Portuguese food in the Algarve

Portuguese cuisine is all about bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and time-honored traditions – and the Algarve is one of the best places to experience it. From seafood straight off the grill to rich desserts and local wines, there’s something here to delight every taste. In this guide, you will find a selection of must-try dishes to enjoy during your stay in the Algarve. Ready to discover what makes Portuguese food so special?

Top dishes to try in the Algarve

• Grilled sardines
• Bacalhau à brás
• Piri piri chicken
• Cataplana
• Pastéis de nata
• Caldo verde soup
• Fresh fruits

Soup

Soup is a big part of Portuguese cuisine and often served as a starter or even a full meal. In the Algarve, you will find a few classic varieties worth trying, especially in small, family-run restaurants where traditional recipes live on.

Caldo Verde

Caldo Verde means “green soup” and is one of Portugal’s most beloved comfort foods. It’s made with cabbage (often a variety of kale), potatoes, olive oil, and usually a few slices of spicy chouriço sausage. Simple but satisfying, it’s both healthy and full of flavor, especially on a cooler evening.

Sopa da Pedra

Sopa da Pedra, or “stone soup,” has a fun backstory and a rich, hearty flavor. According to legend, a hungry monk tricked a skeptical village into helping him cook a soup, starting with just a stone in a pot. One by one, the villagers added ingredients like beans, potatoes, sausage, and vegetables, turning the humble pot into a nourishing meal. Today, it’s still made with a similar mix and remains one of Portugal’s most filling and flavorful soups.

Fish

Fishing has always been a big part of life in Portugal, especially in the Algarve. With the Atlantic right on its doorstep, the region is home to a rich variety of seafood dishes. Two of the most iconic fish in Portuguese cuisine are codfish and sardines, each prepared in unique and flavorful ways. Below are some delicious examples of how they’re enjoyed.

Codfish (Bacalhau)

Codfish is often called the most Portuguese of all fish. It’s said there are over 365 ways to cook bacalhau, one for each day of the year. Another beloved dish is bacalhau à brás, a comforting mix of shredded cod, fried potatoes, and eggs, garnished with parsley and olives. Boiled cod with vegetables and potatoes is also common, especially around Christmas time.

Another popular version is Pastéis de Bacalhau (codfish cakes), made from shredded cod, eggs, onion, and parsley, shaped into ovals and fried until golden. They’re delicious hot or cold and can be served as an appetizer or main dish.

Whether you’re in a family-run restaurant or trying your hand at cooking with market-fresh ingredients, codfish is a must-try.

Sardines

Sardines are one of the most popular summer dishes in the Algarve, especially when grilled over charcoal. Their smoky aroma is one of the signature scents of Portuguese seaside towns in the warmer months.

The most famous way to enjoy them is simply grilled, often served with boiled potatoes, bread, and salad. For the full experience, visit during the Sardine Festival in Portimão, where the streets come alive with music, dancing, and the smell of fresh sardines sizzling on open flames.

Meat

Portuguese cuisine has a deep love for meat, and the Algarve is no exception. From spicy grilled chicken to rich sausages and indulgent sandwiches, there are plenty of flavors to explore.

Enchidos & alheiras

Enchidos are Portuguese smoked sausages made with a mix of meats and spices. One standout variety is Barrosã meat, known for its deep flavor and quality, originally from the north of Portugal. A must-try is Alheiras de Mirandela, a unique sausage made from pork, poultry, bread, lard, and olive oil. It may sound unusual, but it’s surprisingly tasty and a favorite across the country.

Chicken piri piri (frango piri piri)

One of the Algarve’s most iconic meat dishes is chicken piri piri. This is spicy grilled chicken marinated in a fiery chili sauce. The sauce includes piri piri peppers, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, giving it a bold kick. This dish is especially popular around Monchique and Albufeira, usually served with fries and a simple salad. Many local restaurants have their own twist on the recipe, so it’s worth trying more than one version!

