A Guide to the Algarve from TheAlgarveinfo.com

With little time to write and wanting to bring you the great happenings in the the Algarve, we’re inviting guest bloggers to help share their love of the Algarve with you.

We welcome Neil, our first guest blogger from the Algarve Portal “TheAlgarveInfo.com” a travel’s guide to all things Algarve from restaurants to hotels. If you’re planning a trip to the Algarve, be sure to check out MyAlgarve trip planner.

(photo credit: scottx)

The Algarve is a foodies paradise. No matter where you are in the Algarve you are never too far away from some sort of eating establishment. A bit like Ireland and pubs. The choice of restaurants is simply staggering – from the simplest of “tascas” to the Michelin starred and everything in between – Indian, Chinese, British, Thai, French and Fusion. To select a Top 10 list of Algarve restaurants would be sheer folly as everybody has their own opinion on the subject. Plus to be fair one would have to eat in every restaurant around – and there is almost 100,000 of them.

For the absolute top end dining experience just follow the Michelin stars. The only restaurant in the Algarve to be awarded 2 Michelin stars, Vila Joya has a stunning location to complement the stunning food. With one star each, Willies in Vilamoura, Henrique Leis and São Gabriel in the Golden Triangle should be on your list of fine dining venues.

algarve restaurante

Most people associate the Algarve with fantastic beaches – so what about the beach restaurants? Years ago most beach restaurants were shacks, very vulnerable to the vagaries of the weather and with uncertain plumbing. Nowdays you can enjoy great food in beach side restaurants all year round. Check out Papagaio at the famous Vale de Lobo Praça – a great all day restaurants and bar. For the most stunning entrance Caniço in Prainha wins hands down – you take an elevator down through the cliffs to get to the restaurant which is carved out of the rocks. For the best rest and relaxation, and huge fish kebabs, visit Windsurf on Praia da Alvor. And if you really want to get away from it all we suggest the Ilha Deserta – Desert Island. The only building on the island is the restaurant.

restaurant in the algarve

Visiting the Algarve and not eating fish is like visiting Egypt and not seeing the pyramids. Look for the restaurants grilling the fish on outside BBQ’s. Check out the harbour side restaurants in Alvor, such as Ababuja, the “sardine restaurants” in Portimão, under the old bridge. Sagres in the Western Algarve offers some of the best fish around – straight from the sea and wonderfully flavoursome. You can’t go wrong at Fio de Pesca or O Telheiro do Infante. In the Eastern Algarve there are fantastic restaurants serving fish, eels, octopus and shell fish right by the waters edge.

O Telheiro do Infante

Once you head inland away from the coast you can find some great restaurants serving hearty algarvian food. Wild boar, Lamb stew and goat kid stew – simmered for hours so that the meat falls of the bone, caldeirada and cataplana – traditional fish stews. The Monchique area is dotted with some fantastic restaurants - some with stunning views across the countryside as an added bonus.

For more great tips and suggestions, visit thealgarveinfo.com today and discover the best of the the Algarve has to offer.

The future of our Roots

Today is Faro commemoration day, the capital of the Algarve, where we now call home, so it seems like a fitting day to look at the roots of our culture, not metaphorically but literally.

One of the draws moving back to Portugal was definitely the food - its not fancy food, but its incredibly good quality food, with a dynamic selection year round. There’s great fish, seafood, poultry, spices, fruit, vegetables, wines, oils, cheeses, desserts… well lets just say you really need will power to live here. But if you love food there is no better place to be.

Manga

Although I love food, I had never paid much attention to the GMO controversy, I knew it was related to the chemical altering of food, but thought I was buying healthy options so this issue didn’t affect me. Earlier this year I learnt the Algarve was a Read more

Ola Gente! (Hello Folks!)

Welcome to Algarve Buzz!

August is the hottest month here in the Algarve both in temperature and things to do. So, I’m going to try my best to keep up with the main events, festivals, parties…and of course food. One of the first things you need to know about the Algarvios and Portuguese in general is our love of FOOD, and we are completely quality and fresh obsessed.

Algarve Beach

Aside from food Algarvios have a few other “F” priorities we take very seriously: Family, Friends and Fun. Combine these with a month holidays and you’re sure to get a lot of lazy days and late nights, enjoying the best things in life, and of course some freshly grilled fish and vinho verde. Welcome to life in the Algarve.