Cidade Velha — Restaurant in Faro

I enjoyed eating at this restaurant very much. I visited three times during the week I was staying in Funchal but wish I had gone there more often! The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The situation, by the old fort, overlooking the sea, felt very special. Music played by a talented guitarist added to the atmosphere. Choosing from the varied menu I sampled tasty scabbard fish served Madeiran style with banana, tender grilled squid and tuna cooked to perfection. I also tried some of the lovely puddings and a variety of cheeses. Not to mention the excellent wine and expertly made ponchas. The service was excellent too. There was a genuine warmth and as a solo traveler I felt very comfortable eating alone but I didn't feel alone because I was able to chat away as though to a host at a dinner party and I certainly didn't feel overlooked or pressured to leave. I was impressed by the customer care shown and the attention to detail. I will certainly visit again when I am next in Funchal which I hope will be in the not too distant future.

I visited this restaurant again in January and February 2018. I enjoyed many excellent meals. All dishes cooked to perfection and extremely delicious. The ambience of Cidade Velha is refined and tasteful and it is a delight to eat there. The manager Horácio maintains the utmost standards and all of his team are dedicated and helpful. Indeed I overheard several customers commenting on how they return to the restaurant time and time again because of the warm welcome and caring service that they receive from Horácio. Many thanks for gastronomic experiences that I will...

Unfortunately this restaurant didn't turn out as well as I had hoped after reading some reviews. That was especially due to our waiter. Maybe it was more him rather than the restaurant and its personnel, because other waiters seemed less cranky. The waiter seemed impatient and would stand just one metre from our table, pressing us to hurry, after we'd asked to get a little more time. Also he didn't feel inclined to check certain ingredients for us with the chef after we'd asked because my girlfriend can't eat everything due to her pregnancy. The food itself was tasty, nothing to complain there, except for the fact that we were told to expect some sort of cake as dessert when ordering 'Delicia de Algarve', when in fact it was some sort of yoghurt cup. Also note that if you accept the offer to get some bread and olives as a small starter (which in many places is naturally provided and without charge), you pay for it per per person. So €2 couvert per person and also €3 extra if you eat some of the cheese they put on the table. Not at all the hospitable Algarve I know...

The food was great, especially the Chicken, and the ambiance was relaxed. It is also in the most historic part of town and in a quiet neighborhood. I would have given this small restaurant 5 stars. However, we had to ask the waiter multiple times about simple things like water, sauce, and to go boxes. Before ordering, we told the server multiple times that one person in our group is vegetarian and and for any ingredients that are meat to be removed/substituted. However, the first order we got had tuna (which we asked for to be removed) which a small portion of was unknowingly eaten by the vegetarian person in our party. Additionally, The waiter was quick to talk and often leaved our table right after finishing talking, giving us no time to reply. Overall, the food was good but the attitude of our server was not, although this may have been caused partly from cultural and language differences. If you eat meat, then this place is a great choice, but avoid if you...