I’m a 57-year-old Portuguese man, married with two children and a dog. Two years ago, I bought a house in the Algarve, near Vilamoura.

One of the main reasons I decided to buy a house in the Algarve is the incredible variety of restaurants, especially those that serve fish, though I’m not opposed to trying places known for great meat dishes.

Whether it’s fish or meat, I always lean towards restaurants that have a good grill.

But it’s not a hard rule—there are plenty of other dining options with different cooking styles here too.

How It All Started

Before I started this blog, one of the first things I did was reach out to friends and acquaintances who either grew up in or know the Algarve well. I asked them for one or two restaurant recommendations where you can enjoy a good meal at reasonable prices.

Once I had a list of suggestions, I researched each one and mapped their locations on Google Maps. After each meal, whether it was lunch or dinner, I added a personal review in the private notes section on Google Maps, commenting on the food quality, the service, the atmosphere, and usually what dish I/we ordered. Without fail, I also noted the average cost per person. But why?

The Why

The goal behind all this is simple: I want to make sure that both now and when I retire, I can enjoy a great meal out, whether it’s fish or meat, without spending more than I can reasonably afford. For me, that means keeping the cost of each meal low, in line with what my retirement income will eventually be.

How Many Restaurants and Where

Initially, my list of recommendations, along with a few I added on my own, had about ten restaurants. But it quickly grew to twenty, then fifty, and before I knew it, I’d reached a hundred. By the time I created this blog, the list had already expanded to 129 restaurants.

Not all of these restaurants have been reviewed and made visible on the blog, as I only share those I have personally visited, experienced, and evaluated to ensure they meet the criteria. In other words, this process takes time, which, to be honest, is also the purpose of this blog.

What Are the Criteria?

There are just four main criteria, all equally important in my quest when searching for a truly great restaurant:

• Food Quality: The freshness of the ingredients, the way the food is prepared, and how flavorful the dish is.

• Service: A balance between friendly staff and reasonable wait times, taking into account the Algarve’s busy tourist seasons.

• Ambiance: The overall experience, including the decor, cleanliness, lighting, and noise level.

• Price: As low as possible, but still fair, based on the quality of the experience and the previous criteria.

What is a Gem?

As the name suggests, a Gem is something unique and special. There’s a dedicated page showcasing the gems organized by category.

Progress

Most of the restaurants I’ve reviewed so far are in the eastern Algarve (Sotavento), but I plan to gradually include more from the western Algarve (Barlavento) as well. New restaurants will be added, and a few might be dropped, but the list will gradually grow larger and, no doubt, better.

How can you suggest restaurants to be added to this list?

If you’d like to contribute or suggest a restaurant to be featured on this list, simply submit your recommendation through the contact form and leave a comment in this page. I welcome your input in helping me discover new Gems!