Villa in Loule, Algarve
Current Temperature in
Faro, Portugal
Copyright ©
Vale Telheiro Limited
2008
Eating Out . . .
Possibly one of the most enjoyable parts of any holiday is the opportunity to explore and sample the numerous restaurant and café facilities that are available in the country that you are staying. To assist you in your choice of venue we are pleased to detail a number of restaurant and café facilities that we have found to offer excellent cuisine, value for money and a convivial atmosphere. Whilst most restaurants have English speaking staff and offer menu’s in English, some do not, and as such we recommend that you take a phrase book with you. In comparison with many British restaurants the facilities here are mostly inexpensive. Some Shellfish and "Foreign" Wines can be expensive. Tax (IVA) is always added to the bill whereas Service Charges may not be included (a tip of up to 10% is always well appreciated). The bread and little nibbles put on your table at the start of your meal are extra’s and will be charged on your bill at a cost of around 1 Euro per head. The facilities listed are shown by category and in alphabetic order so as to offer no particular preference. They are all good, some just a little better than others.
** Click on the Restaurant Names for Photograph **
Close to Vivenda Mimosa
Unless otherwise stated you should turn right as you leave the villa and follow the road until you get to the "T" junction opposite the Club Nora and alongside the old church that is being renovated. Directions start from here.
"Angolana" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and as you approach the tree lined "Garden" Square turn left taking the road running alongside the Square and then left again at the junction. Follow this road for 200 metres, the restaurant makes the corner on the left. This restaurant specialises in chicken and many other grilled dishes. Try the spare ribs; they are the meatiest that you will find anywhere !!
"Cavaco’s" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and the restaurant is situated behind the tree lined "Garden" Square. The menu is varied and offers good value for money.
"O Madeirense de Loulé" - Turn right and follow the main road for about 2 kilometres. The restaurant is on the right. You may choose to eat inside or outside on the terrace. There is an excellent choice on the menu, but we would recommend the Espetadas (large chunks of meat served on a skewer).
In or Around Loulé
"Avenida" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and passing the tree lined "Garden" Square keep right follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. The restaurant is on the right above the Chinese Bazaar. The menu offers a good variety of choice, however it does cater more for the Tourists and is therefore slightly more expensive.
"Calypso" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and passing the tree lined "Garden" Square keep right follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. Turn left at the Band Stand roundabout and follow the road past the Palácio da Justiça (Court House) on the right. The restaurant is at the next roundabout on the right. A small modern restaurant offering a wide choice of dishes. This is well worth a visit and is very reasonably priced.
"Casa Paixanita" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. Turn left at the Band Stand roundabout and follow the road past the Palácio da Justiça (Court House) on the right. Go straight at each of the next three roundabouts and the restaurant is about 1 kilometre along on the right. This is a family run business whose cuisine, having lived in France for many years, is first class. The hors d’oeuvres are a house speciality and will be brought to the table and added to your bill unless you decline them. People travel from miles around to eat here but it is expensive and should possibly only be considered for a special occasion.
"A Muralha" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Go straight at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station. Turn left after the Restaurante a Rampa. Follow this road for about 200 metres and the restaurant is on your right. Set into the wall beneath the castle this restaurant offers a particularly varied menu although fish is a particular speciality. This restaurant is highly regarded and well worth a visit.
"Monte da Eira" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. Turn left at the Band Stand and follow the road past the Court House. Go straight at each of the next three roundabouts heading towards Querença. After about 4 kilometres you will find the restaurant on your right, immediately before the turning to Clareanes. Only recently opened, this restaurant is slightly more up market than some but offers a superb variety of traditional cuisine. In a short time this restaurant has developed a good following and would be worth visiting should you have a special occasion to celebrate.
"Horta Nova" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and turn left at the main roundabout. Take the next main road on the right and the restaurant is on the right. The Nova Horta offers the choice of eating in it’s snack bar, the restaurant or the garden terrace. Set in pleasant surroundings the menu is very good although the service can be quite leisurely.
"Solar das Nagueiras" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. Turn left at the Band Stand roundabout and follow the road past the Palácio da Justiça (Court House) on the right. Go straight at each of the next two roundabouts and then turn right (signed) and right again. The restaurant is on the left. You will have the choice of eating either inside or outside on the terrace. Service is provided by the husband and wife owners. The husband looks after the tables and the wife does all of the cooking. Everything is prepared and cooked fresh, so you should be prepared for a leisurely meal. After the cooking is done it is quite possible that the wife will entertain you with songs whilst playing her guitar. This is well worth a visit.
"Big China" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. The restaurant is on the right after the Band Stand roundabout. Set in the old Fire Station the restaurant is quite large and the interior decoration is first class. It offers a full range of Chinese food and is not expensive.
Light Snacks in Loulé
"Café Galhinha" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing. The Bar/Café is on your right just after the turning that takes you to the Tourist Information Office. An ideal stop in between shopping, you can sit indoors or outside on the pavement watching the world go by. You can choose from pastries and cakes to light meals. A visit is well worth while.
"Délifrance" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and straight at the main roundabout up the Avenida José da Costa Mealha. Turn right at the Band Stand roundabout, thereafter turn first left past a primary school and then straight at the crossroads. This small franchised café is on the left and offers delightful pastries and cakes and is very popular.
"Flor de Loule" - Turn left and then turn right past the Modelo supermarket. Turn left into Loulé at the roundabout next to the BP petrol station and driving past the tree lined "Garden" Square follow the road for "Centro Saude". Go right at the pedestrian crossing and left at the main roundabout. Flor de Loulé is in the square on the left behind the taxi rank. Here you can buy a wide variety of cakes, bread and pastries, all baked freshly on site. This is very popular and is very busy.
Nearby Villages and Restaurants
Querença
Querença is a small village set at the top of a hill built around an old church and school. Approached by a cobbled road the village has retained the character sadly lost by some of the other villages in the Algarve. There is superb views over the surrounding countryside.
"Restaurante de Querença" - Turn left as you leave the villa and follow the dirt track to the right until you get to the main road. Turn left and follow this road for about 2 kilometres turning right at the cross roads. Following this road for about 3 kilometres, the road then turns sharply right over a narrow bridge and then turns left. After about 2 kilometres you should turn right (just after the turning to Salir or Alte). Follow the hill up to Querença. The restaurant is on the first floor to your left alongside the church. If possible you should try to arrive here no later than about 7.30 in the evening so as to secure a window seat where you can watch nightfall cover the surrounding countryside. The restaurant offers a large variety of traditional and country dishes and you will not be disappointed by the quantities served.
Salir
Salir is another country village which was formerly built around a castle. Some of the ramparts are still standing today and you can walk around them admiring the spectacular views.
"Mouro Bar Castelo" - Turn left as you leave the villa and follow the dirt track to the right until you get to the main road. Turn left and follow this road for about 2 kilometres going straight at the cross roads. Follow this road until you reach Salir. Follow the directions for "Centro" taking a left at the "T" junction. Follow the road to the right and then turn left. Park close to the signs for the Castelo and walk up to the top of the hill (100 metres), the restaurant is directly in front of you. This small quaint restaurant is built onto the ramparts and offers the benefit of the surrounding views. The menu is small but varied and is very good value for money.
Vivenda Mimosa |
Outside |
Inside |
Loule |
