Most restaurants serve warm bread rolls, sardine or tuna pate or goats cheese, as an appetiser, and main courses are large, so a starter is often too much. For puddings, the local dishes include almond tart and ‘pudim flan’ - crème caramel. It’s worth booking a table for dinner.
A short stroll…
Try the beach bar at Cabanas Velhos, down the road to the beach facing the villa. It’s right on the beach, serves charcoal grilled fish, clams, burgers and superb pasta dishes. Also, superior take-away club sandwiches to eat on the beach!
Or, turn left and walk for about half a mile along the road towards Burgau, where you’ll find Restaurant Don Dinnis. Local dishes are good and the grilled prawns are delicious.
Still within walking distance...
Ruis Bar (on the back road in Burgau) looks like a snack bar, but it serves great fried prawns and chips. Also, pork chops, grilled chicken and burgers with salad. It's very Portuguese and a friendly place to eat or knock back a few ports with the locals.
The Hut - down the first hill in Burgau towards the sea. A large weather boarded hut, with stunning views over Burgau beach. Try the large, fried piri-piri prawns; charcoal grilled sardines, swordfish and clams in olive oil and lemon or cataplana (clams with fried pork).
Nearby The Hut, The Anchora is a highly regarded French restaurant. Also, the Verandah Bar, which serves freshly squeezed orange juice, expresso coffee and wonderful cocktails – with a jaw-dropping view over Burgau beach and out to sea (my favourite watering hole!)
The Beach Bar - on the beach at Burgau. Good fried squid, grilled sardines, fish, salads, meat and spit-roasted chicken. Open lunchtime and evening, most nights.
Caravela – on the back road in Burgau, close to the corner with the newsagents. More upmarket - offers succulent steaks cooked on stone, wonderful almond tart and an excellent wine list.
A few minutes drive:
O'Celeiro, on the Burgau side of the main road at Almadena. Book a table on 00351 282 697 144. It's the classiest joint in the area, with wonderful food, but prices to match. The long-roasted knuckle or shoulder of lamb is divine, as are the prawns in garlic.
Omalhao - Turn left past Burgau, keep going for about a mile and it's on the left. Food's good here, particularly the grilled swordfish, grilled or fried king prawns, turkey escallops and pork and clams cooked in garlic. Book a table inside: Tel. 00351 282 78 83 58
The Pig - a pub restaurant with above average food. A wide screen TV and snooker table (also suitable for families with young children). Good stir fries, curries, fish and chips and homemade steak and kidney pies. Turn left past Burgau and keep going for about half a mile, and it's on the right.
Further afield
Marigil is a must. It's just beyond the Raposeira turnoff on the right-hand side of the main road to Cape St. Vincent, opposite a pottery (which exports to Next in the UK, where they add 75% to the price tag). A fifteen-minute drive from the villa. Opt for slow-roasted pork, chicken, lamb, served with crispy fresh steamed vegetables. Meals have to be ordered in advance as they take six hours to cook. Also good grilled fish. Tel. 282 63 92 74
Nortada, on the beach at Martinhal, Sagres. Take the Sagres turnoff from the main road from Burgau to Cape St. Vincent and keep on going until you get to the beach (less than half an hour’s drive). It's the second restaurant next to the sand dunes. Eat homemade Italian pizza (baked in a clay oven), pasta, grilled fish and meat. Tel. 282 624147 Great for lunch or dinner.
For a lunchtime treat try the beach bar at Zavial. It's a gorgeous beach and a fab beach bar, and the alpine-style chalet serves German lager, deep fried calamari, prawns burgers, salads and omelets.. Take the Raposeira turn off, marked Zavial and Ingrina, then the turn off for Zavial and keep going for a few miles and you'll reach it. Half an hour's drive.
Figueira, another beautiful spot to swim or snorkel. The approach road accessed on the left off the main road from Burgau towards Cape St. Vincent, is narrow and easily missed. But, it is lovely and has caves and sheltered bathing. Take a picnic, as there’s no beach bar or facilities.
Don’t miss the Atlantico restaurant in Salema, an old fishing village. Turn right at the villa and drive along the old coast road over the Boco do Rio and the headland to Salema. The Atlantico is a large wooden building alongside the beach serving wonderful swordfish, prawns, steaks and chicken on a spit. Open lunch and dinner.
Parque Da Floresta is a golfer's haven - a few miles along the main road towards Cape St. Vincent. It's on the right, opposite the turning for Salema. There's a gorgeous swimming pool complex and a pool bar serving lunches. The clubhouse restaurant is excellent; the smaller restaurant at the entrance near the tennis courts popular with youngsters.. Also, a bowls pitch, archery, tennis centre and a golf driving range.
A further four 18-hole golf courses are within a short drive. Details can be given upon request, and golf tours arranged.
