Good Restaurants to try in Lagos and Sagres, Portugal

Algarve in Portugal opens a new and tasty world of food which is also different from his equally exciting counterparts Porto and Lisbon. To experience the culture we prefer to eat like locals on all our trips, and we were in the most satisfied stage after every meal in this Algarvian region. We stayed near the old town in Lagos, where every heart beats in a foodie rhythm, also staying here made walking into the town centre convenient.

Hotel buffet Breakfast at Tivoli Lagos

We stayed at Tivoli Lagos, which was our next best decision after choosing Lagos for our holiday. Throughout our stay, I was absorbed in Portuguese architecture. Their lobby areas in the first floor were my favourite relaxing space.

My late evenings in the hotel were about coiling up with a book near fireplace in the lobby, and games of snooker with husband (he is too good, but I was a fun opponent). During the weekend they had local bands playing in front of the bar, while we and fellow guests rested on the sofas around the band, cheering the night away. Also this hotel is a beautiful representation of the town’s hospitality.

Their breakfast is a king-size buffet spread with good cold and hot options. While I was missing the local Pastel de nata that could have winningly replaced the muffins and pastries at the table, rest of the breakfast was pretty fulfilling.

Pateo Velho, Portuguese Restaurant at Tivoli Lagos

We stayed at Tivoli for a few nights but it took us the 3rd night to try their Portuguese Restaurant! It was the Valentine’s night and we had spent our entire day cycling in Sagres. Our exhausted body wanted to stay back in the hotel room but will the mind agree to let go of one more authentic meal? Not at all. Tired limbs couldn’t defeat the enthusiastic heart for some comforting Portuguese food, but we rested for the nearest Portuguese restaurant which was Pateo Velho (within the hotel premises).

Our closest option turned out to be a delightful choice. This restaurant opens only for dinner time, which makes sense as people are usually out exploring the town centre, seasides or neighbouring towns.

Everything (food and wine) that we tried here was delicious and crisply presented. I was introduced to the concept of couvert in Portugal. Couvert is usually a combination of starters like bread, olives, cheese, ham, placed in small portions at your table. Only if you eat them you pay. But here we had to order couvert. The cheese on this platter was bursting with flavours.

For tasting peri peri in the land of peri peri I ordered grilled chicken served with this sauce. It was a perfect blend of flavours and texture, but remember to go easy on peri peri. When an Indian says don’t underestimate the heat of peri peri, you will have to take it seriously. Living in Europe for a while I have been overlooking spice level marks on menus because my palate can take a lot more. Peri peri shook my eyes open. Well the dessert wine evened it out.

Favourites from our meal: Couvert, Pan-fried prawns in garlic sauce (Gambas na Frigideira com Alho)

A Floresta Restaurant

You are not eating the right food unless you experience the family run Portuguese restaurants there. We arrived at Lagos in the noon and the very first meal we ate in Lagos was at A Floresta Restaurant. This one is right outside the hotel, in direction to the old town centre, and was suggested to us by the hotel staff. I remember her telling that the hotel team goes there for dinners on special occasions. She was right; the food here is at par to celebration food.

It is a simple looking restaurant. From outside when you see the restaurant it seems to be two restaurants placed side by side. Don’t be confused with this as left side of the restaurant was open during lunch hours and right end for dinners.

Favourite from our meal: Grilled Sea Bass with vegetable salad

At all restaurants in Lagos we experienced long wait time after ordering the food, but don’t let this disappoint you. As they say slow cooked food is loaded with flavours, Lagos is the best-example for it. We devoured every meal.

Don Sebastiao Restaurant

One of the glorious dinners we had was in Don Sebastiao Restaurant at the old town centre.

History of Portugal tells that Don Sebastiao was one of the kings of Portugal. Interiors of this restaurant feels like you are sitting in the dining room of a royalty. It looks ancient and exquisite with high-back chairs having delicate carvings, walls with decorative plates of dreamy paintings and vintage vessels hanging on one wall.

Quality of food is top-notch. One of the dishes we ordered was seafood rice which is deliciously cooked the local way with soupy curry. All shellfishes in this rice dish are served with shells! So, we were provided with unique set of cutlery (dissection set look-alike, in a good way) just for this. Being newbies to this, it was a fight to de-shell. You know that feeling of victory, I encountered it at every crack made on the shell.

When a restaurant knows how to continue pleasing you after your meal – they place a basket full of Algarvian figs and shelled almonds with a nut cracker. Hard work of cracking open the almonds made them tastier. Yes, it was a joyous end to a lovely meal.

Favourites from our meal: (Of course) Seafood rice, Fish in Cataplana (Portuguese seafood cookware is called cataplana and it is served in the same copper dish.

Snack Breaks in local cafes

Bakeries here are filled with pastries and desserts in different colours and forms. Honey cakes, figs and almond sweets are everywhere to be found but this doesn’t make them a regular thing. They are a special of local traditions and quite distinct in the method of preparation. In Lagos you’ll find many cafes in old town square and near Marina. Facing the sea you can spend hours at cafe in Sagres.

Almond sweets are the speciality of Algarve region. In the local language it is called ‘Doce Fino’ which translates to almond sweet. They look very attractive in shapes of fruits, animals, and vegetables. I went for the rustic looking cafes in the old town and it felt so right. Local feel and local flavours filled me up to satisfaction, then I sipped on espresso to run it all down.  

You are in Portugal and there is no way you should miss eating ‘Pastel de nata’ the famous traditional custard tart of Portuguese. At first I felt it isn’t easy to find custard tarts here, like in Lisbon, but some walking in the city centre exposed the various cafes and bakeries that serve deliciously custard tarts.

Restaurant a’ Sagres Portugal

We stayed in Lagos and made a day trip to Sagres. So it was one lunch and then a coffee break that we experienced in Sagres. I didn’t want to end up going wrong with my choice of place to eat for one proper meal that we’ll be having in the small town of Sagres. So I looked up for a popular restaurant that serves local cuisine and Restaurant a’Sagres checked all boxes.

It’s a cottage style, tiled-wall, wooden beams, a small veranda with few tables and cosy interiors. We had taken bikes on rent in Sagres and after our ride to the fishing harbour on the east-end of Sagres, we rode to this restaurant for lunch. Hungry and tired with the heat, we locked our bikes to one of the poles on the entrance and sat inside in the cool shelter. From the windows we at times looked at our bikes and at time we stared at the path to fortress.

We enjoyed the house wine and grilled fish dishes. I was so happy that my choice of place was also rated high on Tripadvisor by other travellers for local food.

Favourites from our meal: Grilled Golden Bream and house wine

Food in Portugal takes the holiday up to a new level that we wished our holiday should go on forever. Hope this list of restaurants help you in planning a food-filled trip to Algarve! If you liked the recommendations, do share it with your friends going to Lagos or Sagres.