Guidebook for Albufeira
Food Scene
Indian Sizzler
Avenida dos DescobrimentosThe Chicken Tikka Masala makes you hear angels sing.
Literally one of the best cake shops in the world! :) Recommend trying a meia de leite coffee with a pastel de nata. Mmmmmm! :)
87 locals recommend
Pastelaria Riviera
ES R. do MunicípioLiterally one of the best cake shops in the world! :) Recommend trying a meia de leite coffee with a pastel de nata. Mmmmmm! :)
Modern feel surroundings with traditional Portuguese and European cuisine. Our favourite: their crème brûlée.
31 locals recommend
O Marinheiro
Modern feel surroundings with traditional Portuguese and European cuisine. Our favourite: their crème brûlée.
Homemade apple pie and a pot of English tea... great little place with refreshing decor - they cook a mean English breakfast too! :)
26 locals recommend
DOÇARIA ALMEIXAR, Bistrô
Estrada de Vale RabelhoHomemade apple pie and a pot of English tea... great little place with refreshing decor - they cook a mean English breakfast too! :)
Great Japonese eatery, but the sushi to-go is great: 18 pieces for around 5,50€ per person! You can choose three sets of six of your favourite flavours, or choose one collection from the set menu...
7 locals recommend
Restaurant japonês Happy Sumo
Great Japonese eatery, but the sushi to-go is great: 18 pieces for around 5,50€ per person! You can choose three sets of six of your favourite flavours, or choose one collection from the set menu...
Open at 4pm... last time we checked... They make delicious chicken piri-piri and the pizzas are made in a wood burning oven. Mmmm!
Quinta da Galé
7 Urbanização do ArealOpen at 4pm... last time we checked... They make delicious chicken piri-piri and the pizzas are made in a wood burning oven. Mmmm!
Ask for the set menu - you can have a bowl of homemade soup, bread and butter, main dish (grilled steak, salmon, chicken, mixed grill etc.), dessert (apple pie, chocolate mousse, creme caramel etc.), a bottle of red or white wine between 2 people AND a coffee for only 8€ per person! It's no 5 star hotel, but it's clean and comfortable and superb value for money! Open usually from 6pm onwards. Best to call and reserve a table in high season...
6 locals recommend
Restaurant Os Compadres
174 Av. Dr. Francisco sá CarneiroAsk for the set menu - you can have a bowl of homemade soup, bread and butter, main dish (grilled steak, salmon, chicken, mixed grill etc.), dessert (apple pie, chocolate mousse, creme caramel etc.), a bottle of red or white wine between 2 people AND a coffee for only 8€ per person! It's no 5 star hotel, but it's clean and comfortable and superb value for money! Open usually from 6pm onwards. Best to call and reserve a table in high season...
Drinks & Nightlife
Great for live bands and a good mix of music... also great location for a night of variety - right on the lower end of the famous main 'strip', it makes a great start (or finish) to a night out! :)
45 locals recommend
Wild & Company
Avenida Sá CarneiroGreat for live bands and a good mix of music... also great location for a night of variety - right on the lower end of the famous main 'strip', it makes a great start (or finish) to a night out! :)
Part bar, part music venue, part nightclub, if you haven't danced on the podium at Bank, you haven't experienced Old Town!
12 locals recommend
Restaurante Bar Bank
58 Largo Eng. Duarte PachecoPart bar, part music venue, part nightclub, if you haven't danced on the podium at Bank, you haven't experienced Old Town!
More upbeat and trendy - a dance floor with decor - a little different from the rest of the bars in the area and a good place to visit while your party is in full swing! :)
68 locals recommend
Libertos Club
Travessa Antero de QuentalMore upbeat and trendy - a dance floor with decor - a little different from the rest of the bars in the area and a good place to visit while your party is in full swing! :)
Dance salsa/kizumba/bachata by night, learn how if you can't already and listen to the awesome Martin Jonathan in the afternoon... Sangria Bar is in our favourite of all places in Albufeira - the marina.
6 locals recommend
Sangria Bar lounge Club
Lt.3 R. Marina de AlbufeiraDance salsa/kizumba/bachata by night, learn how if you can't already and listen to the awesome Martin Jonathan in the afternoon... Sangria Bar is in our favourite of all places in Albufeira - the marina.
Cafe del Mar meets comfy lounge meets shisha/hookah/zen type place... a great late night bar with a Moroccan feel and eeeeeasy music flavours...
58 locals recommend
Casa do Cerro
Beco José Ramos PimentaCafe del Mar meets comfy lounge meets shisha/hookah/zen type place... a great late night bar with a Moroccan feel and eeeeeasy music flavours...
Parks & Nature
Best place to see those delicious sunsets - and when the tide goes out there are plenty of rock pools nearer to Pedras Amarelas bar and restaurant. This is our favourite place to bodyboard, and you can also walk all the way to the next village on the same stretch of beach (Armacao de Pera). Love it!!!
24 locals recommend
Massa Fina
Best place to see those delicious sunsets - and when the tide goes out there are plenty of rock pools nearer to Pedras Amarelas bar and restaurant. This is our favourite place to bodyboard, and you can also walk all the way to the next village on the same stretch of beach (Armacao de Pera). Love it!!!
