by OPUS – Wine House & Food — Restaurant in Faro

I am a seasoned traveler in Europe, visiting at least six times a year. I tried this restaurant in the historic section of Faro because it looked like it had a cool vibe. First, the good: the food is excellent, very tasty, and the ambiance is genuinely good. It’s a stylish place, and if not for the rest of my experience, I would recommend it.

However, I observed some unprofessional and non-transparent practices during my visit, which seemed targeted at tourists. On the evening I was there, all the guests were non-Portuguese tourists—four couples in total. The waiter (not the owner, as I met the owners separately) began by offering each table cheese and ham in a way that suggested it was complimentary. In reality, this item carries a charge, which is printed on the menu but not clearly explained at the time. I declined, but other guests accepted and were later surprised to see the charge on their bill.

While I understand that offering cheese and ham is a traditional Portuguese custom, the way it was presented here was misleading. The waiter clearly recognized that all the guests were tourists and still failed to clarify this simple point. A more honest and professional approach would have been to say, “Good evening, would you like to try some of our regional cheese and ham? There’s a small charge for it, as noted on the menu.” That would have built trust rather than suspicion.

The next issue involved the wine. We asked about white wine but hadn’t yet decided between a bottle or glasses. The waiter poured a taste for my wife—a rather generous pour—and then, without showing us a wine list or discussing prices, proceeded to open a bottle and announce that it was €28. While this isn’t an unreasonable price, it’s the lack of transparency that’s concerning. Why not simply present the list and let customers make their own choice?

To make things worse, he decanted the wine, which is unnecessary for a bottle of that price or complexity, and then poured some into another glass and took it away—apparently balancing out the earlier “tasting” pour. This was both strange and unprofessional.

I want to be clear: the food and ambiance here are truly excellent. But the service practices I witnessed—especially the lack of honesty and transparency—do not align with the quality of the kitchen. I suspect the owners may not be aware that these behaviors are damaging their reputation. Tourists, who may not want to make a scene, will simply leave feeling taken advantage of.

This restaurant could easily be one of the best in Faro if it ensured that guests are treated with honesty and respect. Transparency and integrity should always accompany good food...

Beautiful place that after a while you have the feeling of a tourist trap... The place is pretty new according to reviews but when it comes to food: i got spoiled octopus and which was more puree with one piece of octopus ( pretty small, horrible smell and worse taste) they came and replaced it after me complaining - better, a bit bigger but still very very small portion of octopus. Steak - very average. Wine was very nice but 12€ per glass? Why you did not ask us which white wine we prefer and you gave us the one for 12€? Another culinary experience? For now NOT recommended at all !!! And suggestion for the management - after reviewing other reviews, the concerns are the same - acid octopus, small portions, offering appetizers that actually nobody ask for and you do it only to upsell the bill - pathetic... And in addition, you use ChatGPT to answer the reviews (yes, it is obvious and yes I am 100% sure). You are not on the right way to do this right... And please do not even bother to respond...

We discovered By Opus while enjoying the view from the top of Faro Cathedral tower, and decided to have dinner there. Since it was a warm day after walking around the city, we chose to sit inside, and it turned out to be the best decision.

As wine lovers, we were delighted with the experience. João, the owner, together with his team, made us feel truly welcome. He shared part of his personal story and passion for creating this restaurant with his wife, and even introduced us to some of his wine collection.

To make the evening even more special, a wine provider, Joaquim Arnoud, happened to be there presenting his wines. We tasted a few, and the highlight for us was the Arundel 2015 red, an explosion of flavors.

The food was excellent, the atmosphere was warm and vibrant, and the entire team worked with such a positive energy. Congratulations to João, his team, and By Opus for creating such a memorable experience. We wish you all the success and we’ll...