Five Great Attractions in the Algarve

Marina de Lagos

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Attraction | "My First Port of Call When in Lagos"

A view of the Avenida from the Marina Photo - Marina de Lagos, Lagos, Portugal

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I have very fond memories of living in Lagos and the first memories I have are living on a boat in the Fisherman's harbour. In those days we had to jump off the deck into a small dinghy and row to the rocks to climb up on shore.The fishermen's harbour is still there but now Lagos has its very own International marina right next door. This is always my first port of call when I go back to visit. I love the new marina and I think lots of visitors do to. Lagos marina has berths for over 460 boats and during July and August they are generally filled. To reach this award winning marina (Blue Flag and Euromarina award) you need to walk down Lagos' main artery, the Avenida dos Descobr...Read More

I have very fond memories of living in Lagos and the first memories I have are living on a boat in the Fisherman's harbour. In those days we had to jump off the deck into a small dinghy and row to the rocks to climb up on shore.

The fishermen's harbour is still there but now Lagos has its very own International marina right next door. This is always my first port of call when I go back to visit. I love the new marina and I think lots of visitors do to.

Lagos marina has berths for over 460 boats and during July and August they are generally filled. To reach this award winning marina (Blue Flag and Euromarina award) you need to walk down Lagos' main artery, the Avenida dos Descobrimentos ( Avenida = street, Descobrimentos = Discoveries) which runs parallel to the waterfront. There is a footbridge and from here you get a cracking view of the town and all the boats which come in all sizes, colours and shapes. The view of the front of the town, taking in the old covered fish market is one of the best in Europe, in my opinion.

There are many cafes, bars and restaurants in the marina complex and it is a great place to meet old friends. It is very popular with Portuguese, French and ex-pats. In summer the marina is generally packed out at weekends and very noisy with live music trailing from at least a couple of bars, chattering from Portuguese families as they promenade the walkway, and over excited ex-pats cheering to football matches which are shown on big screen TV in at least a couple of the cafes. The noise of exuberance doubles if a Portuguese team is playing. Portugal is a country where football rules and even thirty years ago when the Algarve was quite poor you could always find a TV in every bar blaring away.

I prefer to visit the marina in winter and my favourite bar is Joe's at the very end. I don't actually think it is called Joe's but that is the name of the guy who owns the bar and I have always known him as Joe. Here you can sit outside in a covered conservatory with a huge gas heater blowing as you drink a glass of Portuguese red while watching the ever changing colours of the town's lights and the sleepy activity on the boats. If you fancy a bite to eat there is a superb Chinese restaurant above Joe's bar. The food is tasty and the service is speedy which in the Algarve is a miracle.

As a living and working marina it has excellent facilities and has been awarded the five anchor award. Boat and yacht owners have their own swipe card which enables them to access the gates and use of the shower and toilet facilities along with the laundry room which is situated in a building within the complex. Close by the edge of the marina complex there is a supermarket, Ping Doce, if you need to buy provisions. You have to cross a busy road to the supermarket.

The approach to the harbour is easy and very sheltered. A pedestrian bridge is lifted when entering the pontoon and this is always fun to watch as the different boats make their way to their berths. All berths in the marina are situated on finger pontoons. Water and electricity is available also. Close by is the boatyard, Sopromar, for all repairs including electrical and engineering. Also a chandlers. If you need to use the Internet I think there are two places where this is possible. The sales office of the Bom Dia sailing company has at least two computers and there is also a coffee/wine bar with similar facilities. Diesel and petrol for boats can be found on the fuel quay.

I have been to a few marinas in my time and even worked in Vilamoura marina but Lagos is always my favourite. I think the location is stunning. There is no finer view from the deck of a boat as the one from this marina. I love the way the light of the boats glide through the swaying palm trees on the Avenida and cast dancing shadows on the Manueline buildings of Lagos town. Beautiful and a scene I miss nearly every day. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 12, 2010

Marina de Lagos

Lagos, Portugal

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A Eira do Mel

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Restaurant | "The Algarve's House of Honey"

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A Eira do Mel is a pretty restaurant, a little off the beaten track situated in an Algarvian village called Vila do Bispo. Eira is the Portuguese word for a threshing shed and this is what the building was originally used for. Mel means honey - the colour of the wheat being threshed.Nowadays the building is a charming but very simple restaurant housed in a white washed farm building, adorned with rural artefacts. Situated at the very rear of Vila do Bispo - the last building before you trek out towards the beaches of the West Coast , this attractive bleached white building with angular roof tops and windows painted in a shade of blue that reminds me of the blue powder paint I used at schoo...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 18, 2009

