Eating in and around Almancil - Portugal

Introduction

Almancil is renowned for its golf courses, golden beaches and delicious food. Situated on Portugal’s southern coast, in the affluent part of the Algarve known as the Golden Triangle, it’s just 14km (and around a 20-minute drive) from the airport at Faro.

With a wealth of fresh seafood and quality local produce to pick from, there’s something here to suit all tastes and budgets. From some of the best fine dining restaurants in the Algarve to beachfront eateries and everything in between, here’s the pick of restaurants in Almancil.

Fine dining in Almancil

In a region renowned for its seafood, there’s no shortage of fine dining restaurants in Almancil, although they do come with a price tag attached. With its lush interior and equally striking veranda, Gusto by Heinz Beck serves up a setting as great as its food. This Michelin starred offering from the German chef is packed with Mediterranean and Italian influences. Meanwhile, to the northeast of the town, Henrique Leis Restaurant serves up classic French dishes.

Alternatively, the intimate setting of Pequeno Mundo mixes Portuguese architecture, including tiles and vintage furniture, with a menu which also pays homage to the best of French gastronomy. For traditional Portuguese cuisine, including a plethora of grilled fish and seafood, turn to Alambigue – a short drive to the southwest from the centre of town.

The best beachfront eats

Almancil is around 7km inland from the coast, meaning several beachfront restaurants are within easy reach for those visitors with a hire car. With a warm atmosphere to match the Algarve’s summer sun, Julia’s restaurant and bar serves up fresh and simplistic seafood. Le Terrazza provides a dose of authentic Italian dishes in Vale do Lobo, around 10 minutes from the centre of Almancil, while Antonio Ta Certo serves up fresh seafood, coupled with an extensive menu of local wines.

Lastly, and combining quality Portuguese seafood dishes with its stunning beachfront location, is 2 Passos. Located on Ancão beach, the restaurant sits on stilts in the middle of sand dunes and overlooks the Ria Formosa nature reserve – offering a truly idyllic setting for a holiday meal.

Other Almancil restaurants not to miss

Almancil is packed with choice, making it great for those with varied tastes. While freshly caught seafood dominates most menus, there’s a real mix of international flavours too. As a bonus, all are moderately priced, allowing that holiday budget to be stretched a little further.

Restaurante Gamboa fuses Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine, while also offering a range of vegetarian and vegan options. The family-run Restaurante Figueiral has a menu packed with steaks and other European staples, or tuck in at Sushi Kappa, which bring Japanese dishes to the Algarve. Butchers Almancil is home to aged meats, including an impressive array of different steaks (alongside an equally as impressive wine offering). Or for dining in a beautiful outdoor terrace setting under a canopy of lush foliage, look to Mr Freddie’s. Burger and Bowls does exactly what it says on the tin, Casavostra is a busy pizzeria and Italian food eatery with a great atmosphere popular with families and Barbacoa serve the most amazing steak and fish dishes in a beautiful alfresco setting.

After a round of golf or a dip in the ocean, with a range of restaurants in Almancil to pick from, there’s plenty to tantalise the tastebuds.