17 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.

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.

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. 

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.

Service comes with a smile at this humble Portuguese seafood restaurant, with ocean views. Sip a sundowner on the rooftop bar. The spare ribs are also popular with the local clientele. There's weekly live music, too—a blackboard outside the restaurant advertises the times.

Decorated Portuguese chef Leonel Pereira (who previously earned a Michelin star at restaurant São Gabriel in Almancil) now helms this bright and breezy restaurant nearby the Doca de Faro marina. Since opening in 2020 it's received a Bib Gourmand, and its menu celebrates traditional and seasonal Portuguese fare, like confit cod in garlic sauce or pork cheek stewed in red wine. A sommelier is on-hand to pair courses with Portuguese and international wines.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From the terrace of this laid-back eatery you can watch the sunset over Cabo São Vicente. The traditional Portuguese cuisine here is made from top-quality ingredients, and the recipes have been updated for modern tastes. Because this restaurant is so popular with local expats, advance booking is recommended.

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.