A Eira do Mel
Estrada do Castelejo - Apartado 12
Algarve, Portugal
+351 282 639 016

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O Leao de Porches

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Restaurant | "A Lion that Has Been Around Since the 17th Century"

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The Lion of Porches which is how the name of this restaurant translates has been around a long time in the Algarve. Housed in an elegant 17th century building on the main street of Porches, a town famous for its pottery, is just to the east of Lagoa in the Algarve. A restaurant that most ex-pats and local Portuguese praise and frequent at least once a week.The days when old traditional cuisine were served have long gone - well since 2005 when the restaurant changed hands from Portuguese to Dutch owners. The cuisine served is International but mainly covers a wide selection of French and Belgian dishes. Nothing too complicated - good, fresh lobster, scallops, and a variety of seafood artist...Read More

The Lion of Porches which is how the name of this restaurant translates has been around a long time in the Algarve. Housed in an elegant 17th century building on the main street of Porches, a town famous for its pottery, is just to the east of Lagoa in the Algarve. A restaurant that most ex-pats and local Portuguese praise and frequent at least once a week.

The days when old traditional cuisine were served have long gone - well since 2005 when the restaurant changed hands from Portuguese to Dutch owners. The cuisine served is International but mainly covers a wide selection of French and Belgian dishes. Nothing too complicated - good, fresh lobster, scallops, and a variety of seafood artistically presented on hand painted plates and bowls which have probably been purchased from the famous pottery workshops in the town of Porches.

I have to recommend the pan fried scallops which are delicious served with small pieces of chopped bacon and a creamy Bearnaise sauce. The sauce is exquisite - I love the taste of tarragon blended with creamy butter, white wine and crisp shallots. If you are not too keen on lobster or scallops then try the tiger prawns which are presented in such a simplistic way but so juicy and tasty. Fresh coriander and garlic is the only accompaniment and that's all you need. These prawns are divine.

There is also a choice of local sourced and freshly prepared meat and poultry including lamb, kid, and chicken piri-piri. Although the chicken is delicious it isn't as good as when served in the hills of Monchique. My recommendation is to try the lamb stew. At the Lion of Porches the lamb is slowly cooked in a an old fashioned oven fuelled by wood. Rosemary is added to carrots, tender, sweet onions and potatoes. Blended together with the chef's own stock recipe this dish is a welcoming sight to any visitor especially in the damp winter months which the Algarve does have every now and again. You can eat this served on to a plate from the hand painted crockpot or if you like just tuck into the pot. You don't have to be shy here.

Desserts are plentiful and always made in the kitchen. Eggs and cream seem to be the dominant ingredients. Try the Tart de Nata - so white, light and creamy with a touch of almond essence.

The restaurant is situated in a very pretty location near to the church on Rua Igreja. Inside the interior is one of charm and elegance with traditional furniture and paintings adorning the walls. There is always a warm cosy feeling inside but at the same time a graceful sensation. I love to sit inside the restaurant on cooler evenings but a special treat for me is in the summer when I can sit in the courtyard with my husband sipping a glass of almond liquer, watching the sunset underneath lemon trees and flowers of the hibiscus tree.

Porches itself is a lovely village to stroll around in the evening. There are several restaurants in the town but O Leao is the oldest and the best. The restaurant soon fills up and I suggest you always try to book a table in advance.

Price wise - you are looking at around 50 euros for a 3 course meal including couverts and wine.

O Leao is only open in the evening and you can find the restaurant on Rua da Igreja, next to the church. Parking is somewhat difficult as the town is small with very narrow streets.

O Leao closes on Wednesdays, the last week of November, first two weeks of December, last two weeks of January and the first week of February.

