CARVOEIRO AREA
TASTE €€
Taste is located at the end of Rua do Barranco (the out road). A laid-back, bright and thoughtfully designed venue, serving a selection of tapas alongside a number of Mediterranean/international dishes on the à la carte menu. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with Fridays Tasty Tapas, when diners can enjoy all-you-can-eat tapas; and steak night on Saturday. Their cocktail menu is fantastic and you can enjoy their creations on the large terrace.
Open until late. Closed Tuesdays | Tel: 282 358 092
PRIMAVERA €€€
An attractive trattoria-style restaurant at the top of Estrada do Farol, Primavera serves Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, including pizza, pasta dishes, fresh fish and great steaks. The restaurant has a lovely ambience and features a stylish interior décor, as well as a large, partially glazed outdoor area ideal for al fresco dining.
Open for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 358 017
L’ORANGE €€
A cosy restaurant with a relaxing ambience, L’Orange specialises in international and French-inspired cuisine created by Belgian chef-patron Jan Mortier, complemented by the delicious homemade desserts made by wife Karin. The interior is pleasantly decorated, whilst outside, a pretty terrace is perfect for al fresco dining. L’Orange is located just outside Carvoeiro, near the Carvoeiro Hotel.
Open daily for dinner except Sunday | Tel: 282 357 297
PASHMINA €/€€
Delightfully bright and tastefully decorated, Pashmina serves a fabulous range of Indian dishes. All made from scratch on-site by Indian chefs and to the company’s popular recipes. Boasting a big menu with lots of vegetarian and Tandoori dishes, they have a comprehensive wine list with the group’s own label house wine offering an easy drinking, very reasonably priced option.
Open for lunch & dinner | Tel: 282 182 383 / 960 453 376
TOURIGA WINE & DINE €€/€€€
A wine lovers’ paradise at the top of restaurant hill, this is a very grown-up wine restaurant with one of the most impressive collections around. Owner Jorge has been collecting wine for years and you’ll find some rare bottles here beside a more accessible, wonderful Portuguese range that has been specially selected. The food is a casual dining affair with some Portuguese dishes along with small plates for those who are looking for something to go with their wine.
Open from 5pm to 11pm | Tel: 282 075 834
GURKHA KITCHEN €/€€
This lovely restaurant has become a favourite amongst locals. The menu offers a wide variety of Nepalese specialities, and lovers of spiced food will find the dishes are all very different with mild and balanced flavours. This cuisine is also great for people who are not too comfortable with the hotter Indian flavours. They have an Indian menu as well, so there’s something for everyone’s palate. When you reach O Cantinho and The Wolf, on Estrada do Farol, walk up the steep hill.
Open daily for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 185 776 / 920 169 028
A GALÉ €/€€
This traditional Algarvean restaurant has been serving its loyal customers with delicious garlic prawns, bife à portuguesa (Portuguese-style steak), fresh fish and lots of local favourites for over a decade. The restaurant is cosy and fills up quickly, so be sure to book in advance.
Open daily for dinner from 6pm | Tel: 282 357 330
THE WOLF €€€
Delicious, quality steaks, rack of lamb and daily fish and seafood specials are served in this upscale bar and grill with smart interiors and outdoor dining on the ground floor, and an elegant upstairs lounge on the terrace. Located on Estrada do Farol, the restaurant’s star attraction is the US Black Angus beef, including an excellent T-bone cooked on the charcoal grill/oven. Lunch and dinner served indoors or on the bottom terrace. Reservations recommended.
Open for lunch & dinner | Tel: 962 708 596
BONECA BAR €€/€€€
Found in one of the best locations in Carvoeiro, Boneca Bar is the perfect place to sit back and while away the time. Set within the cliffs of Algar Seco, this restaurant and bar serves fresh fish and a selection of meat, complemented by a carefully put-together wine list. A family-run establishment, there is also a range of cocktails and sangria if you simply want a drink whilst you enjoy the surroundings.
