Introduction
So, where are the best places to eat in Olhao?
Now that’s a hard one, but well, blimey! You won’t have to look far! Every other establishment is a bar/café/restaurant.
So how do you know where to go for food?
Do you base it on cost, on taste? Do you base it on location?
Who knows!
Just wander around and enjoy the fact that you can eat at a different establishment every night – for weeks, if not months!
What I will say though is that many of the restaurants base their menus around seafood.
Is that a bad thing?
No! Not at all! The quality of the fish and seafood here is fantastic.
Only today I watched a chef walking along the street with a huge crab in each hand – both of which were covered in seaweed and dripping saltwater… Fresh or what?!
But there are other options too. You just need to wander around and find them: Indian, Mexican, Japanese… I’ve enjoyed every meal out that I’ve had here.
I’ll be honest. It’s not Michelin Star standard for presentation. But for good, down to earth, honest food, made with some of the best, most fresh ingredients… you can’t beat it.
My Favourite Seafood Restaurant
Well, this is a hard one!
I’ve eaten at several restaurants and enjoyed them all. But I can’t really decide which one is the best. So I’m going to go out on a limb here, go a bit mad, and choose a restaurant that I’ve never been to…
And why haven’t I been there?
Because it’s always bloody heaving! No free tables! No spare seats! And I’m too slack to phone and book…
Having said that, out of season, it isn’t quite so bad, but Sue isn’t here and I’m not a big fan of going out for a meal and sitting there on my own.
Anyway… so why have I chosen Piteu? Because it’s busy?
No, because I asked around locally.
My friend from Sete Estrelas, Eduardo, recommended it. And his recommendations don’t come easily.
I had friends over, and he said that it was the best place to eat – and I believe him.
If I ever get to eat there, and it’s pants, I’ll let you know, but until that time, this is the one restaurant that I want to try – when Sue’s back over here, obviously!
Note: I have now eaten here, and it was a fantastic experience: great food, great hosts, and free bottles of fizzy stuff, since the owner’s brother was having a bit of a celebration! But my head hurt the next day…
Blinking Flamingos’ (well, Eduardo’s) Favourite Seafood Restaurant:
Pitéu da Baixa Mar
Opening hours: 12-3pm and 7-11pm daily, closed Monday, 7-11pm Tuesday
Address: Av. 5 de Outubro 12, 8700-302 Olhão, Portugal
Phone: +351 289 705 749
My Favourite ‘Eat what you’re given!’ Restaurant
This is a hard one to explain.
What I’m talking about here is a restaurant that offers you food but no choice.
You turn up, you pay your money, and you get what you’re given… sounds horrific to me. And yet it’s brilliant!
You don’t have to worry about choosing what you want, you don’t have to pay over the top… you just turn up, sit down, wait to be served and eat and drink… perfect!
Sete Estrela is also such a place, but it’s my favourite bar. No choice can double up as far as I’m concerned, so it was out of the running for this category!
So which is my favourite ‘Eat what you’re given!’ restaurant?
Vai e Volta!
There is no question!
Choice? Fish only.
Reservations? Turn up and hope.
Credit cards? Cash only.
Sounds like a horror story and yet…. it is bloody brilliant!
Obviously, drinks, dessert etc are on top, but at €12 (€6 for children) for all you can eat – you really can’t knock it!
Go and enjoy!
Blinking Flamingos’ Favourite ‘Eat what you’re given! Restaurant:
Vai e Volta
Opening hours: Midday to 3:30 pm, closed Mondays
Address: Largo do Grémio 2, 8700-343 Olhão, Portugal
Phone: +351 968 027 525
Website: Vai e Volta
My Favourite Pizza Restaurant
OK, so I thought I’d better veer away from the fish and seafood restaurant scene, and offer something a little bit different.
Well, not that different – just different from the vast majority of Restaurants in Olhao.
Pizza na Pedra offers pizzas – surprisingly. But what I will say is, their pizzas are lovely.
When we fly into Faro late, and need some food for both us and the kids, this is where we head.
There are options to suit everyone. There is a wonderful view from the first floor (Pizza na Pedra is virtually opposite the Market). The staff are friendly and there’s always a good atmosphere – and it really isn’t too expensive!
If you fancy a pizza, this is the place to come!
Blinking Flamingos’ Favourite Pizza Restaurant:
Pizza Na Pedra
Opening hours: Midday to 11pm
Address: Av. 5 de Outubro, 50, 8700-302 Olhão
Phone: +351 289 702444 / + 351 91 9658111
Website: Pizza Na Pedra
My Favourite Foreign Food Restaurant
There are some nice foreign food restaurants in Olhao.
Compared with local restaurants, they’re not particularly numerous, but they are there.
Sushi Moments or Magoya Sushi for Japanese, El Torito for Mexican.
But I suppose my favourite is Indian Hut.
I’ve only eaten there a couple of times – I’m trying to immerse myself in local culture and cuisine. But every now and again, it’s nice to have something that truly tastes of home – yes! Indian Hut offers me comfort food! And I love it!
The taste is great, the prices are reasonable, the staff are fantastic… what more could you want?
I’m not going to write a lot about it – suffice to say, if you fancy a curry, give this place a go!
Blinking Flamingos’ Favourite Foreign Food Restaurant:
Indian Hut
Opening hours: 11am to 23:30pm
Address: Vasco da Gama street no.2-4, 8700-522 Olhão
Website: Indian Hut
My Favourite Vegetarian Restaurant
Vegetarian restaurants aren’t the sort of restaurant that I usually frequent, but I do know that there are many people who enjoy a good Vegetarian meal, hence the inclusion of Casinha da Cris.
Friends of mine came to Olhao and tried this restaurant (or maybe we should just call it a café) and couldn’t speak highly enough of it.
Situated just behind the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário ( Our Lady of the Rosary Church), it’s in a lovely spot, part of a pedestrianized area by the Museum.
There are always people seated outside, enjoying the food, and enjoying the surroundings. It’s a little way back from the waterfront, but for me, that just makes it all the better.
If you want to try somewhere that offers an alternative to meat and fish, this is a great option.
Blinking Flamingos’ Favourite Vegetarian Restaurant
Casinha da Cris
Opening hours: 8am-5pm, closed Saturday, 8:30am to 1pm Sunday
Address : Tv. Of Commitment 14, 8700-542 Olhão, Portugal
Phone : +351 926 786 707
Website: Casinha da Cris
My Favourite Pastelaria
So we’ve spoken about various restaurants, but where is the best Pastelaria in town?
To be honest, I have no idea, but the one that is my favourite?
Delicia de Olhao.
From first thing in the morning until late at night, it’s always busy, both inside and out – people ordering, people eating, people chatting, people paying… it never seems to stop.
It’s on the front, not far from the market.
When Sue and Lexi were over here in the summer, I was packed off every morning to buy Chocolate Croissants for breakfast. €1 each…and the weight of them! Blimey! I must have put half a stone on in the course of a couple of weeks, because of the chocolate croissants alone!
Anyway, all I’m saying is that what this place offer is not expensive and well tasty!
If you fancy a Croissant, or a Pastel de Nata, or a doughnut, or even just some bread, then this is the place!
Blinking Flamingos’ Favourite Pastelaria:
Delícia de Olhão
Opening hours: 6am-10pm
Address: Av. 5 de Outubro 20, 8700-302 Olhão, Portugal
Phone: +351 289 702 406
