We are totally spoiled for choice with around 150 restaurants within a short distance and three Michelin starred restaurants nearby too! The team at Rocha Rentals love eating out and we have personally tried every one listed, along with many more.
Here are some of our Personal Favourites Nearby –
Boneca for the View, Couvert, Fresh Fish and excellent wines. https://www.restaurantebonecabar.com/
Bon Bon (1 Michelin Star) if you fancy an amazing treat.
Taste for the Steak Night, live music and gluten free options. https://www.tastecarvoeiro.com/
The Square by Raquel Marques lovely fine dining.
A Gale for the Bife a Portuguesa and grilled fish. https://www.facebook.com/restauranteagale
Pashmina for Indian cuisine. https://pashminacarvoiero.com
Don Carvoeiro for the view, Boss Steak and anything from the grill. https://doncarvoeiro.com/
Levels (beach level) for morning and day time snacks and drinks.
Levels (2, upstairs) for excellent fresh fish and tasty dishes with a view. https://www.levelscarvoeiro.com/
O Stop for the view and drinks and it’s located on Centeanes beach.
Earth Cafe for good coffee, smoothies, healthier food options and a small wine and local producers shop. https://www.facebook.com/earth.shop.cafe/
Jota Lita for Portuguese favourites. https://www.facebook.com/JotaLita88/
Cafe Fino or Tony’s for snacks, breakfast, coffee etc. https://www.facebook.com/cafefinocoffeeshop/?locale=pt_PT
For drinks, Atlantic view, Carvoeiro Bar, Harry’s Bar, Acordeão Bar, Touriga for great wines. Cocktails at Levels, The Cocktail Garden, Tivoli Sky Bar and Sky Bar 360 in the Carvoeiro Plaza hotel
Live music, Carvoeiro Square, Monte Carvoeiro Square, Atlantic View, Brady’s Bar, Carvoeiro Bar, The Jailhouse.
A short drive or UBER away in Ferragudo, Club Nau is great for live music, good drinks and beach vibes.
Rei das Praias for a treat with a view (booking can be tricky).https://www.restaurantereidaspraias.com
Praia da Rocha Tokyo in for all you can eat Sushi.
Fogo de Chao for an awesome Brazilian Rodizio and buffet.
Nosolo Aqua for a beach club (there are two in Praia da Rocha, one on the beach and one with a pool and Bali beds. Reservations advised.
Other locations Best Bifana, Joao das Bifanas in Lagoa.
A Paleta in Lagoa, a great wholesome Portuguese, no frills restaurant.
Rui Marisqueira in Silves for a shellfish platter or fish in general.
Valdemar in Silves the best Chicken Piri Piri around. €12 for a portion of Chicken with chips and salad, bread, olives, wine, fruit & coffee.
Vila Vita Beirgarten in Porches for Baverian specialities, German butchers and kids playground.
Taberna 26 in Alporchinos for a meat feast.
GOOGLE FOR LOCATIONS AND CONTACTS – Bookings are always recommended and most places speak English.
Restaurant guide Carvoeiro Area
O Stop €€ This beach restaurant is at the local beach, Centeanes. The fresh fish is decent and the views are lovely ☺ Open all day, every day. Tel: 282 357 512 https://www.facebook.com/stop.centeanes/
The Square by Raquel Marques €€€ Delicious, stylish plates created by leading lady Chef and owner Raquel. The restaurant in in Monte Carvoeiro and is one for special occasions or those who love fine dining. Closed on Saturday, open for dinner only. Tel: 282 077 857 https://www.facebook.com/thesquareraquelmarques/
Gurkha Kitchen €€/€€€ Nepalese and Indian restaurant, just off restaurant hill that’s very popular. If you’ve not had Nepalese food before, the spicing is much more subtle than Indian. They’ve got a massive terrace and cosy restaurant. Open every day for lunch and dinner. Tel: 920 169 028
A Vela €€ Run by owner Antónia on the ‘out’ road in Carvoeiro, A Vela serves both Portuguese and international food, with specialities including black pig, cataplanas and the special suckling pig served on Wednesdays and Fridays. With a range of vegetarian dishes, the restaurant is bright and spacious with a large mezzanine level, as well as an outside terrace. Open for dinner only | Tel: 282 084 177 / 969 607 116
Casa Algarvia €€ One of Carvoeiro’s best-known restaurants is run by Frank and Cristina who have completely refurbished Casa Algarvia, with terracotta walls, a modern bar area and a brand new kitchen breathing new life into the establishment. The menu features Portuguese favourites, from fresh fish to enticing meat options, as well as specialities such as fish cataplana and pork cataplana with clams. Open every day for lunch and dinner | Tel: 968 663 568
Primavera €€/€€€ An attractive trattoria-style restaurant at the top of Estrada do Farol, Primavera is under the ownership of Domingos, formerly of Villa Medici. Serving Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, the restaurant has a lovely ambience and features a stylish interior décor, as well as a large outdoor area that’s ideal for the summer months. Open every day from 12pm for lunch and dinner. Tel: 282 358 017
