A casa do Mexilhão — Restaurant in Albufeira

What a joy and delight to have such a treat on our doorstep in Guia. Chef Kevin and his team run a seamless, open kitchen, which we have had the delight of spectating while they work on two occasions. Nothing is too big an ask of this team, as they've flexed for the dietary requirements of our large group, creating bespoke vegetarian dishes. Nothing has been spared when it comes to the decor and ambience of the restaurant, and the waiting team are incredible.

The food... We came twice in a week and would have come a third if we had time. The kitchen always send an incredibly creative amuse bouche to the table to start your meal. The mussels are absolutely to die for, large, fresh and delicious. The tapas is varied and accompanied smaller portions of mussels well, should you wish to try more than one dish.

If you're within an hour's drive just come here. You'd be...

We arrived to a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the front of house team, and were seated in a stylishly decorated dining room with a view of the kitchen. Complimentary aperitifs were served which were delicious, alongside freshly made cocktails that went down very well! The staff were very accommodating of dietary requirements and it was a treat to watch the chefs carefully prepare our food. Every dish we ate was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented - I wanted to take photographs but the food was too tasty to wait! Particular favourites at our table were the lobster arancini, Belgian style mussels with mascarpone, and some off menu grilled mushrooms, as well as the desert of the day, salted caramel apple crumble which was sweet and sharp, and perfectly textured. This place is certain to take off in a big way - be sure to book, and don't miss this gem of...

We dined at Mexilhão twice during our trip to Portugal — and honestly, the only reason it wasn’t more is because we discovered it just three days before flying back to the UK. Without a doubt, this was the best dining experience I’ve ever had. The food, the atmosphere, the service — every part of it was exceptional.

The staff went above and beyond to accommodate my partner’s needs on both visits, and did so with genuine enthusiasm. You could tell they truly cared about delivering a great experience.

If you're even thinking about eating here, stop thinking and just go. It’s more than a meal. We’ll definitely be back next year.

Thank you to all the staff...