Algarve Restaurant in Santa Luzia

As ever, I am happy to pass on a personal recommendation about an Algarve restaurant...

... And this one is in quaint little Santa Luzia, near Tavira in eastern Algarve, just to the east of my current favourite Algarve beach, Barril.  It is recommended by Algarve Beach Life reader Stewart, who hails from Leeds, England but has also acquired an Algarve holiday home, as you'll learn below:-

Here is what Stewart wrote about his favourite Algarve restaurant:-

For one of the best Arroz Marisco ( a bit like a Spanish paella) take a trip to the beautiful village of Santa Luzia, Tavira and visit 'Alcatruz'.

This family-run restaurant can be found on Rua Antonio Chagas Ferrira just a couple of streets back from the palm-lined promenade and specialises in fresh seafood and fish.

During the summer months it is essential to book, as visiting Lisbonites and local Portugese flock there for dinner; but out of season you will normally be able to get a table.

My partner Joan and I recently purchased a small house on R. Antonio Chagas Ferrira and our first priority each time we return is a visit to Alcatruz.

I had to do a lot of soul searching before letting on about this one as my first instinct was to keep it a secret.   We see surprisingly few tourists in Alcatruz and can't help feeling it may be better if it stays that way!!

The restaurant is closed on Mondays and a smattering of Portugese would be helpful as none of the staff speak English. They are however very pleasant and helpful.

Thank you, Stewart, for the generous recommendation - and I hope that you aren't excluded from your favourite Algarve restaurant by a sudden glut of Algarve Beach Life readers wanting to try it out!

After Stewart's email arrived, Nev and I managed a short trip to Santa Luzia, since we hadn't been there for quite a while.

It's reasonably easy to find, if you follow either the EN125 or the A22 towards Tavira.

When we visited, there were roadworks underway, which made finding the restaurant and walking around on a warm day something more of an adventure!

There were also a number of interesting examples of Algarve chimneys, which I photographed for when I update my webpage that deals with that subject!

As Stewart mentions, it's not a crowded place, out of season, but has a nice ambience.  I enjoyed strolling around the narrow streets and was even entertained when Nev ventured some of his Portuguese to ask a local lady where we might find an Algarve restaurant named Alcatruz (after we'd failed dismally in our detective efforts).

She understood what he'd asked and gave us a detailed (and very rapid!) set of directions.  Happily, we had understood enough of what she'd told us to find the restaurant within a very short time.

It was closed when we were there, so we could not see a menu, but I'd be rather surprised if an Algarve seafood outlet catered for vegetarian tastes, so I'm unlikely to be taking up table space if you call by the Alcatruz at any time.

Directions: 

Once you reach Santa Luzia, park and find the waterfront promenade area.  Walk along until you reach the Farmacia on the corner, then cut down that road.  The Alcatruz restaurant is a couple of streets down on the right.

See whether you agree with Stewart that it's the cat's whiskers of Algarve  restaurants offering seafood.  And...

... Either before or after your meal, you can enjoy a stroll around the village and soak up some of that authentic, laid-back Algarve ambience.

I'm pretty sure they'll have finished off the roadworks by the time you arrive!

Meantime, the views from the waterside cafés are as restful as ever...

To use a tennis metaphor, the ball's in your court.  Give this Algarve restaurant a visit and see what you think.

Return from Algarve Restaurant in Santa Luzia to Home page