9 Best Restaurants in The Algarve, Portugal

The family-run winery and brewery Quinta Dos Santos started as a tap room, but his since established the restaurant A Esquina on site, with a gorgeous courtyard ringed by arches and a surprisingly sophisticated dining room serving sharable Portuguese dishes.

Set away from the hustle and bustle of the coast and outside the touristic area, Calhou is a traditional Portuguese restaurant with a side of Italy—serving incredible Neapolitan pizzas from a wood-fired oven. A wood-paneled interior makes the restaurant feel rustic and cosy.

Locals flock to La Dolce Vita for its fabulous homemade pizzas, hearty pastas, refreshing sangria, and charmingly old-fashioned decor. Meals are served on bench tables with blue-and-white tiled surfaces, which give a delightfully traditional feel.

In a brave move, there's no menu at this restaurant. Promising diners 11 carefully curated dishes, chef João Marreiros weaves his passion for his country in every bite. The decor is pared back; modern and yet traditional. Sit back and enjoy the journey knowing you're in safe hands.

Despite the misleading name, this cheerful restaurant actually does have a patio, and a beautiful one (the name translates roughly as "in the courtyard"). The chefs incorporate premium local produce in dishes that have an international flair.

From the outside, owner Noélia's restaurant (which she shares with her partner, Jerónimo) looks like just another unassuming local place, but inside the flavors sing and the senses are delighted, particularly with the tomato rice with seafood or, to be even more indulgent, the rice with champagne and local oysters. Make reservations, or be prepared to wait.

Dine beneath the canopy of trees at O Barradas, a farmhouse restaurant set on its own leafy grounds. Portuguese charm comes in spades here, in the decor as well as in the menu, which sources herbs and vegetables from the kitchen garden. Wine poured is from an on-site winery, and other regional specialties feature too, like Mirandesa beef from the north of Portugal, and wild Atlantic shrimp.

Done up in vivid shades of blue and gold, this upscale restaurant at the Vila Vita Parc impresses with its innovative tasting menus, fabulous wine selection, and wonderful ocean views. Choose from two tasting menus of four or six courses featuring interesting riffs on Portuguese classics. That means lots of fish and seafood along with perfect wine pairings.

The extraordinary Portuguese dishes served here are the creations of Austrian chef Dieter Koschina, who has been awarded two Michelin stars for 23 consecutive years. A stone's throw from the ocean and surrounded by greenery, the dishes are inspired by these very surrounds. Choose the Signature Menu, for a four-course tasting experience. Though reservations are strongly recommended, call in the morning for last-minute openings.