Great for families with small children or anyone not overly excited at the thought of swimming in the sea, Arrifes is great because when the tide goes out, the rocks keep the sea in, making a natural and calm saltwater pool that we love to snorkel in!
45 locals recommend
Praia dos Arrifes
Great for families with small children or anyone not overly excited at the thought of swimming in the sea, Arrifes is great because when the tide goes out, the rocks keep the sea in, making a natural and calm saltwater pool that we love to snorkel in!
There is an old tradition that the 'healing water of Monchique' is so special that it was once considered magical. Kings and Queens from all over Europe came to this place to drink from the fountains... The locals bake fresh bread with salami (pão com chouriço) every day at 12:00 in the town square, and the rich flora and fauna of the gardens at Caldas make you wonder if there is some truth to the legend... great place to spend a calm, peaceful, healing day out.
52 locals recommend
Caldas de Monchique
There is an old tradition that the 'healing water of Monchique' is so special that it was once considered magical. Kings and Queens from all over Europe came to this place to drink from the fountains... The locals bake fresh bread with salami (pão com chouriço) every day at 12:00 in the town square, and the rich flora and fauna of the gardens at Caldas make you wonder if there is some truth to the legend... great place to spend a calm, peaceful, healing day out.
More 'secret' than most beaches as it isn't on a main road and can be a little on the tricky side to locate, but a spectacular place to visit nonetheless... after descending down some rocky stairs that look like they have been there since the dawn of time, you can see the ocean coming through a hole in the rocks, making a unique and beautiful little beach/private bay. A must-see for anyone who appreciates nature and scenery.
6 locals recommend
Praia do Ninho de Andorinha
103A R. de João GuitaMore 'secret' than most beaches as it isn't on a main road and can be a little on the tricky side to locate, but a spectacular place to visit nonetheless... after descending down some rocky stairs that look like they have been there since the dawn of time, you can see the ocean coming through a hole in the rocks, making a unique and beautiful little beach/private bay. A must-see for anyone who appreciates nature and scenery.
Entertainment & Activities
Nice waterside terrace, bar, bar food, family friendly, great location and plenty to see and do all over the marina... great fun!
Hot Shot Bowling
1B R. Marina de AlbufeiraNice waterside terrace, bar, bar food, family friendly, great location and plenty to see and do all over the marina... great fun!
Really comfy seats, loads of space, most of the current US and UK releases are subtitled (and not dubbed) - also you usually get a discount for return visits... and the popcorn isn't half-bad! :)
12 locals recommend
Cineplace Algarve Shopping
605Z N125Really comfy seats, loads of space, most of the current US and UK releases are subtitled (and not dubbed) - also you usually get a discount for return visits... and the popcorn isn't half-bad! :)
Great day out for the family, water park and marine life centre...
792 locals recommend
Zoomarine Algarve
KM 65 N125Great day out for the family, water park and marine life centre...
Slide & Splash station
125 Vale de DeusBest place to go on the hottest day of the year! :)
Fly through the trees (if you like a little zipwire adventure) or team up for some paintball pandemonium... A nice way to have some fun in the great Algarvian outdoors! :)
44 locals recommend
Parque aventura
215 Estr. de Santa EuláliaFly through the trees (if you like a little zipwire adventure) or team up for some paintball pandemonium... A nice way to have some fun in the great Algarvian outdoors! :)
Getting Around
Great service, usually can deliver to your hotel or pick-up at Faro airport. Good rates and friendly service!
Nice Trip - Rent a Car
106 Aldeamento AlfagarGreat service, usually can deliver to your hotel or pick-up at Faro airport. Good rates and friendly service!
Essentials
Wherever you go on the planet - great value for money and good range on offer...
72 locals recommend
Lidl Albufeira
1 R. Baden-PowellWherever you go on the planet - great value for money and good range on offer...
Lidl's arch-nemesis... and sometimes not as packed with people! Best for fresh fruit and veg and baked goods!
32 locals recommend
ALDI
Rua dos CaliçosLidl's arch-nemesis... and sometimes not as packed with people! Best for fresh fruit and veg and baked goods!
Now another mini-Modelo Continente, or Meu Super... and open until fairly late in the summer too.
Favorita
150N Estr. de Vale RabelhoNow another mini-Modelo Continente, or Meu Super... and open until fairly late in the summer too.
Sightseeing
Ria Formosa
Beautiful natural lagoons, inlets, waterways and wildlife.
Benagil
Famous beach cave... good day out and not too far away! :)
Cute little town just North of Albufeira... nice place to go and feed the ducks, have a swim or just sit and watch the world stand still... :)
66 locals recommend
Alte
Cute little town just North of Albufeira... nice place to go and feed the ducks, have a swim or just sit and watch the world stand still... :)
Some fantastic theme bars and trendy eateries, well worth a day (or night) trip. Plenty of walking trails and views of the lovely marina...
175 locals recommend
Alvor
Some fantastic theme bars and trendy eateries, well worth a day (or night) trip. Plenty of walking trails and views of the lovely marina...