Artigo Três — Restaurant in Loulé

We are recently local to Loulé and were invited to Artigo Três by friends who are regulars and it completely exceeded our expectations.

What makes this place truly special is how it blends authentic Japanese techniques and recipes with the best of what the Algarve has to offer. Highlights were the tuna belly and crispy rice - absolutely phenomenal. While tuna isn’t usually the first fish people associate with the Algarve, the eastern coast actually has some of the best, much of it exported. Artigo Três is one of the rare places that manages to get their hands on the limited local catch, and the quality is on another level - fresh, rich, and perfectly prepared.

Their use of local products and incredible house-made ferments adds depth and character to every dish. You can tell there’s real thought and passion behind everything they serve.

Artigo Três is a true gem - intimate, honest, and driven by quality. If you’re looking for something unique and deeply satisfying in Loulé, this is the place. Can’t...

I’ve been to Artigo Três three times in the past six weeks, and each visit has been outstanding. What really sets this restaurant apart is their focus on quality. House-made ferments to the incredibly fresh ingredients sourced just steps away at the Loulé fish market.

The menu is extensive, and I’ve enjoyed exploring different dishes each time. A little tip: don’t order everything at once! Ordering two items at a time is the best way to pace your meal and enjoy the flow of flavors.

Highlights for me include the sashimi...the mackerel, in particular, is exceptional and the karaage fried chicken, which is perfectly executed. It’s also great to see a thoughtful drinks list, with Portuguese organic wines at fair prices and a wider selection of premium sake for those who want to dive deeper.

Service is consistently friendly and knowledgeable, making each visit a real pleasure. This is a spot I’ll keep returning to monthly. Congratulations to the team, you’ve created something special...

On recommendation from our abode’s host we looked forward to breaching the town of Loulé that I had not visited in all my travels to the Algarve region: destination one of the two well- rated Japanese eateries in this hub, and run by some young Japanese. We were seated (reservation) and began our journey of the senses….that ended with what was an ‘unusual’ taste according to my partner and that I agreed had neither experienced in my travels to Japan nor at any other Japanese worldwide. I am not able to guess the condiment that was used in some of the selections we made, and as is said ‘de gustibis non est disputandum’ (there is no accounting of tastes). We tried crab, tuna, and prawn combinations including a salad and miso soup, and to ‘reset’ our palates the sesame ice-cream. Conclusion: the offerings and our palates on this particular night collided though didn’t coincide. We were not able to place the dish ‘Tuna Rabi’ in the value category of which it was assigned....