Where To Eat  In Lagos Portugal? Go Where The Locals Go!

If you’re wondering where to eat in Lagos Portugal, don’t worry. The small city of Lagos Portugal has a million restaurants. Now I know that’s a “slight” exaggeration, but there’s literally a café, bar or restaurant around every corner. My advice to you is just get out and walk around. Try a new route every day of your holiday and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. The quality of food in Lagos is quite spectacular. Try the local dishes first. After all, you’re here in Lagos, support the local Portuguese restaurants.

Unlike a lot of towns on the Algarve, Lagos is a all-year town. Some restaurants do close for the winter months but the majority are open all year round, and by supporting the local Portuguese restaurants you’ll not only eat well, you’ll help to keep them open.

While you’re in Lagos, look out for the following dishes on the menu. Go ahead and try some or all of them. You won’t be disappointed.

Best Dishes To Try While In Lagos, Portugal

  1. Cataplana – this dish is suggested for at least 2 people. I guess it’s the Portuguese version of the Spanish paella. Rich in a variety of seafoods and quite delicious. Best Cataplana in Lago Portugal? I haven’t been there yet but the word around town is Casinha do Petisco is the place to go for cataplana. They open at 5:30pm and there’s usually a line so best advice is to get there early to get a seat.

  2. Arroz de Marisca (seafood rice) – can be found in many Lagos restaurants. It comes in a pot and is generally quite a generous size. Full of seafood and rice, as the dish name suggests, and delicious. A couple of my favorite venues for seafood rice are O Lamberto and Prato Cheio – go on a Sunday if you can but book ahead, these places are ridiculously busy!

  3. Secretos de Porco Preto Grelhados (grilled black pork secrets) – black pork from Alentejo, and the best pork you’ve ever had! For the best secretos de porco (pork secrets) in Lagos Portugal go to Mar Restaurant which overlooks Praia da Batata (potato beach).

  4. Piri Piri Chicken – a butterflied barbequed chicken cooked with piri-piri chili, oil and garlic served with fries and salad. Usually found in a Churrasqueira (grill restaurant) and a couple of my favourites are Churrasqueira Praça d’Armas and Churrasqueira Frangos S. João.

  5. Fresh Fish – Many restaurants feature fresh fish on the menu. You’ll often see a display case with the fish caught that day – Dourada (golden bream) and Robalo (sea bass) are two of my favorites.

  6. Bacalhau Com Natas (cod in cream) – usually served with cream, potatoes and onion. The locals go nuts for this dish and you have to try it at least once.

  7. Bifana (pork sandwich) – this is usually a crusty bread roll filled with strips of marinated pork. Delicious and cheap! For the best Bifana in Lagos, Portugal try Aqui Ha Gato (it’s a 10 minute walk from the old town and well worth the trip).

  8. Prego no Pau (“nail” on bread) – Simple sandwich (like the bifana) of thinly-sliced beef covered in garlic and placed into a bread roll. Another cheap and tasty snack. The meat is covered in garlic and flattened (“nailed”) with a mallet.

  9. Bitoque – a traditional Portuguese dish consisting of thinly sliced beef or pork with fries, rice, salad and sometimes a fried egg on top.

  10. Pastel de Nata (cream tart or Portuguese tart) – Portuguese cream tarts are served in every pastelaria, bakery and service station in Portugal. A real treat best eaten with a cup of local coffee.

  11. Medronho – a string spirit (fire water) adored by the locals, made from arbutus berries, the fruit of the Medronho tree (strawberry tree). Locals love to drink this with their morning coffee as a kick-starter to the day! You’ve got to try this at least once!

Best Restaurants in Lagos Portugal: My Top 10 (Something for Everyone!)

1. Adega da Marina

This is a popular restaurant in the main street of the old town. Every time I’ve eaten here, there’s been 200 locals and tourists inside having a grand old time. The waiters are fast efficient and friendly and, even though it’s busy, the drinks and food arrive quickly. Don’t be put off if there’s a line outside. It moves quickly and you’ll soon be seated.

2. Mar

If you enjoy eating seafood while enjoying magnificent ocean views, Mar will be a real treat! I’ve been dining here regularly since 2019, and the food is consistently great. They have a decent wine selection, and you can choose your seafood from the display inside the restaurant. I recommend booking as it gets busy here.

3. Restaurante Atalaia – Volodymyr

This is an unpretentious restaurant where the locals and expats eat, away from the hustle and bustle of the old town. Parking is available if you have a car. There’s a daily specials board or ask the staff. Most speak English. There are three price levels—12.50, 16.50, and 19.50—with several dishes for each price point. For the price, you get soup, main, dessert, and a drink. It’s super good value. This is one of my absolute spots for a relaxing Sunday lunch. They make their own bread rolls here and they are to die for. Dip the bread in lightly salted olive oil (thank me later).

  • Location: Pedra Alcada area
  • Known For: Daily specials, Grilled Meat and Fish, Homemade Bread
  • Price: Cheap/Medium
  • My Favorite Dishes: Pork, Fish, Pudim

4. Chico Ze

One of the best places in Lagos for grilled fish and meat. The staff here are very proud of their restaurant and the food is excellent. There’s plenty of parking out the front. Walk off your meal by strolling through the extensive grounds, which the family love and care for. My advice is to get there early (12 noon) or you may have to wait in line. We always arrive early and have never had to wait.

5. Maria Petisca

If you’re looking for something a little special, head to Mara Petisca for fine dining without outrageous prices. The staff are wonderful, there’s a range of decent wines to choose from and the food is consistently amazing.

6. Borsalino

Brilliant local restaurant run by a husband and wife team (she’s the cook, he’s the waiter). A couple of years ago, they took over a pretty poor Italian restaurant and turned it into a proper Portuguese and Italian eatery serving great food.

7. Don Gull

Another really popular, fine dining restaurant in the old town. The guys running the place are so friendly and helpful, and the food is divine. Bookings are recommended as they have established an impressive reputation in the short time they have been open. Note: they used to be located in the back blocks near Dona Ana Beach but have recently moved to the old town.

8. The Curry Leaf

In the old town, not far from the Tivoli,  the Curry Leaf serves wonderful curries. In my opinion, the best Indian Restaurant in Lagos. You get all the traditional extras; rice and naan, and they do their best to match your heat tolerance; low, medium and high. It’s a small restaurant, so it’s best to book ahead.

  • Location: Old Town
  • Known For: Best curry in town!
  • Price: Med
  • My Favorite Dishes: Marsala Prawns and lamb curry.

9. Blue Whale

A hidden gem! The couple who runs this are genuinely lovely people who go out of their way to make you comfortable. The food is divine – I’ve eaten just about everything on the menu, and it’s all great! The food is a wonderful blend of the best of India, Thailand, China and Malaysia.

10. Oliva

Best pizza and Italian restaurant in town, loved by locals and tourists. Pizzas are 33cm or 50cm – quite cheap and very tasty. This place is large but busy, especially on the weekend, with seating inside and out. Bookings are recommended.

There are so many really good restaurants in Lagos, so it was quite difficult to pick a top ten. Check out the following links for more suggestions.

Also see;

Best Local Portuguese Restaurants in Lagos

Best International Cuisine in Lagos

Scroll to Top