A Foodie's Guide to Faro: What to Eat and Drink in Faro! [2024] (2024)

The Algarve’s capital Faro is a more subdued affair than many of the typical resort towns of the Algarve. Despite Faro’s title as the capital of the Algarve, and its biggest city, Faro has kept a non-hurried essence. Within Faro you’ll find a charming old town, cobbled streets, local museums, and unique cultural attractions. It’s great to explore, and as a more local city has kept a wide variety of traditional restaurants and its cultural heritage alive.

What to Eat and Drink in Faro

In Faro, you’ll find casual bars serving cheap and cheerful bifanas, to high end restaurants serving exceptional cataplanas. You’ll also find petisqueiras serving an array of little plates and of course marisqueiras serving the best and freshest grilled fish and seafood.

Cataplanas

As you wonder around Faro, you’ll see what looks like two halves of copper or stainless-steel bowls hung on the side of traditional shops and restaurants. This is a cataplana, and the dish takes its name from the cookware. The pot has a clamshell design which seals the two halves together which effectively steams what’s cooked inside.

It’s a very traditional Algarvean way of cooking and you’ll find lots of varieties in the Faro. Cataplana de pescado (fish) and Cataplana de Marisco (seafood) are some of the most popular varieties, but you’ll also see specifics, like razor clam and monk fish. There’s a wider variety of base ingredients, but usually its potatoes, onion, red and green peppers, garlic, and local herbs. The cataplana will be served while the pot is still sealed, and then unveiled at your table!

Oysters and Seafood

The Algarve and Portugal as a whole has a deep connection to seafood, and much of that seafood is farmed or harvested in the Ria Formosa. The Ria Formosa is a coastal lagoon that stretches nearly 60km along the coast of the Algarve with a significant section right on Faro’s doorstep. As this is a food guide to Faro, we’ll focus on one of the primary and most celebrated shellfish found in the Ria Formosa, the oyster.

It’s possible to taste fresh oysters at many of Faro’s marisqueiras, however one of the best ways to really experience them is by taking a boat tour from Faro’s marina. You’ll get to experience the Ria Formosa with a local guide, then get taken to an oyster farm where you can then taste the absolute freshest oyster possible!

Regional Favourites you Should Try in Faro

The below dishes are not specific to Faro, but they are delicious specialties you need to try if you’re visiting Portugal!

Grilled Sardines

If you’re visiting a coastal area during the summer months, you’ll never be far away from the intoxicating smoke from grilled sardines! It’s another deliciously simple dish consisting of the freshest sardines you can find, covered in salt and grilled over a BBQ. During the summer months, you’ll find several restaurants around Faro with a grill strategically placed outside to capture visitors. The sardines will often be served with a crusty bread and a side salad.

Piri Piri Chicken

Not specific to Faro, but specific to the Algarve is Chicken Piri-Piri or Frango Piri-Piri. It’s widely claimed that it was invented in nearby Lagoa, around 40 minutes along the coast. At its simplest, Frango piri-piri is a butterflied barbecued chicken served with fries and salad.

What distinguishes the piri-piri chicken is the chilli glaze it receives before going on a charcoal grill. It’s a wonderfully simple smokey spicy dish. Within Faro you’ll find several churrasqueiras – places dedicated to food grilled over coal. You can normally choose between an entire chicken or just half of it and order with or without the chilli sauce.

Quick Eats – Bifanas and Tosta Mistas

Among the array of restaurants available in Faro, you’ll also find a good amount of pastelairas. Pastelarias are a sort of fusion of a café, bakery and bar, and you’ll find them open from the early hours of the morning serving breakfasts and coffee, until late in the evening serving beers and bifanas. A traditional breakfast is often a tosta mista – a cheese and ham toastie that’s covered in butter before serving.

A traditional snack that’ consumed at all hours of the day is the Bifana. It’s a simple yet brilliant pork sandwich that’s served in a crusty but fluffy bread roll called a papo seco. They are a great snack for on-the-go explorers and can be as cheap as €1.50!

Sweets from Faro

As a waterfront town in the sunny Algarve, Faro has its fair share of ice cream shops and creperies. However, if you’re looking for some traditional Portuguese sweets then you’ll find a nice range in Faro! If Faro is your only stop in Portugal, then you’ll need to try a pastel de nata. You won’t find the original anywhere near Faro, you’ll have to head to Belem, Lisbon for that. But you’ll find several that are almost as good, if not better!

Pastel de Faro

Faro, like many towns and cities in Portugal even has its own pastry – the Pastel de Faro. Its pastry base is similar to the pastel de nata, yet it has has an almond filling, topped with sweetened egg strands and a drizzle of icing. Luckily, it’s a bit smaller than a pastel de nata because it’s very sweet! You’ll be able to try on at Confeitaria Alengarve, one of the oldest bakeries in Faro!

What to Drink in Faro?

If you’re landing at Faro’s airport, you’ll no doubt be greeted by the huge Sagres advertisem*nt stating: saa-grsh – it’s Portuguese for beer! The national beer companies will definitely try to convince you that drinking national lager is not optional in Faro. However, outside of the Super Bock vs. Sagres debate there’s a wide variety of local drinks to hunt down while you’re in Faro.

Starting with beer, Faro has its very own brewery and tap room – Algarve Rock. You’ll also find it served at several establishments across the city. It’s well worth visiting for anyone that wants to try a local craft brew and go beyond Super Bock.

The Algarve is one of Portugal’s smallest, and perhaps least heard of wine regions, yet produces some exceptional wines. You’ll be able to taste many local wines at several wine bars across Faro. However, if you want the full experience, just 25km north of Faro is Quinta da Tôr. It’s a renowned winery and vineyard that’s been producing wine since the 15^th century. You can visit and tour the winery and have several tastings right on their property.

Food Festivals and Events in and around Faro

As one of the largest cities in the Algarve, Faro has a lively events calendar, many of these celebrating the local food and drink! If you’re in the Algarve while any of these events are happening, they are well worth experiencing!

Alameda Beer Festival:July – Local and regional producers bring their best beers for everyone to enjoy during this weekend festival. With local food and handicrafts available too.

Festa da Ria Formosa: July – Festa da Ria Formosa is an event organised by local producers celebrating the seafood from the Ria Formosa. It’s usually held for around 10 to 12 days where you’ll find lots of local and regional seafood specialties.

Festival do Marisco: August – This one is in Olhão which isn’t Faro but it’s very close to Faro, it’s one train stop, or a 15 minute drive. Festival do Marisco is a festival dedicated to all types of seafood and typically the local specialties. There is a wide variety of music, local acts, and an arts and crafts market for entertainment once you’ve had your fill of seafood!

Feira de Santa Iria: October – Feira de Santa Iria originally a religious festival celebrating Saint Irene, it usually takes place over ten days in late October. Despite its religious origins, the modern day event is a large fair with rides, concerts, local arts and crafts, and food. There’s an entire covered market dedicated to local and regional food and its the place to try lots of specialties!

What will you eat when you visit Faro?