Here’s a guide to some the best places to eat in the Carvoeiro area.
TASTE €€
Taste is located at the end of Rua do Barranco (the out road). A laid-back, bright and thoughtfully designed 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. On Fridays they haveTasty Tapas, when diners can enjoy all-you-can-eat tapas for €17; and steak night on Saturday. Their cocktail menu is fantastic and you can enjoy their creations on the large terrace.
Open daily for dinner, except Tuesday from 5pm until late. Closed between November 17 and December 12, and from January 12 to February 12 | Tel: 282 358 092
THE SQUARE BY RAQUEl MARQUES €€€€
Amazing Portuguese cuisine prepared by an amazing chef. Michelin star quality. You can choose from a wide selection of refreshing drinks to complement your meal. Sample special local cuisine, distinct regional dishes or salads, created with love and a passion for food. The heavenly desserts are not to be missed. | Tel: +351 282 077 857
PRIMAVERA €€€
An attractive trattoria-style restaurant at the top of Estrada do Farol. Primavera serves Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, including pizza, pasta dishes, fresh fish and great steaks. The restaurant has a lovely ambience and features a stylish interior décor, as well as a large, partially glazed outdoor area ideal for al fresco dining.
Open for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 358 017
L’ORANGE €€€
A cosy restaurant with a relaxing ambience. L’Orange specialises in international and French-inspired cuisine created by Belgian chef-patron Jan Mortier, complemented by the delicious homemade desserts made by wife Karin. The interior is pleasantly decorated, whilst outside, a pretty terrace is perfect for al fresco dining. L’Orange is located just outside Carvoeiro, near the Carvoeiro Hotel.
Open daily for dinner except Sunday. Reopens in February | Tel: 282 357 297
PASHMINA €/€€
Delightfully bright and tastefully decorated, Pashmina serves a fabulous range of Indian dishes. All made from scratch on-site by Indian chefs and to the company’s popular recipes. Boasting a big menu with lots of vegetarian and Tandoori dishes. They have a comprehensive wine list with the group’s own label house wine offering an easy drinking, very reasonably priced option.
Open for lunch & dinner | Tel: 282 182 383 / 960 453 376
TOURIGA WINE & DINE €€/€€€
The brand new wine bar in town is a very welcome addition to the restaurant scene in Carvoeiro. Elegant and contemporary tones contrast with the dark accents and amazing glass wine cellar. A young and very knowledgable team is on hand to guide you through the extensive collection of wines on offer. The menu is small and full of surprises: try the tapas-style bento box for something out of the ordinary. There’s also a
selection of main dishes for those who prefer a full plate.
Open from 4pm to midnight. Closed Sundays.
GURKHA KITCHEN €/€€
Enjoying its second year in Carvoeiro, this lovely restaurant has become a favourite amongst locals. The menu offers a wide variety of Nepalese specialities. Lovers of spiced food will find the dishes are all very different with mild and balanced flavours. This cuisine is also great for people who are not too comfortable with the hotter Indian flavours. They also have an Indian menu, so there’s something for everyone’s palate. When you reach O Cantinho and The Wolf, on Estrada do Farol, walk up the steep hill.
Open daily for lunch and dinner | Tel. 282 185 776 / 920 169 028
Open daily for lunch and dinner | Tel. 282 185 776 / 920 169 028
A GALÉ €/€€
This traditional Algarvean restaurant has been serving its loyal customers with delicious garlic prawns, bife à portuguesa (Portuguese-style steak), fresh fish and lots of local favourites for over a decade. The restaurant is cosy and fills up quickly, so be sure to book in advance.
Open daily for dinner from 6pm. Closed from December 10. Check in for reopening dates | Tel: 282 357 330
FOLHAS DO LOURO €/€€
A fresh new name for the old Casa do Bife, meaning Bay leaves, in honour of a fundamental ingredient in Portuguese cuisine. It is run by Carla and João from A Galé, across the street. The restaurant serves local fresh produce, great selections of fresh fish dishes as well as the famous stone steaks along with pastas, salads and dishes such as Beef Wellington. The fish kebabs are massive and delicious.
Open daily for dinner from 6pm Call ahead during winter | Tel: 282 356 567
THE WOLF €€€
Delicious, quality steaks, rack of lamb and daily fish and seafood specials are served in this upscale bar and grill. They offer interior 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. Lunch and dinner served indoors or on the bottom terrace.
Reservations recommended. Open for lunch & dinner. Call ahead during winter | Tel: 962 708 596
EARTH €€
Earth Shop & Café has been serving breakfast, all-day brunch, snacks and homemade dishes for a few years now and has a loyal customer base who enjoy their chilled out dining style. With a great selection of breakfast items, quiches, burritos and more, they serve food in a relaxed atmosphere with great smoothies, teas and illy coffee. Communal central tables run down the middle and are surrounded by the shop that sells fabulous Portuguese food, wine and gifts.
