5 Best Restaurants in Albufeira

Dom Carlos Restaurante is housed in a handsome white-painted mansion on a steep bend in the roadside just on the eastern edge of Albufeira’s Old Town. Come the spring and summer months, you'll find it plumed in magenta and purple bougainvillaea. Duck under the flowers and enter the chic dining room to sample some of the best meals in town.

The husband-and-wife owners offer up a menu of local Algarvian staples. They mix hearty country food with a twist of creative European flair. So, expect the likes of oak-smoked salmon and duck breast slathered in Porto win jus. For dessert, the in-house cheesecake often steals the plaudits.

As the name suggests, O Marinheiro is dedicated to cooking up waves of the region's famous seafood. You can find it along a sleepy street to the west of the center of the resort, around a 6-minute drive from Albufeira Marina. The building is small and unassuming, dashed with white paint and red tiles like a classic coastal tavern.

Prawns, octopus, shellfish and salmon are all mixed and matched to create indulgent appetizers infused with rich marinades and sauces. You can spice things up with surf-and-turf or ask for curated wines from the on-site garrafeira – a Portuguese wine cellar.

The best thing about Vivaldo's has got to be the view. Sat gazing straight at the gold-tinged sands and azure waves of Praia da Oura, it's got arguably the finest dining terrace in Albufeira. Drop by for a cold beer, a glass of crisp Portuguese green wine, or some pre-meal snacks in the evening and you'll be treated to a photo-worthy sunset show glowing across the ocean.

Vivaldo's menu covers loads of international classics, including thick sirloin steaks, chicken fillets in mushroom sauce, beef burgers, pizza – a real family-friendly array. You've also got some local options, with prawns and sea bream just to name a few.