fish is ultra fresh and straight from the sea to the plate. No exuberance, the service remains calm and discreet, so we wait, we relax, we enjoy.

A little offcentre, North-East of the city centre, near the barracks Bombeiros. In this long welcoming room, people from Faro come as a delegation are sure of still able to taste the best black pork (porco preto grilled), or the arroz de tamboril. With also taste: the bacalhau homemade (depending on five different dishes) and the octopus fillet. Extensive wine list and diverse.

A small restaurant with a large terrace overlooking one of the pedestrian streets of the city. It's a good place to eat a big salad, a sandwich or a quick dish. Good fruit juice card and gin cocktails. The servers are for small care.

A bistro as we like them, in a small street (with a terrace) in a quiet place and above all with a very friendly team. The sar, the sea bream and the salmon are excellent, grilled to perfection and served with seasonal vegetables, often with simple batatas, so dear to the locals' taste. Indeed, it is the Portuguese who frequent this establishment massively outside the tourist areas. It is one of the restaurants where you can still have the chance to taste sea eels that are so rarely on the menu.

In the heart of the ancient fishing village, in the small tavern with low natural lighting, the specialities are called sopa de peixe (succulent fish soup), arroz de lingueirão (dish cooked with knives and rice), mackerel fed... in short, sure values from this delectable South! On weekends you can hear small music concerts. A meal taken in a superb atmosphere where different generations mix together and without too many tourists. Book or visit us directly on site.

A small white house on the seafront at the level of the small marina of Alvor with a terrace where the tables are covered with blue and white checkered tablecloths. The smell of the sardines grilling outside calls out to you. Here you can enjoy different fish, but you will understand that the specialty is the grilled sardines accompanied by boiled potatoes. Lovers of cataplana, a specialty of the Algarve, will not be disappointed either. In short, we melt with pleasure in this simple but exceptional restaurant.

You have to climb to the top of the village of Odeceixe to find this restaurant located near the inratable mill. Once a popular tavern frequented by the villagers, the space has been renewed and updated but the flavors have remained very local. The Assador Altinho is deliberately oriented towards a cuisine faithful to the tradition with a strong character: ham tapas, grilled octopus or xerém algarvio... Generous portions, interesting wines, decent prices and good atmosphere, the perfect combo promising a good evening!

It is what we call a local address, but victim of its success, so it is better to arrive early at the risk of waiting a long time for a table. The setting is charming, the interior courtyard inspires relaxation and the spirit is young and friendly. But one comes especially to taste inventive tapas inspired by the local and alentejana cuisine where the octopus reigns supreme. We like this gastro bistro concept but before getting on your high horse, you should know and accept that here, everything is paid for by the portion, including the mayo.

It is better to think about making a reservation if you want to be one of the lucky ones who will eat at this table. Especially if you want to enjoy a well-seasoned tartar or a duck leg with a good baguette. And for good reason, the owner buys from the best bakery in town. But the proximity of the sea also imposes its resources: we will lean for the sea bream with orange or the carpaccio of tuna. It is clear that here you will find the duo of French cuisine and local cuisine. The result is the image of the place: harmonious and friendly.

At the Pr1me Energize hotel in Monte Gordo, you'll discover a little nugget of a restaurant. The new menu is signed by Argentine chef Chakall, and is only available at dinnertime. Fuel by Chakall offers various meat suggestions with a 21-day maturation period, prepared on coconut shell charcoal: Argentine ribeye and tomahawk to share will delight meat lovers. Others will enjoy panciotti with eggplant and scarmoza, or products with typical Algarve flavours.

An inspiring concept for this contemporary restaurant in the heart of Albufeira. On the terrace or on the sidewalk, on the first floor as well as on the first floor, the spaces do not lack elegance on all levels: colors, furniture, even the bar where the friendly bartenders perform their prowess... Dishes resounding with chic and greediness like the champagne risotto, but also vegan options, and a long wine list elaborated for the prolongations: the trendiness in all its splendor, quite rare in this city

Located in the center of the old town of Loulé, next to the municipal market. Traditional setting with a modern and renovated decoration. In a local atmosphere, you can enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine, especially the grilled meats that are the specialty of the house. Grilled fish is also on the menu. It is possible to share small portions of typical dishes, such as braised chorizo. To finish the meal, if you like cocktails, one of the house proposals is the espresso martini.

