Cafe del mar — Restaurant in Portimão

Tried to rate 1/2 star but Google isn't allowing me. In the 3 weeks I've been in the Algarve never had I had such mediocre food and even worse service. The maître D was rude from the start. Asked us whether we wanted to sit indoors and before I could even turn back from getting a quick nod from the few ppl I was with he moved to the group behind us. The restaurant wasn't even very busy by Portuguese standards. We then waited a further 20 minutes to have our orders taken. It almost took a full hour before our food arrived, to the point where our beer had gotten warm. One person got the rack of ribs which were tasty but very greasy. Another got frango which must have been a child's portion size considering the amount of meat he got. I got the cod "lagareiro" style which was surprisingly tasteless albeit a large portion. We were further charged for 3 portions of bread even though we only got 4 slices (not loaves). When we brought it up with our waiter he argued that it worked not by loaf but by person, the first time I've ever heard such ridiculousness. Perhaps if we had been served pão com chouriço, but what we got was closer to morning-old bread. We showed up around 8:30pm mind you...

Will not be coming here again. If you're looking for quality seafood try out Marisqueira Coral instead of this place (but I would recommend making a reservation), and if you're after some quality meat then head to Fogo do Chão and splurge on the "premium meat". It'll come out to pretty much the same price and you won't be so grossly disappointed. I still can't believe we paid 3€ for 4 thin slices...

Went here September 1st with my wife and daughter. We had 3 starters (melon and presunto, mozarella croquettes and onion rings) all served very quickly and tasty. Mains were griled salmon for the wife, steak (ao cheffe Carlos) and daughter had nuggest with chips (chicken breast and not chicken paste a la Mcdonalds esque) the steak was tender and the pepercorn mushroom sauce was heavenly so juch so the wife stole half of it to have with her fish. 2 large beers, a bottle of water and house rosé were had alongside the meal. Desserts were a chocolate mousse and espresso. Total cost €82.90, considering that alot of the restaurants on the strip juat churn our food for the masses i was more than happy to pay more for freshly cooked food and given the quality was not complaining when the bill came. Plates were removed when all had finished and in a timely manner. For those that complain that everything happens slowly or takes an age, its a cultural difference, i get anxious waiting 5 minutes to get a coffee because in london i get one before i finished paying. Here everything is done at a relaxed pace, once you accept it, everything becomes easier. Wil definately be returning, and service is not included in the bill which is always a plus (cant stand it when u feel inclined to tip, however a genrous tip was left given the pleasentness of the meal and...

During our stay in the Algarve in summer 2025, we dined at Café del Mar after a disappointing experience at a neighboring restaurant — and what a difference it made.

Despite being a larger and busier venue, the staff at Café del Mar were warm, attentive, and professional from the moment we arrived. Service was efficient without ever feeling rushed, and the team made us feel genuinely welcome. The food was delicious and arrived promptly, and the drinks were excellent — perfectly crafted and a highlight of our evenings.

What stood out most was the atmosphere: lively yet comfortable, with staff who managed the busy dining room seamlessly while still giving each guest personal attention. We enjoyed it so much that we ended up dining at Café del Mar three times during our stay.

If there is one area for improvement, it would be the presentation of the dishes — the flavors were wonderful, but a little more attention to plating would elevate the experience even further.

Café del Mar delivered the kind of hospitality that makes dining out a memorable experience. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Praia da Rocha in...