Portugal’s sunny Algarve waits for you every summer but with such a huge concentration of visitors, it can be difficult to avoid tourist traps and find real, quality local food – so we’ve compiled a list of 5 of the very best Algarve cafés and restaurants.
1- São Gabriel
Michelin-starred and the winner of Portugal’s 2015 nationwide Garfo de Platina award, São Gabriel is a truly special restaurant in the region of Almancil, near to the distinguished Quinta do Lago resort. Under the supervision of accomplished Algarve-born international chef Leonel Pereira, this is a swanky experience which will please the pallet of connoisseurs as well as regular restaurant-goers.
Price: Fine dining
Opening hours: Check with restaurant
Watch out for: risotto of blue lobster with samphire
Address: Estrada Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago, 8135 Almancil,+351 289 394 521
2- A Eira do Mel
About 10 kilometres north of the town of Sagres lies Vila do Bispo, home to the Eira do Mel (a literal translation might be “The Honey Barn”.). Michelin-listed but modest and welcoming in its atmosphere, this is a marvellous little eatery to try some regional and Portuguese favourites that you might not find in a traditional tourist-trap restaurant – from rabbit to wild boar, a strong and unusual selection of meats brings variety to the broad range of fish and seafood which travellers in Portugal will have come to know so well.
Price: Mid-range
Opening hours: Tues – Sun 12pm – 2:30pm, 7:30pm – 10pm
Watch out for: regional specialties that you might not run into elsewhere
Address: Estrada do Castelejo 8651-999 Vila do Bispo,+351 282 639 016
3- Restaurante L14
Integrated into the Salgados Dunas Suites hotel in Albufeira, Restaurante L14 is a fusion of elements traditional and less traditional, Portuguese and international. In particular, the restaurant is gaining a reputation for its desserts, having won a Best Dessert 2015 award for a fig, nut and almond dish bringing together Algarvian ingredients with outside tastes. An excellent bet for a classy evening out in the Albufeira area, L14 is a chance to get to grips with some local Algarve flavours alongside some broader Mediterranean delicacies.
Price: Fine dining
Opening hours:
Watch out for: the desserts
Address: Herdade dos Salgados, Rua Boca da Alagoa, Guia, Albufeira,+351 289 244 780
4- Adega Dom Pipas
For a relaxed and authentic local atmosphere, try another Albufeira restaurant, the Adega Dom Pipas, tucked away on the cobbled Travessa dos Arcos out of sight of the teeming city centre. A warm welcome is assured from the friendly staff, and a bilingual menu of traditional Portuguese dishes will have something for all-comers. Albufeira can be so jam-packed with tourist-focused restaurants and cafés, aimed at every level and niche of the market, that those spending some time in the city may even find it a relief to visit a genuine Portuguese eatery.
Price: Mid-range
Opening hours: Check with restaurant
Watch out for: the amicable atmosphere
Address: Travessa dos Arcos, 11, Albufeira 8200,+351 969 913 499
5- Àbabuja
The town of Alvor, another favourite tourist spot located on the southern coast, offers Àbabuja, a fun and accommodating restaurant which sticks to what it does best – hearty Portuguese mainstays with regional specials thrown in. A good choice for those interested in less common fish and seafood like clams and cuttlefish, the restaurant also enjoys a privileged location right down on the waterfront (indeed, the name derives from babugem, a Portuguese word for the spray of the breaking tide).
Price: Mid-range
Opening hours: Noon – Midnight
Watch out for: the fresh sea breeze thanks to the great location
Address:Largo da Ribeira 11, 8500 Alvor,+351 282 458 979
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