Farm-to-Table Fare in The Algarve
DESIGN DIRECTORY
As our newly found home, we like to consider ourselves fairly well read on the Algarvian culinary scene, from tucked-away seaside spots sourcing fresh, well grown produce to local farms, organic vineyards, natural wine basrs and charming eateries who shop exclusively at our region’s best farmers markets.
While a short (or drawn out) search on the Algarve may consistently bring up the same few spots, our comprehensive list veers (at rapid pace) off of the tourist trail towards more thoughtful, ingredients driven restaurants and experiences that embrace the region's rich cultural tapestry, agricultural heritage and indigenous produce through seasonal dishes that flow from simple, farm-to-table fare to boundary pushing and innovative dishes.
Whether you're savouring farm-fresh lunch overlooking vineyards and the rolling countryside, sipping natural wine from some of the countries most unknown talents, or sitting street side savouring market fare pulled from the sea just meters away this Design Directory for the Algarve’s top 10 farm-to-table restaurants promises a carefully curated culinary adventure filled with authenticity and charm.
Austa, Almancil
FARM-TO-TABLE / NATURAL WINE / €€€
Okay, so we may be biased, but, as our baby, austa has to come first. In August 2023, inspired by our journey’s across Portugal so far, we opened the doors to our very own physical space in the hope that we could bring our combined learnings and new found communities together. The result is austa, a farm-to-table restaurant, coffee shop and kitchen designed in collaboration with Studio Gameiro, led by a connection to the land in our chosen home of the Algarve, Southern Portugal. Open for breakfast and lunch but best visited for the full austa experience at dinner.
2. Pisco, Sagres
FARM-TO-TABLE / NATURAL WINE / €€
Nestled in the the laid-back, wild and Westerly town of Vila do Bispo, Pisco is a casual vegetarian eatery with a key focus on sustainable producers and suppliers. Although relaxed and simple in setting, what makes Pisco so special is its dedication to using locally sourced ingredients grown with care and a sustainable mentality. Choose from a menu of simple yet inventive vegetarian dishes as well as wood-fired sourdough pizzas that highlight the flavors of their producers plots. Best visited after a day on the beach for dinner.
3. ATO, Faro
MARKET-LED / €€
Tucked away amidst the charming backstreets of Faro's old town lies ATO, a small market-led restaurant housed in what was once a humble tasca. Led by a talented American chef Sean Mash (who’s experience counts establishments such as St John in London) the cozy interior retains much of its original, simple character, with the occasional modern touch, just like the dishes themselves. Each plate reflects a deep respect for the region's bounty, with ingredients sourced from the vibrant fish and farmers market just a stone's throw away. Best visited on market day (Saturday) at lunchtime.
4. Osteria Mavalha
FARM-TO-TABLE / NATURAL ITALIAN WINE / €€
At Osteria Mavalha in the heart of Faro, discover a comforting and creative journey that is an ode to Northern Italy's vibrant food culture. Chef David's unwavering dedication to sourcing the best ingredients from the farmers and fertile lands surrounding his home town of Milan ensures that every dish is steeped deeply in the true flavours of it’s make up - whether it's the sumptuous handmade pastas in delicious homemade broth or tender fish and meat from local producers here in the Algarve. Osteria Marvalha offers a taste of Italy that is unmatched, we would say, perhaps controversially, even in its homeland. If you're not driven by Portuguese flavours, but instead by real cooking and good, honest ingredients, don’t miss it. Best visited for dinner or lunch on a rainy day.
5. Morgado do Quintão, Lagoa
FARM-TO-TABLE / ALGARVIAN WINE / €€
Morgado do Quintão is a humble farmhouse estate in the Algarve that is set amidst it’s own sprawling vineyards, almond groves and fig orchards. Tuck into lunch at the long farmer’s table sourced from the local marketand served under a 2000-year-old olive tree where guests can savor the vegetable garden and local' market’s harvest on mismatched white linen and china, while evenings offer the chance to unwind with sunset views over the Monchique mountains in the distance. Best visited for lunch.
