Panela Velha — Restaurant in Albufeira

We wanted to keep this place a secret because it was really good but decided not to 😅 In any case, everything about this place was enjoyable. We were welcomed by the guy who took the orders when we came in. Really nice guy. Not sure if it was a family business as it felt like one because you had an aunt in the kitchen cooking alongside the others. (Not sure if she’s actually the aunt). We can hear her talking loudly and cooking in the kitchen through the open window while we waited for the food. It was such a nice vibe. Throughout our wait for our food, it was only locals who passed through this place as they came in to say hi or order some food. The aunt would sometimes come out to serve the food which was really nice. Food came out incredible and was perfectly seasoned. The seafood was very fresh as you can see in the picture. We had sea bream, grilled squid and soup of the day and couldn’t recommend it more. In our experience, this is one of the best foods we’ve tried in Portugal. The price and portion was definitely perfect for what it was! The dessert is different everyday so it was a nice surprise as well. And delicious. Not too far away from the ‘city center’ at all. Would recommend ending a beach day at this restaurant! 10/10 if I can give it.

Oh! We wanted to order more just to try some pork belly as well initially but the guy said it might be too much for us based on our orders. And we really appreciated the honesty. He was right! We were so full at the end. They’re here for you to just have a good time. The guy made us feel very welcomed and took care of us the...

A really enjoyable restaurant with excellent food away from the busyness and generic town centre. It’s a fairly short walk from the end of town, but the tourists don’t venture that far it seems.

The menu here was wide ranging with a variety of chicken, pork and steak options on offer. All of which were excellent value. The chicken skewer was off the chart with chicken mixed with chorizo, onions and peppers. Any of these items can be removed if you request too. The chorizo in particular was very enjoyable. Another occasion I tried the chicken fillet which was essentially barbecue chicken breast with chips and rice. It was simple and effective and only €10.

They have a good range of homemade desserts too, which are made earlier in the day and available until sold. The chocolate mousse was very good and they were all €3.50 and a glass of wine was just €1.50 here. We ate like kings for very little money.

The service was friendly and a bit random at times. It seemed to be a family run place and there a few disagreements or delays at times, but that added to the charm (as long as you’re not in a hurry!).

Well worth the trip to eat here. It also has a covered terrace area to eat out front and they show football of any Portuguese teams...

Unfriendly to solo guests!

I was really looking forward to having lunch at this place. It looked charming based on the reviews and was located in a quiet area, away from the tourist crowds, which I personally enjoy. The menu seemed nice, with just 3-4 types of fish, and the prices were reasonable, even lower than in the old town.

Unfortunately, I never got to try the food. The terrace was filled with smoke from people smoking, so I went inside. I was offered a table that seemed to be a compromise between the noisy kitchen and the loud room with the TV. Yes, it was slightly larger than the standard size, but it was located right on the edge, between two noisy areas. The restaurant was almost empty inside, so there was absolutely no reason for the loud complaints from this older staff member. She kept grumbling for a long time, waving her hands around.

It was clear that I was not going to eat there under such conditions. I absolutely do not recommend this place if you’re a solo traveler who cannot stand smoke or uncomfortable, chaotic environments. This was a huge...