Open all day, closed Sunday | Tel: 282 358 391
A VELA €€
Run by owner Antónia on the out road in Carvoeiro, A Vela serves both Portuguese and international food, with specialities including black pig, cataplanas, stone steak and Brazilian rump steak. With a range of vegetarian dishes, the restaurant is bright and spacious with a large mezzanine level that boasts a baby grand piano, as well as an outside terrace.
Open for dinner only | Tel: 282 084 177 / 969 607 116
PANI INDIAN RESTAURANT €€/€€€
This lovely restaurant is perched on the right side of the cliff, overlooking Carvoeiro beach. The stunning view isn’t the only thing that’s worth writing about, with high-quality furnishings and some beautiful Indian décor that compliment the extensive menu and excellent wine list. The dishes are a good size and subtly spiced.
Open every day until 11pm | Tel: 282 185 525
OUTSIDE CARVOEIRO
GASPACHO & MIGAS €/€€
LAGOA
This new, bright and airy bistro-style restaurant opened with great expectations in Lagoa early this year, and we are pleased to say they are delivering. Modern and tasteful décor, there’s an excellent range of dishes that are created with care and hit the right notes. You’ll find some great traditional ingredients here that chef Joaquim Raimundo puts his modern twist on, making them tasty and pretty as a picture.
Open from 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 10pm. Closed on Mondays and Sundays for dinner | Tel: 282 039 183
MARISQUEIRA RUI €€€€
SILVES
The Algarve’s most famous seafood restaurant. The food is as fresh as it gets and the ambience relaxed and noisy from the sound of crab cracking. You’ll find a vast selection of seafood cooked to order, and speciality dishes such as seafood rice and cataplanas are also available. This is a very popular place with locals on the weekends, so arrive early for a table.
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays | Tel: 282 442 682
VILA VITA BIERGARTEN €€
PORCHES
Located on the EN 125 in Porches is a traditional, Bavarian-style beer garden. Owned and operated by the five-star Vila Vita Parc resort, this authentic Biergarten serves German beer, homemade sausages from the resort’s butcher and other German specialities. The Herdade dos Grous wine label is available here and is made in their Alentejo vineyard. With lovely gardens and filled with authentic touches, it also features a great kids’ play area.
Open every day from 12.30pm to 10pm |Tel: 282 381 177
O LEÃO DE PORCHES €€€€
PORCHES
Located in the centre of Porches, this is one of the oldest and most appealing restaurants in the Algarve. Established in the 1960s and now run by Belgian owner Bianca Salden, the restaurant serves Belgian and Mediterranean cuisine complemented by a well-balanced list of more than 80 Portuguese wines. The building still retains much of its 18th-century charm, and the creative menu perfectly complements the cosy and inviting ambience of the restaurant.
Open for dinner only. Closed Wednesdays | Tel: 282 381 384
OCEAN €€€€€
VILA VITA PARC / ALPORCHINHOS
At Vila Vita Parc, Ocean, with two Michelin stars, enjoys a prime location set just back from the cliff-top with stunning views both from the terrace and from the inside. The ambience is refined, with discreet service and exquisite tableware setting the scene for a special occasion. Diners are offered a choice of tasting menus alongside the à la carte menu prepared by Austrian chef Hans Neuner and his team, with optional wine or Champagne selections to accompany each dish.
Open for dinner. Closed Monday and Tuesday | Tel: 282 310 100
ARTE NÁUTICA €€€€
ARMAÇÃO DE PÊRA
Located on Armação de Pêra beach, well away from the built-up part of town, this is a high-quality fish and seafood restaurant owned and operated by the Vila Vita Parc resort. Fresh produce is always in abundance and the restaurant has a large terrace with uninterrupted sea views and an air-conditioned interior.
