Eat, drink and be merry!
We came to the Algarve for the beautiful cliffs, beaches and climate, however, the food scene is also unbelievable! We were all treated to some of the very best dining options we have experienced, anywhere. While researching Portuguese cuisine, we found a lot of references to Bacalhau, which is salted cod. Surprisingly, cod is not a native fish in Portugal. Most of it comes from the North Atlantic and the origins are of the Vikings. Sardines are the symbol of Portugal and is a in a lot of dishes. Local shrimp, clams and octopus share a lot of space on basically all Portuguese menus.
Octopus, shrimp and prawns are on most every menu. Seafood reigns supreme in Portugal and especially in the Algarve. Although octopus can be an amazing delicacy, I am a reformed octopus consumer ( I choose not to eat it), but if you’re open to eating it you will find that the freshness, quality and different styles of preparation will wow you! Same said with the different shrimp and prawns we consumed! The cookery showed a true understanding of how to prepare seafood correctly. I was enamoured with the all the prawns that were available.
Our consensus was that we did not have a bad meal anywhere. For a killer view of the ocean, Restaurant O’Camilo really hit the mark. Beautiful view overlooking the ocean and beach and the food was delicious and the staff were attentive. You must reserve ahead. Tourists and locals alike flock to this place.
Mar Restaurante & Bar was walking distance from our villa. Superb food and right on the beach. We went there a couple of times and enjoyed it immensely. Antonio Restaurante was another favorite!
We did have dinner in the old town a few times, however they were a little touristy for us, although the food was great.
We would be remiss to not mention Piri Piri Chicken. Piri Piri Chicken is on a lot of their menus down there. A nod to the popular seasoning sauce from Africa. We do love Piri Piri Chicken. Our first experience with it was in South Africa and we were surprised and happy to see it has a big influence in the Algarve. You will find numerous restaurants that specialize in that. Although seafood was our number one go to for food choices ( I mean, really, if you love fresh, fresh seafood, how can you not?). We did have dinner at a Piri Piri restaurant in old town Lagos one night and did the rooky move of not doing our research. It was good, but a bit generic. There are other areas in the Algarve where the Piri Piri Chicken is amazing. A couple of stand out towns is Monchique (Malhada), Guia (Ramires) and Albufiera (Restaurant O Ribeirino ).
We can’t really go anywhere and not try an Indian restaurant. We discovered Ashoka Indian Tandoori Restaurante. The food was authentic and the staff were great.
We were in the Algarve during shoulder season and had to make reservations for dinner at most places. So, plan ahead if possible. Durning the high season you will definitely need to make reservations for the more popular restaurants.
Drinks?
Yes, you should drink! haha! Most of the sidewalk cafes offer drinks and appetizers and it’s nice to take a break and relax and people watch. Wine is a huge draw in Portugal and the Portuguese wine is fantastic! Try the local green wine, it may not be a favorite, but it is light and suggestive to a sauvignon blanc. There are local wineries right there in the Algarve, however, the majority of Portugals wines are from the Duoro Valley.
We discovered the best coffee bar on the way in to town. It is in the old town center and is named Coffee & Waves. Beach themed throughout. We stopped there nearly every day for a cappuccino and maybe a roll. They have a walk up window that is pretty fun, although watch out for cars as there is no sidewalk.
Where to go in Portugal?
The most popular destinations in Portugal according to any online search includes Lisbon (Lisboa), Porto (Oporto) and the Algarve (which encompasses several cities/towns within the region).
Where to go will depend on how many days you have and how many times you want to unpack! If you’re a never stop til you drop, see it all type traveller, you can easily see all the highlights in a couple of weeks. We had 12 days for our first trip which included 9 days in Lagos (the Algarve) and 3 days in Lisboa (Lisbon). Our second trip to Portugal we had 8 days for Oporto (Porto). For this post we’re going to focus on Lisbon and the Algarve.
Lagos, the walled city.
Of all the towns to choose from in the Algarve, Lagos is super special. Large enough to have everything you need, yet small enough that getting around is very easy.
We chose to make Lagos our home base for our Algarve adventures. Our travel partners found an amazing oceanfront, 3 bedroom villa with a pool offered through Airbnb. We loved it! Supremely comfortable, luxurious and well thought out and equipped, with 2 levels of decking. The views were amazing from every room!
Fabulous lodgings in Lagos
Affordable luxury abounds in Lagos! Our Airbnb was located just outside of the historic center. Logistically the villa was within walking distance to the old town, however, we found we drove into town for most visits. There are some very convenient parking garages with very reasonable rates. Other choices that are near the marina and old town are plentiful and affordable.
Outside of the old town area are many more choices for accommodations such as Lagos Avenida, Boavista, Tivoli Lagos. For an extended stay the Cascade Wellness Resort is a good option with apartment layouts and use of the wellness facility.
Getting around.
Flying into Lisbon you can rent a car and drive to the Algarve or you can hire a driver or even fly into Faro and decide on transportation. Our advice? You really need to rent a car to get around easily and on your terms. Rental cars are affordable and driving in all of Portugal is the same as driving in the U.S.A. There is Uber and Bolt. Bolt being the most popular there. Others options include taxi’s, and public transportation such as trains and buses, however they are scant and may require assistance just getting to a pick up location.
Again, if you can, rent a car. There is so much to see and admire. The drive from Lisbon to the Algarve region shows the native landscape and is quite beautiful. The rest stop (s), which we only stopped once on the trip back to Lisbon are really nice! Well, they must be great since we never discuss rest stops on any of our journeys! Anyway, they really are a “rest” stop. They have public restrooms and get this, they have full service amenities, including coffee bars. We certainly do not have stops like that on the West Coast here in the US. At least very few. In addition, there are countless places in the Algarve that having a car is so vital. So many towns tucked away that public transport doesn’t get to. Highly recommend a car
The best things to do and see in the Algarve.
Yep, again, having a car is so much easier. Public transportation is a hassle in our opinion. Some of the highlights from our mini road trips were visiting the small towns and villages. Sagres, Tavira, Monchique, Lagos and Carvoeiro.
Hiking, biking, beach going and golf are some of the activities that can comprise most of your relaxation days. Definitely try to tour the coastline by boat. There are many places where you can get to see the dramatic cliffs. Easy access such as in Lagos, where you don’t even need to hike down to the water is doable. However, by boat, the scenery is mind blowing! Depending on the size of boat, they can take you right into the cliff caves. Other options would be (depending on how brave you are) is to rent a kayak and do it yourself!
Overall the best thing to do while in the Algarve is to relax and soak up the rich culture, beauty, and loveliness of the Portuguese people.