Francesinha

Originally from Porto, the Francesinha has made its way to menus across the Algarve. This indulgent sandwich is layered with various meats and sausages, covered in melted cheese, and smothered in a rich, spicy sauce made from beer, port wine, and tomato. Served with fries, it’s the perfect choice when you’re craving something hearty and comforting.

Cataplana

One of the most important dishes of the traditional cuisine in the Algarve is called cataplana. It refers to the name of the cooking pan. The pan looks like a clamshell, with two halves that lock together while cooking. This allows the ingredients to preserve their natural juices, aromas and flavours. You can cook various dishes in this pan, whether fish, shellfish or meat. One of the most popular dishes is Ameijoas na Cataplana, meaning ‘clams in the cataplana’. Another variation of this dish is with clams and small pieces of pork. Another delicious type of cataplana may include several sorts of shellfish. However, if you do not appreciate fish, shellfish or clams, you still can taste cataplana with meat.

No matter the variation, cataplana dishes offer a taste of the Algarve’s culinary heritage. One thing to note: cataplana dishes are usually made for two, so they’re perfect for sharing. Most restaurants do not serve individual portions. In short, this is a dish to enjoy with someone else. Want to try it at home? You will need a special cataplana pan, which you can find in many Algarve shops.

Desserts

Portugal has many typical desserts, and the ones born in the Algarve are the bolinhos de amêndoa, folar Algarvio and Dom Rodrigos. Bolinhos de amêndoa are made of almonds and gems and often come wrapped in colorful aluminium foil. If you prefer to try something typically Portuguese, we highly recommend you to try pastéis de nata, ovos moles de Aveiro, arroz doce and queijo da serra.

Pastéis de nata

Pastéis de nata are small cakes and very appreciated worldwide. The original pastéis de nata come from Lisbon and are called pastéis de Belém. Pastéis de nata are pastries filled with a sweet orange cream. They are usually served with cinnamon and/or sugar. You can find pastéis de nata everywhere in the Algarve.

Ovos moles de Aveiro

Ovos moles originated in Aveiro, a fisherman’s city, and are made of egg yolks, surrounded by wafer. They have a playful look, because all the pieces are shaped as sea objects, like shells and starfishes. The flavourless wafer combines perfectly with the sweet from the egg’s yolk.

Arroz doce

Arroz Doce is another traditional dish. Many Portuguese people have memories of their grandmothers cooking Arroz Doce with love for them. Arroz Doce means ‘sweet rice’. It’s made with rice, milk, and a touch of sugar. After being cooked, it has to spend some time in the refrigerator. It is served with cinnamon (for those who like it), what makes it one of the favourite desserts among Portuguese people.

Queijo da Serra

Now, if you also want to try something handmade and traditional, you can try Queijo da Serra. It is a cheese produced with sheep milk in the main mountain complex of Portugal, Serra da Estrela, which lies more in the north of Portugal. Queijo da Serra is a strong flavoured cheese with a creamy texture. This usually grants him the name amanteigado, which translates as buttery. It is only produced during the colder months. So if you visit the Algarve, you can always book a ticket to visit Serra da Estrela, taste some cheese and have fun skiing. Normally, Queijo da Serra is served with bread and handmade marmalade. The sweet and salty flavors blend beautifully, making it one of Portugal’s tastiest food experiences.

Fruits

The Algarve is home to a great variety of amazing, tasty fruits. For example, you can find many orangeries, almond trees and beehives in the Algarve. So you can always have a delicious and healthy lunch with fresh honey, almonds, oranges, and local bread.

Wine

The Algarve also produces a diversity of wines to accompany your meals or to sip while watching the sunset. You have numerous red wines to drink with your meat dishes and white wines will delight you while eating sardines and shellfish. For those who would like to learn more about wine in the Algarve, the Algarve Tourism Board has published a wine guide which we recommend.

Digestives

If you need something after dinner, you can also have one of the so called ‘digestives’. A famous digestive, called Licor de Medronho, is produced in Monchique in the Algarve. It is a sugary drink that can warm your body and soul, even on one of those colder nights!

If you would like to cook some traditional Portuguese dishes by yourself, check out this regional cooking guide from the Algarve Tourism Board for more tips and local Algarve recipes.