Touriga €€€ A welcome addition to Carvoeiro’s food scene, Touriga is located at the top of Estrada do Farol. This unique wine bar gives the word tapas a whole new meaning, serving dishes made for sharing using seasonal, high-quality, local produce. This bright, sophisticated setting is a haven for wine lovers, with an excellent selection of distinctive labels that can’t be found elsewhere (available by the glass or by the bottle, to drink in or take away). Open from 5pm. Closed Sundays | Tel: 282 354 024
The Wolf €€€ Delicious, quality steaks, rack of lamb and daily fish and seafood specials are served in this upscale bar and grill with smart interiors and outdoor dining on the ground floor and the new addition of the elegant upstairs lounge on the terrace. Located on Estrada do Farol, the restaurant’s star attraction is the US Black Angus beef, including an excellent T-bone cooked on the charcoal grill/oven. Open for lunch & dinner. Reservations recommended | Tel: 962 708 596
Taste €€ The very popular Restaurant Taste is the last building on the left at the end of Rua do Barranco (the out road). A laid-back venue serving a selection of tapas alongside a number of Mediterranean/international dishes on the à la carte menu. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and has live music every Thursday and steak night on Saturday is great value at €18.50 for a massive Ribeye with all the trimmings. Open from 6pm until late | Tel: 282 358 092
Pashmina €€ Delightfully bright and tastefully decorated, Pashmina is on the edge of Rocha Brava and serve a fabulous range of Indian dishes. All made from scratch onsite by Indian chefs and to the companies popular recipes. Boasting a big menu with lots of vegetarian and Tandoori dishes and a comprehensive wine list with the groups own label house wine offering an easy drinking, very reasonably priced option. Open for lunch & dinner | Tel: 282 182 383 / 960453376 https://pashminacarvoiero.com
Restaurante Oásis €€ Located just 150m from the beach, Oásis offers a selection of international cuisine served all day in a cosy atmosphere with a large outdoor terrace. A wide range of starters, fish and meat dishes are on offer, and house specialities not to be missed are the rack of spare ribs and the roast duck. There is a good range of desserts, coffees and liqueurs, a number of vegetarian dishes and a children’s menu. Open every day from 12pm to 11pm | Tel: 282 357 332
Trattoria Oliveira €€ Situated in the heart of the Quinta do Paraiso resort just outside Carvoeiro, Trattoria Oliveira Restaurant offers a selection of pizza and pasta alongside some Portuguese favourites, including its signature chicken piri-piri. Mediterranean in style, the family-friendly restaurant is cosy and colourful, whilst outside, a terrace provides al fresco dining under a century-old olive tree. Take-away also available. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 350 120 Open for dinner every night | Tel: 282 359 129
Outside Carvoeiro
A Paleta €/€€ Lagoa Traditional and consistently good local restaurant that is very busy for lunch. Really close to Pingo Doce supermarket. Open Tuesday – Saturday Lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch and closed on Monday Tel:282 353 770
Gaspacho e Migas €€€/€€€€ Lagoa Elegant Bistro style establishment next to the police station and council buildings in Lagoa. With a top class Chef and owner who cares, a lot, the dishes are elegant, packed with flavour and made with the best quality, local ingredients . Closed on Sundays Tel: 282 039 183 https://gaspachoemigas.com/
Numa €€/€€€ Portimao Stylish and tastefully decorated, this is a great find in Portimao. Carefully sourced local ingredients are lovingly prepared and served by the husband and wife team Nuno and Manuela. Seasonal menus offer good value with some brave and delicious dishes, bound to leave you coming back for more. Open for dinner. Tel: 282 432 454 reservas@numarestaurante.pt
Recanto dos Mouros €/€€ Silves Rustic and traditional Portuguese restaurant at the back of the Castle. Sundays are very busy. Closed on Wednesdays. Open for lunch and dinner . Tel: 282 443 240
Chrissy’s €€ Lagoa Chrissy’s is run by Pedro and Saul who continue to create great 2 and 3 course menus including drinks that keep everyone coming back for more. The cosy restaurant now has an ample terrace on the ‘red street’ in Lagoa, next to the municipal market. Check out the weekly menus for more information. Open for dinner. Closed Sunday | Tel: 282 341 062