6. Fermento, Sagres
FARM-TO-TABLE / NATURAL WINE / €€
Located in the surfers' paradise of Sagres, Fermento is a little restaurant run by an Italian couple who prioritise ingredients above all else. With a passion for showcasing the freshest local produce, they have cultivated deep relationships with local farmers and fishermen, ensuring that each dish holds some of the best of the West Algarve's wild lands and sea. Expect your dining experience to be enriched by unexpected moments when producers drop by with the day's catch or pulls from their allotments. This dynamic connection to the community infuses every meal with authenticity, making Fermento a must-visit stop off for those seeking a taste of the Algarve’s hidden flavours. Best visited for lunch or dinner after a day on the beach.
7. Chá Chá Chá
MARKET LED / NATURAL WINE / €€
Lively, full of energy and irony from the vivacious waitresses, Chá Chá Chá is hidden amongst the cobbled streets of one of the country's oldest fishing ports, Olhão. This bustling eatery is at the center of the heartbeat of local life, serving up zesty seafood dishes and quick and casual tapas with ingredients sourced solely from the bustling farm and fish market. Sit and savour under billowing sails amongst local chitter chatter while indulging in a spot of people-watching as the hustlers and hawkers of the market spill zip past on bicycles. Best visited for lunch or dinner on a balmy night.
8. Café Zique
FARM-TO-TABLE / ORGANIC WINE / €€€
Perched beside the ancient castle walls in Loulé is Café Zique, an elevated eatery where chef Leandro explores a refined curiosity to the otherwise sleepy and traditional restaurants in the area. Open only for dinner, taste seasonal and locally souced ingredients conjured into creations that ode to some of the Algarve’s most traditional dishes as you watch the sunset from the terrace. Watch out for regular pop ups and events too. Best visited for dinner.
9. Näperon
FARM-TO-TABLE / ORGANIC WINE / €€€
Näperon is nestled on the Algarve’s border with Alentejo in a picturesque hilltop town of Odeceixe. Beyond an unassuming village house facade lies a cosy restaurant that is deeply intertwined with the lands surrounding it and the rich farming communities of the region. The connection to the land is palpable in the à la carte and tasting menus which as portals into the essence of Algarvian and Alentejo cooking, and are filled with flavors and textures steeped in traditions. A more elevated and refined experience, but not as stuffy as some fine dining spots, each dish is thoughtfully crafted to showcase the purity and integrity of the ingredients, paying homage to the region's agricultural heritage and culinary craftsmanship. Best visited for dinner.
10. Loki
FARM-TO-TABLE / ALGARVIAN WINE / €€€
To enter Loki in Portimão, is to enter into chef and owner, João Marreiros's personal culinary lab, nestled in what could be his own front room with just six seats. Here, his passion for fermenting, fishing, and hunting is brought to every dish, making up a multi course tasting menu featuring rare and wild foraged ingredients from the Algarve's lands around his grandparents lodge on the Costa Vicentina. A complex and insightful journey winds exclusively through the Algarve region's landscape, guided by João's unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. Best visited for dinner, book in advance.
11. Pizza Domingo
MARKET LED / BRING YOUR OWN WINE
A bonus at 11 for those who venture towards rugged countryside of the Western Algarve coast…make the cross border trip to the Alentejo on any given Sunday to eat at Pizza Domingo. Tucked away in a weatherproof tent, this pop-up, woodfired sourdough pizza spot is run by two passionate Israelis, and can actually feel more like a community gathering than just a meal out. Each dish is made with ingredients plucked straight from their own farm, and the dedication poured into every aspect of this passion-based project can be felt with every bite - serving as a reminder of the joy that comes from sharing good food with good, honest people. Visit at anytime throughout the day on Sunday.