Open every day for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 314 875
QUINTA DOS SANTOS €€/€€€<
SESMARIAS
A vineyard, a craft-beer brewery, a stunning dining space with terraces and a fabulous courtyard just on the edge the Pestana Gramacho golf course. The menu has a variety of tapas and sharing dishes so guests can enjoy a leisurely snacking, beer or wine tasting experience or a more traditional three-course meal. All dishes are made with fresh, local ingredients and packed with great flavours. They sell their own wines and craft beers on-site, so you get the full Dos Santos experience.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 10pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm | Tel: 282 343 264
OREGANO €€
SESMARIAS
Located opposite the water tower in Sesmarias to the west of Carvoeiro (next to Bon Bon restaurant), Oregano offers a mix of Italian and Portuguese cuisine. Complementing a selection of fish and meat dishes such as fresh cod lagareiro-style are pasta dishes and a good selection of light meals, including tasty wraps and salads. An excellent option for lunch, with a great three-course special for €13 except Sunday when the special is roast lamb.
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Wednesdays | Tel: 282 353 465
BON BON €€€€€
SESMARIAS
Since the early ‘90s, Bon Bon has been well known as one of the best restaurants in the Carvoeiro area for dining in an intimate ambience. Under new management since March 2013, the standard of food and service was finally rewarded with a Michelin star on the 2016 guide. A menu of modern Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on local flavours is backed up by a solid wine list of Portuguese and foreign labels. Now open for lunch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday with a special menu.
Open for lunch Saturday to Monday | Tel: 282 341 496
FERRAGUDO AREA
REI DAS PRAIAS €€€€
CANEIROS
Located on Caneiros beach between Carvoeiro and Ferragudo, this high-quality restaurant offers a very good selection of prime fresh fish that can be plain grilled or oven-roasted and then deboned at your table. For a special treat, ask for the fresh giant carabineiros (scarlet prawns). There is an excellent selection of fine wines and Champagnes, including Billecart-Salmon, served at the lounge-bed area on the beach. Reservations are essential.
Open daily for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 461 006
CLUB NAU €€/€€€
FERRAGUDO
Serving a wonderful selection of fabulous sushi from their extended Sushi Corner along with classic European dishes and, of course, fresh fish. A comprehensive snack menu paired with a spectacular cocktail and wine selection complete the experience. Live music every Sunday and a busy entertainment schedule along with a great Sunday Roast.
Open from 6pm to 10.30pm | Tel: 282 484 414
O CANTO €€
FERRAGUDO
O Canto, in Ferragudo, serves rustic Mediterranean and South-American specialties, including delicious tapas, fresh fish and Argentinean ribeye steaks. The cosy restaurant is run by chef Jimmy Cruz and boasts a spacious outside terrace. Look out for the popular theme nights.
Open for dinner, closed on Monday | Tel: 915 067 587
SEN TONKIN €/€€
FERRAGUDO
Very popular with local residents, you’ll find this lovely and authentic Vietnamese restaurant located just up the hill on the left, after Babalu in Ferragudo. Brimming with traditional décor and serving fresh, authentic Asian flavours, including the famous Nem spring rolls, Pho noodle soup, clay pot specialities, and even mixed dishes to share for those unfamiliar with this fragrant cuisine. Hostess Tracy is ever willing to help with recommendations and a big smile.
Open daily from 12pm-2pm and 6pm-10pm. Closed from Christmas until the second week of January | Tel: 914 482 844
PETISCOS CAPELA €/€€
FERRAGUDO
This modern Portuguese eatery is based around small plates that allow you to try many different dishes. A great spot to enjoy some local food and wines with friends, it’s informal and comfortable. You’ll find popular plates like Surf & Turf and garlic prawns too, so there’s something for everyone.
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Mondays | Tel: 965 743 583
BORDA DO CAIS €€€
FERRAGUDO
Head down the fishermen’s pier in Ferragudo and you’ll find this lovely Portuguese restaurant with a great roof terrace. The menu features some lovely fresh fish and lots of traditional favourites. The wine list has been carefully thought out and you’ll find some unusual but lovely wines in the cellar.
Open all day. Closed Tuesdays | Tel: 916 613 001
