Faro Restaurants

Normally I like eating outside but I am very glad I took a look inside this restaurant before sitting down. In the back room there are several tile murals and an entrance to the old well. We arrived at the end of lunch time and had the full attention of our waiter David. He told us the history of the wells, some local folklore, and about local foods and innovations.

Favorite Dish: For our main course we shared a catapalana, a sort of fish stew that is a specialty in the Algarve. Then for desert we had an almond cake and an almond tart and a taste of a carob cake. And, at David's suggestion, to finish the meal we each had a glass of Amarguinha - an almond liqueur- with a touch of fresh squeezed lemon. I would have to say that this meal and the service was the best of our entire trip.

Mariscada is a small but very well located restaurant in the Vilamoura Marina. Although plain in decoration the atmosphere is friendly and the meals are good and at decent cost for the normal traveller. This restaurant special dishes are: "The Shelfish Cataplana", "The Shelfish Rice" and "Portuguese Lobster". Algarve Golf Card holders will also benefit from 10% discount when presenting their membership card.

Favorite Dish: "The Shelfish Cataplana"
"The Shelfish Rice"
"Portuguese Lobster"

I don't remember the name, but there's only one restaurant on the Praia do Farol, on the Ilha da Culatra.
Nice atmosphere, incredible location, in the middle of this beautiful island.

Favorite Dish: Grilled fish
Ameiljoas a bulhao pato (shellfish with lemon, butter and cilantro)

Albufeira Jardim
A PLACE UNDER THE SUN

Beautifully situated above the fisher city of Albufeira, surrounded by their own pleasant gardens, all the apartments have balcony or terrace most with sea view, confortably furnished and fully equipped. Albufeira Jardim has a total of 413 apartments (304 T0; 68 T1 and 38 T2), being 258 T0, 38 T1 and 30 T0 in Albufeira Jardim I and 46 T0, 30 T1 and 8 T2 in Albufeira Jardim II. All the apartments have balcony or terrace most with sea view, confortably furnished and fully equipped. All the apartments have telephone (direct dialing), private safe box, kitchenette, bathroom, heating and TV (rented as request).

Albufeira is an International Center noted for its rich and diverse cuisine.
The great variety of restaurants offer everything from regional dishes to the more refined specialties of French, Italian or German cooking.
This region is closely tied to the ocean and the many fish and seafood dishes constitute a strong gastronomic presence.
Sardines, flounder and bass are always fresh and delicious. Lobster and prawns are a must. 'Caldeirada' is a typical stew with several varieties of fish, potatoes, green peppers and parsley, being one of the dishes primarily appreciated and prepared by fishermen.
'Ameijoas na Cataplana' steamed clams, 'Arroz de Marisco' seafood with rice, 'Choquinhos com Tinta' cuttlefish in their ink and 'Salada de Polvo' octopus salad are specialties worth trying.

Fresh tuna was abundant along this coast until the beginning of the 1970s and is commonly prepared in the Algarve in many different ways.
Also to be noted is 'Xerém' corn meal, broad beans and Algarve-style peas accompanied by a good wine from this region.
Desserts include sweets made with almonds, pumpkin and figs. Try too the carob cakes and famous D. Rodrigos(egg and sugar cakes).

'New' Albufeira, centred on Areias de São João, is on the east side. Its most famous thoroughfare is affectionately known as The Strip. It stretches from the looming edifice of the Montechoro Hotel, past scores of cafes, restaurants and bars, all the way down to a big busy beach called Praia da Oura. The Strip and nearby streets are a hive of activity from mid-morning, when cheap English breakfasts are served to help with the hangovers caused by imbibing well into the wee hours the night before.

Portuguese food is delicious, believe me. Not getting fat in Portugal is a tough job and we, the portuguese, have constantly to say NO to the delicious food. The Portuguese love to eat. They like quality and quantity. We have many traditional dishes and the sweets and cakes are another problem if you're on diet.
There are many, many good restaurants in Albufeira.
You must try the typical Chicken Piri-Piri (hot sauce) in Guia (a little town 6 km away from Albufeira). They call it the capital of the chicken as there are about 5 or 6 restaurants serving only chicken Piri-piri with french fries and tomato, lettuce and oregon salad. Believe me, it's delicious and cheap. people from all over the Algarve, come to Guia for the chicken. You may find restaurants in other cities like Lisbon, called ' Chicken of Guia ' but believe me, it's not the same. If you want to have a real chicken with piri-piri, you should go to Guia. My favourite chicken piri-piri restaurant is 'Ramirez' right at the centre of guia in a very narrow old street.
In the centre of Albufeira, right at the fishermen's beach, there's the Restaurant 'Ruina'. It's in a very old house overlooking the see. So as you may imagine, it has a beautiful and romantic view. They are famous for the meat or fish Cataplana, but it's a beat expensive.
Between Oura beach and the centre of Albufeira, there's the 'Three Palms Restaurant'. here you seat near tourists and local people. Fish, meat and seafood are well served. They have a daily menu, which is cheaper and all other kind of meals. Service is good and prices are normal.
If you like sea-food, go to 'Delicias do Mar', close to Three Palms Restaurant. Sea food here is good and with quality. In Oura Beach or Areias de São João, close to the old town, you may have a great chinese meal in Eurasia.

Favorite Dish: Chicken piri-piri is one of the favourite dishes. cataplana is a special plate cooked in a pan with the shape of a sell. It has fish or meat cooked with clams and tomato. Grilled sardines and other grilled fish is a must, specially during the summer (never eat sardines in the winter as you can be sure that they are frozen and fresh).