Marisqueira Rui €€/€€€ Silves The Algarve’s most famous seafood restaurant. The food is as fresh as it gets and the ambience relaxed and noisy from the sound of crab-cracking. Vast selection of seafood cooked to order. Speciality dishes such as seafood rice and cataplanas. Very popular with locals at the weekends so arrive early for a table. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays | Tel: 282 442 682
Vila Vita Biergarten €€/€€€ Porches Located on the EN-125 in Porches, is now home to a traditional German beer garden. Owned and operated by the 5-star Vila Vita Parc, this authentic Biergarten serves German beer, homemade sausages from the resort’s own butcher and other German specialities. With lovely gardens and a play ground. Open Tuesday to Sunday from mid-day to 10pm | Tel: 282 381 177
O Leão de Porches €€€/€€€€ Porches Located in the centre of the small town of Porches, this is one of the oldest and most appealing restaurants in the Algarve. Established in the 1960s and now run by Belgian owner Bianca Salden, the restaurant serves Belgian and Mediterranean cuisine complemented by a well-balanced list of more than 80 Portuguese wines. The building still retains much of its 18th-century charm, and the creative menu perfectly complements the cosy and inviting ambience of the restaurant. Open for dinner only. Closed Wednesdays | Tel: 282 381 384 https://www.oleaodeporches.pt/
Ocean €€€€ Vila Vita Parc / Alporchinhos The gourmet restaurant at Vila Vita Parc, the 2 Michelin-star Ocean enjoys a prime location set just back from the clifftop with stunning views both from the terrace and from the inside. The ambience is refined with discreet service and exquisite tableware setting the scene for a special occasion. Diners are offered a choice of tasting menus alongside the à la carte menu prepared by Austrian chef Hans Neuner and his team, with optional wine or Champagne selections to accompany each dish. Open for dinner only. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tel: 282 310 100 https://restauranteocean.com/en
Arte Nautica €€€ Armação de Pêra Located on Armação de Pêra beach, well away from the built-up part of town, this is a high-quality fish and seafood restaurant owned and operated by the Vila Vita Parc hotel. Fresh produce is always in abundance and the restaurant has a large terrace with uninterrupted sea views and an air-conditioned interior. Open every day for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 314 875
O Algar €€ Benagil A family-run restaurant tucked up on the cliff, overlooking Benagil beach. Priding themselves on their locally caught wild fish, seasonal selection of side dishes and homemade desserts. A firm fish lovers’ favourite for more than 25 years, the restaurant is cosy yet spacious with a long terrace plus a comprehensive wine list. Open for dinner only. Closed on Mondays. (Closed December & January) Tel: 282 358 951 / 965808473
O Pescador €€€€ Benagil O Pescador is a cosy restaurant in Benagil whose philosophy stays true to local fishing traditions. With a bright and airy décor and rustic yet elegant touches throughout, the restaurant seats 50 people and enjoys a delightful sea view. Serving fresh sea-caught fish and Argentinean meat, the menu is complemented by an excellent wine list. There is also regular live music and special events. Open for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 354 017
O Barradas €€€ Lagoa / Silves Located on the old road from Lagoa to Silves, people say this is one of the best restaurants in the area for traditional Portuguese food with an international twist. The emphasis is on fresh high quality ingredients such as the superb Mirandesa certified steaks from northern Portugal and locally caught fish grilled. The house potatoes, sautéed in olive oil, garlic and oregano are to die for and the menu is complemented by an excellent wine list. Open for dinner only. Closed Wednesdays | Tel: 282 443 308
Oregano €€/€€€ Sesmarias Located opposite the water tower in Sesmarias to the west of Carvoeiro (next to Bon Bon restaurant), Oregano offers a tasty, well presented Portuguese cuisine. Complementing a selection of fish and meat dishes they offer a delicious variety of starters and a good wine selection. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Wednesdays. Tel: 282 353 465
Bon Bon €€€€ Sesmarias Since the early ’90s, Bon Bon has been well known as one of the best restaurants in the Carvoeiro area for dining in an intimate ambience. Under new management since March 2013, the standard of food and service were finally rewarded with a Michelin star for the 2016 guide. A menu of modern Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on local flavours is backed up by a solid wine list of Portuguese and foreign labels Open for dinner. Closed Wednesdays. Tel: 282 341 496 https://bonbon.pt/