All wines on the wine list are of Portuguese origin and the list seems fairly well balanced in price and taste to me. I mentioned an almond liqueur but if you are a chocolate lover then I recommend a glass of Alfarroba. Very sweet, smooth and creamy. Just the thing to relax with at the end of a day. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 28, 2009

O Leao de Porches
Rua da Igreja, Porches
Algarve, Portugal

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Praia do Monte Clerigo

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Attraction | "A Beach of Pure Gold"

Monte Clerigo, Algarve Photo - Praia do Monte Clerigo, Portugal, Europe

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The western coast of Portugal has some beautiful beaches and areas of outstanding beauty. Most visitors to the Algarve will have at some time visited Sagres which is the main town at the southernmost tip but not every visitor is adventurous and thinks to drive off the main EN268 road to investigate what lies beyond the main urbanisations.The white Moorish town of Aljezur lies at the northern tip of the west coast and in between is one of my favourite beaches of all - Praia de Clerigo. Before you reach the beach and the small residential town of Clerigo which is situated on a hill above the beach you have to drive high up into the hills on a very pot -holed, windy road. The views of the hig...Read More

The western coast of Portugal has some beautiful beaches and areas of outstanding beauty. Most visitors to the Algarve will have at some time visited Sagres which is the main town at the southernmost tip but not every visitor is adventurous and thinks to drive off the main EN268 road to investigate what lies beyond the main urbanisations.

The white Moorish town of Aljezur lies at the northern tip of the west coast and in between is one of my favourite beaches of all - Praia de Clerigo. Before you reach the beach and the small residential town of Clerigo which is situated on a hill above the beach you have to drive high up into the hills on a very pot -holed, windy road. The views of the high, jagged cliffs in the distance are amazing especially in winter and early spring when the cliffs are covered in wild flowers.

The road leading to the beach huts and the beach restaurant is a steep decline and sometimes when storms have occurred overnight the strong winds blow the sand over the main track forming quite high drifts. Here, also the weather differs from inland. Sometimes in Spring a mist occurs spreading from the Atlantic over the cliffs and casts shadows amongst the painted wooden huts. It can be quite chilly in the early mornings and evenings so it is advisable to always take a jumper or light jacket.

There isn't a lot to do once you have arrived at the Praia except admire the strange shapes that the sea has carved throughout time into the rocks, perhaps a bit of snorkelling or exploring tiny rock pools. In winter the beach is a desolate place and sometimes my husband and I have been the only two people walking on the sand, throwing pebbles into the sea. The waves here are strong and have taken many a fisherman's life as he has cast his rod into the sea. Even when the ocean is serene don't be taken in by its beauty and calmness as there is always a strong undercurrent and if you are not aware of it you can easily be dragged into the sinking sand by the waves.

There are two bars/cafes both serving very good food. The beach bar/restaurant overlooking the sea is the better of the two and here you can order anything from a toasted snack to a full three course meal with wine. Soft and alcoholic drinks are sold as well as ice creams, crisps, chocolate and other snacks. My recommendation is a Bifana. This is two pieces of pork steak, gently fried in olive oil, garlic, piri-piri and a touch of beer. They are placed in between two pieces of bread or inside a bread roll and the taste is delicious. A mouth watering accompaniment is a glass of Super Bock beer. Try these delicacies while you sit outside and take in the wild, untamed scenery of the west coast. A worthwhile experience indeed.

The small fishermen's houses are all made of wood and painted in jolly colours. Some pale green, yellow, pink and blue. Most of the houses are rented out in the summer months and in the winter only the fishermen remain. If you take the rough shod road out of the town it will lead you to another beach area and town perched upon cliffs. This is known as Arrifana.

There is a small toilet block on the beach and in the summer lifeguards are on duty as this is the only time when the beach gets a large number of visitors. The beach displays the blue flag and easy access is available on to the beach by wooden steps and the occasional ramps.

If you are visiting Monte Clerigo from Lagos in the Algarve follow the main road to Vila do Bispo, turn right on to the EN268 and follow the road signs for Aljezur. You will see signs for the beach on the left just before you reach Aljezur. It is very easy to follow. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 4, 2010

Praia do Monte Clerigo
Aljezur
Portugal, Europe

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O Sueste

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Restaurant | "The Tastiest Fish Restaurant in Ferragudo"

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Ferragudo is a town in the Algarve that has managed to keep it's quaint old style charm. Frequented by sailors, fishermen and tourists this small town is home to many a fish restaurant and most of them are exceptionally good. However, there is one that stands out and that is O Sueste. You can find O Sueste on Rua da Ribeira, number 91 to be precise. This atmospheric fish restaurant is situated in an ancient salt warehouse at the end of the fisherman's quay and has some fine views across to Portimao but it isn't only the views that make me return year after year to this restaurant. Fish is cooked very simply in the Algarve. The morning's catch is usually taken from the quay, gut...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 5, 2010

O Sueste
Rua da Ribeira, 91, Ferragudo
Algarve, Portugal

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