23 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.

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.

Regional cuisine's on the menu at this intimate timber-clad restaurant, stacked floor-to-ceiling with antique wares and hand-painted ceramics. Choose the regional sausage—usually grilled, stewed or baked as a daily special—for an authentic taste of Monchique. 

Built in the ruins of an 8th-century castle tower—hence its name—this eatery serves fine renditions of typical Algarvian fare in four dining rooms with balconies overlooking the beach. It's a unique option for a special occasion, but great food in a historic setting comes at a price.

Popular among locals for celebrations, this down-to-earth adega (wine cellar) serves typical Portuguese dishes like monkfish rice, salted cod, or grilled rump steak served with rice and stewed beans. The seating arrangement on benches around long wooden tables helps keep things lively, and you'll find more good cheer in the tile-covered bar.

This charming restaurant has an absolutely lovely location on the eastern edge of a dramatic beach. Specialties here include fresh fish and delicious seafood stews, supported by a selection of fine wines. The crepe dessert is a must.

Although it's located directly opposite Praia Nossa Senhora da Rocha, this eatery is a world away. The always-crowded dining room has a romantic feel. Hot and spicy tandoori dishes are the draw, but mild options are plentiful.

Since 1925, this family-run restaurant has attracted a robust clientele, thanks to its excellent regional dishes and vast national wine selection. The large dining room and plant-filled indoor terrace have a homey vibe, with exposed-brick arches and high-backed chairs.

Traditional Portuguese cooking (especially charcoal-grilled fish) is the draw at this Michelin-listed restaurant. You can dine at elegant candlelit tables inside or on a sidewalk out front. You may wish to start your meal with a typical lobster or shrimp dish, followed by grilled fish or the seafood stew—all extremely good.

This upscale restaurant and bar, which includes lounge chairs by the infinity pool as well as dining tables inside, is perched on a promontory at the mouth of the Guadiana River. The menu features Portuguese classics, plus a range of pizzas and burgers.

Overlooking the dramatic Praia da Batata, this restaurant has a simple but lovely dining room and a popular outdoor terrace. The fish is exceptionally fresh, and what's more, there's a small public parking area just yards away—a rarity in this busy town.

Although there's no atmosphere to speak of, the fresh fish and shellfish at Marisqueira Rui never fail to reel in a crowd from near and far, who dine alongside in-the-know locals. The service is just as good as the food—friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient.

If you're looking for fresh fish and a view of the ocean, you can’t do much better than this smart restaurant above beautiful Praia do Camilo. Along with fish that's just come from the market, there are clams and oysters from Ria de Alvor that are prepared with skill.

Cool, contemporary Onze e Meia offers a tempting array of Mediterranean dishes and one of the best views in the village, right on the cliffs overlooking the beach. Start with the mixed platter of authentic Greek meze, then move onto one of the mouthwatering risottos.

Crossing the Roman bridge, you'll pass by a lot of tempting spots before you reach this typical Portuguese eatery—trust us, it's worth the trip. Here the focus is on fresh fish, including the traditional bacalhau a bras, but there's a range of beef steak on the menu too. There is a smattering of outside tables with views to the adjacent square.

With a focus on healthy cuisine, diners can expect nutrient-packed bowls, salads, wraps, and ciabattas. It's all served in a pretty indoor-outdoor dining room.

This restaurant is more than just a glamorous beach club—although it is that, too. Both outside on the terrace and inside the glass-walled dining room, the staff turns out an accomplished menu, with a seafood or fish catch of the day, plus impressive salads, and sandwiches.

Just west of Monchique, the simple but elegant Teresinha has good country cooking and a lofty dining room warmed by a fireplace. An outdoor terrace overlooks a valley as well as the coastline.

In a lovely square near the city's most popular attractions, this charming restaurant in a historic building offers well-prepared traditional seafood dishes served with contemporary twists, plus a great range of Portuguese sparkling wines. Dine inside surrounded by exposed stone walls, traditional azulejo tiles, and exposed wood beams, or outside on the spacious patio. After you've finished, ask to see the catacombs beneath the restaurant.

The homemade pizzas and pastas at this sleek Mediterranean eatery win rave reviews. Villa Medici has an undeniably beautiful dining room accented by graceful columns, but for the best atmosphere, enjoy your meal outside in the lovely courtyard around an olive tree.

Most casas de pastos (loosely translated as "grazing houses") offer big portions of well-cooked regional dishes in no-frills surroundings. Zé Leiteiro is no exception. The delicious all-you-can-eat fish and seafood keeps coming until you tell them to stop.