This tavern is the work of the former food writer for the English newspaper The Guardian. Kevin Gould knows a thing or two about restaurants. His locavore cuisine focuses on seafood (mussels and clams) but also expresses the soul of the Portuguese soil with dishes based on black pork and tender root vegetables. Sparkling rosés refresh and enhance this inventive cuisine. Sweet tooths will finish the meal with an exquisite pastry from Kevin's new bakery.

Here's a lovely place to eat tasty food at good value for money. Bossa Tavira's credo: love and sustainability in the kitchen. The restaurant focuses on quality, experience and the importance of giving its customers a good time, both on the plate and in its sophisticated ambience. The chef offers dishes with Italian and Brazilian influences, using fresh local produce. You'll love the risottos, salads, fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. Delicious desserts.

Just a stone's throw from the Arc da Vila and Faro marina, this restaurant is a little nugget not to be missed on your visit to the capital of the Algarve. Chef Pedro Pasqualette and his team offer semi-gastronomic cuisine at good value for money. On the menu: fish of the day, octopus cataplana, veal medallions... as well as vegetarian options. Desserts are succulent: chocolate mi-cuit, apple tart, pistachio tart... Excellent wine list. Perfect service. A good meal to enjoy as a couple or with the family.

Everyone in Tavira knows Casa Simão. Admittedly, there is no reason to be enthusiastic about the decoration which is totally non-existent, but it is THE local family canteen. The mother is in charge of the stoves, the waiters are brothers, and the father is the head of this fine team, sometimes a little stressed when the restaurant is assailed by hordes of hungry customers. It doesn't matter: we go there for the atmosphere far from the tourist attractions, for the robust dishes like at home (cod with cream or pork cataplana) and for the unbeatable prices.

Here's a new address that gets nothing but praise. The atmosphere is that of a coffee-shop, but instead of the classic snacks, the freshness of the products and their quality are given pride of place here. The menu juggles between tradition with cod and modernity with fruity and healthy bowls. A clever concept where you can choose between quenching your thirst, eating and even buying regional products. Ideal for an invigorating breakfast or a break between two walks, in an unpretentious atmosphere.

Don't be fooled by the marine decoration, the speciality here is tapas and grilled food and the large barbecue at the entrance sets the tone. Vegetarians can pass their way. This little doll's house-style restaurant is still a well-kept secret, nestled in a very pretty alleyway outside the city's busy streets and tourist bustle. You come here for the warm atmosphere, the kindness of the staff, but also and above all to taste an assortment of meats gilded to perfection.

A somewhat old-fashioned atmosphere for this small restaurant with modest looks but efficient services. On the menu, fish grilled to perfection and seafood prepared according to old-fashioned recipes that have endured. Don't miss theaçorda de mariscos, a house specialty that is much talked about. Or feast on cod, the famous bacalhau, prepared with all kinds of sauces, including the very spicy piri-piri. An experience for those who wish to immerse themselves in a very popular Portuguese atmosphere. Local or nothing!

An intimate, contemporary ambience for this restaurant offering bistronomic cuisine, under the direction of a Franco-Portuguese couple who operate with great flexibility. On the plate, as many colors as flavors, resulting in cheerful and inventive dishes like smoked cod or the very healthy poke bowl (to choose from the one-price menu). No, Pigs & Cows isn't all pigs and beef! Book a table on the small terrace to ensure a pleasant evening.

A fine address for a delicious meal of high quality. Situated 4 km inland to the west of Lagos, this restaurant serves typical Portuguese regional cuisine. Meat, fish, shellfish, cheese and charcuterie platters: everything is well presented and appetizing. Smiling service ready to answer any questions you may have. The desserts are just as delicious, including the chocolate fondant. Wines and drinks are well recommended. Don't forget to book in high season. It's simple but gourmet and friendly.

The restaurant O Ciclista (the cyclist) is slightly off-centre but can be reached on foot just after the bridge. It mainly attracts a regular clientele, eager to enjoy the day's fishing. The fish is sold by the kilo and the dishes vary according to the catch, be it sea bass, sea bream or octopus, so freshness is guaranteed. Pork with clams remains the signature dish of the house, served very generously, like the others. The staff is very attentive, the prices are reasonable, enough to spend a delicious moment.