Hexagone €€€ Sesmarias With modern Mediterranean cuisine and steak house, the menu is backed up by an extensive wine cellar featuring some of Portugal’s finest labels. Lunching options include large variety of gourmet burgers and salads, whilst for dinner there is the choice of à la carte, tasting menus or the chef’s suggestion. With an elegant dining room, lounge bar and outdoor terrace, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays | Tel: 282 342 485
O Charneco € Estombar One of the best places to sample authentic Algarvean cooking in a setting that is delightfully rustic with jovial ambience, the restaurant is in the centre of Estombar near the church. Now run by Joaquim Charneco’s daughter and her husband, the restaurant is a real favourite among locals and visitors alike. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays | Tel: 282 431113
Ferragudo Area Rei das Praias €€€ Caneiros Located on Caneiros beach between Carvoeiro and Ferragudo, this high quality restaurant offers a very good selection of prime fresh fish that can be plain grilled or oven-roasted and then de-boned at your table. For a special treat, ask for the fresh giant carabineiros (red prawns). There is an excellent selection of fine wines and champagnes including Billecart-Salmon served at the lounge bed area on the beach. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are essential. Tel: 282 461 006
Club Nau €€€ Ferragudo Club Nau Beach Bar & Restaurant ticks all the boxes you can think of for an authentic beach bar, a place like no other by the ocean. Serving a wonderful selection of Thai inspired specialties, fabulous sushi, classic European dishes and of course the fresh fish along with a comprehensive snack menu together with a spectacular cocktail and wine selection to complete the experience. Open from 10am until late | Tel: 282 484 414 https://www.club-nau.com/
Ferragudo Novo Mundo (ex Fim do Mundo) €€/€€€ Jo opened her restaurant in 2010 hoping that her knowledge and passion for food would pay off. Now one of the trickiest places to get a table in the area, they serve massive portions with big flavours. Portuguese prime products and great English hospitality, a winning combination! Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Open for dinner only. Closed Wednesdays | Tel: 964 172 058
Sen Tonkin €€ Located near the Pharmacy in Ferragudo, you’ll find this lovely and authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Brimming with traditional décor and serving fresh Asian flavours, such as Nem spring rolls, Pho noodle soup, crispy beef, clay pot specialities and Seabass fillets, and even mixed dishes to share. The staff are ever willing to help with recommendations. Open for dinner. Closed Tuesdays | Tel: 914 482 844
Borda do Cais €€€ Head down the fishermen’s pier in Ferragudo and you’ll find this lovely, Portuguese restaurant with a great roof terrace. The menu features some lovely fresh fish and lots of traditional favourites. The wine list has been carefully thought out by owner Ivo and you’ll find some unusual but lovely wines in the cellar. Open all day. Closed Tuesdays | Tel: 916 613 001
Praia da Rocha – Portimao Tokyo € Amazing value, all you can eat Sushi and Chinese restaurant that charge around €13 for free flow Sushi and Chinese food. Super fresh and always great! It’s a few euros more in the evening but still fantastic value. Open every day 12.00-15.00 & 18.00-23.00 Tel :282 485 205
Restaurante F €€€ A stylish and modern restaurant with one of the best views in Praia da Rocha. Go up the steps opposite the taxi rank and you’ll be blown away with the view, 180 degrees of uninterrupted Atlantic. The menu doesn’t let it down either with creative and inspired, beautifully presented dishes and a walk in wine cellar (available for private dining). Ricardo and his team are always professional and friendly. Open every day for dinner only | Tel: 282 483 014 / 919115512
Nosolo Agua €€€ Pool side or beach front dining are options at NoSoloAgua on the corner of Portimao Marina. Vietnamese rolls, sushi, salads, burgers, main meals, breakfast, snacks, they’ve got it all covered. The decor, view and ambiance are stunning. Enjoy lounge music, cocktails and sunbathing during the day and a full on party zone by night. A varied menu with something for everyone. Open all day every day | Tel: 910 789 991 / 282 498 180 https://nosoloagua.com/nsaptm/en/homeen/
Luar da Foia €€/€€€ Monchique A restaurant with an amazing view over the Algarve and down to sea. Traditional and exceptionally tasty, Portuguese dishes are served with special dishes like Mushrooms with Chestnuts, Organic Eggs with Green Asparagus, Wild Boar with Prunes or Chestnuts & Veal Cheek in the Oven, you’ll find something a little different to please your palate. Bookings are strongly recommended. Open for lunch and dinner 922 235 456 / 282 911 149 https://en.luardafoia.com/restaurante