Open from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Closed Tuesday | Tel: 282 071 766
O RAFAIOL BY RAQUEL MARQUES €€/€€€
A new, modern and exciting menu has arrived at O Rafaiol under the new management of chef Raquel Marques. A fan of the classics with a contemporary twist, the dishes are pretty as a picture and taste delicious. A new wine list compliments the fresh yet traditional setting. Check out the wonderful kids’ menu. Sit on the pretty terrace and enjoy a cocktail from 3pm.
Open from 12.30pm to 11pm. Closed Tuesday. Call ahead during winter | Tel: 282 077 857
A REDE €€
At the top of the restaurant hill, A Rede is a brightly lit and colourful restaurant run by husband and wife team Fernanda and Carlos. The portions are very generous with a good selection of both meat and fish. Lobsters and crabs can be selected from the tank. A great place for larger groups.
Open for lunch & dinner. Closed Mondays. Call ahead during winter | Tel: 282 358 513
BONECA BAR €€/€€€
Located in one of the best locations in Carvoeiro, Boneca Bar is the perfect place to sit back and while away the time. Set within the cliffs of Algar Seco, this restaurant and bar serves fresh fish and a selection of meat, complemented by a carefully put-together wine list. A family-run establishment, there is also a range of cocktails and sangria if you simply want a drink whilst you enjoy the surroundings.
Open all day, closed Sunday. Reopens in mid-March | Tel: 282 358 391
DOM CARVOEIRO €€/€€€
Formally Tia Ilda for many years, owners Paula and Beat love to reinvent their restaurant on the privileged cliff side location. The menu, however, has stayed the same for several years and reflects the big flavours of the chef’s Swiss heritage. From chicken piri-piri or a sizzling fine cut of steak smothered in butter and herbs to pizzas and fish, there’s more to this restaurant than the view.
Open all day, every day during the season. Call ahead during winter | Tel: 282 357 830
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, stone steak and Brazilian rump steak. With a range of vegetarian dishes, the restaurant is bright and spacious with a large mezzanine level that boasts a baby grand piano, as well as an outside terrace.
Open for dinner only. Reopens in February | Tel: 282 084 177 / 969 607 116
PANI INDIAN RESTAURANT €€/€€€
This lovely restaurant is perched on the right side of the cliff, overlooking Carvoeiro beach. The stunning view isn’t the only thing that’s worth writing about, with high-quality furnishings and some beautiful Indian décor that compliment the extensive menu and excellent wine list. The dishes are a good size and subtly spiced.
Open every day until 11pm. Call ahead during winter | Tel: 282 185 525
AROMA €€/€€€
Located on the five-star Monte Santo Resort, this restaurant welcomes guests from outside to enjoy their à la carte menus created by chef Miguel Lourenço. Inspired by the chef’s Alentejo roots, and using handpicked herbs from their garden, the menus change twice a year and have some special wine pairing options. A family-friendly venue with great outdoor space overlooking the beautiful pool area.
Open every day for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 321 000
THE OLIVE TREE €€/€€€
Just next to Gramacho Golf, The Olive Tree is a large and spacious dining room with a wrap-around terrace that is set within the lush grounds of the Vale d’Oliveiras five-star resort. With a relaxed but professional service, the menu has been carefully created by chef Wilson Costa. Chef Costa’s menu is fully based on local and fresh ingredients, some of which come from the existing organic garden.
Open every day for lunch and dinner | Tel: 282 380 560
GUMTREE €€
This gem is hidden up a side street behind Brady’s bar on restaurant hill. With terraced patios, a small internal dining room and an outdoor bar and terrace area around a swimming pool, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The menu ranges from Eggs Benedict in the morning to succulent fish kebabs, big salads and steaks. They also serve the owner’s brand of Portuguese wines called Belmira Cruz, named after his grandmother.
Open every day from 12pm until late. Reopens in February | Tel: 282 358 047
VIA ITALIA €€/€€€
You’ll find this cute little terrace styled Italian restaurant just set back from the main restaurant hill. The decor is bright and airy, with splashes of Italian film royalty adorning the wall. All pasta and pizza dough is made fresh onsite. Owner Paula prides herself on serving everything fresh and you’ll find a good selection of Portuguese and Italian wines on the list.
Open every day from 6.30pm. Reopens in mid-February | Tel: 282 356 736
CENTRAL CAFÉ €€/€€€
Central Cafe is under new management from the minds behind the popular Central Café in Alvor and Gum Tree. This is a great new addition to central Carvoeiro. In the old Columbos Restaurant beside the taxi rank, you’ll find Silvio and his team there from breakfast until after dinner. Serving eggs Benedict, a great English breakfast and some healthy options too, the menu includes Portuguese specialities, juicy homemade burgers, salads, steaks and fresh fish that are available all day long.
Open from 9am until late, every day. Reopens in February | Tel: 282 357 157