Sea Views, Fresh Fish & Algarve Flavours in Benagil
O Algar is a must-stop restaurant near Benagil in Lagoa for anyone who wants a memorable Algarve meal with a view. The setting is a big part of the charm—diners love sitting on the balcony and taking in the coastline—yet it’s the food and the people that make guests want to return again and again. The team is consistently described as welcoming, attentive, and genuinely helpful, creating a relaxed experience from the moment you arrive.
The menu is built around what you’re here for: fresh fish of the day, well-handled seafood, and plates that feel both simple and special. The fish soup gets repeated praise as a top pick, especially after a long coastal walk. Garlic prawns are another favorite—rich, fragrant, and perfect with a glass of house white. If you’re in the mood for something different, the duck is often recommended as a standout main, showing that the kitchen isn’t limited to seafood alone.
Seafood lovers will also appreciate the clams—described as sweet, juicy, and beautifully seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and coriander—alongside expertly char-grilled bream with a fresh tomato salad. The overall style is classic Algarve: great ingredients, confident grilling, and flavors that don’t need to be overcomplicated to impress. It’s the sort of place that feels especially rewarding after exploring the nearby trails, including the popular Seven Hanging Valleys route.
Families are well looked after too, with small touches that make dining easier (and more fun) with kids. Add the scenery, the friendly pacing of service, and the consistent focus on quality, and you have a restaurant that fits everything people want from a coastal meal.
For seafood in Benagil with an unbeatable setting, O Algar is a standout choice in Lagoa.
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Wolfgang Petersen
in the last weekWe come here several times every year in March. O Algar has become our favorite restaurant. The fish is perfect, especially the sole! The cataplana for two is also delicious and offers good value for money. The service is exceptionally friendly.
Sonia Langenbacher
in the last weekVery nice restaurant in one of the many small beaches. Food was great and also the service very friendly. Can recommend for fantastic Portuguese food experience! Thank you.
Cassidy Ann
in the last weekAn absolute must! The food was delicious, the service was exceptional, and the view was beautiful! They get quite busy, so I recommend going as soon as they open to get a spot. We ordered the Prawn Cocktail as an appetizer (server informed me that the packaging of an ingredient in the appetizer stated "May contain traces of gluten", but that it didn't contain any gluten ingredients otherwise). I appreciated the knowledgeable staff, and how they took our meal with much care in regards to my allergy. I got the Grilled Chicken w/Piri Piri that came with a tomato salad and fries (cooked in a dedicated fryer). Gluten-Free items are not marked on the menu, but the staff are very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend if you're in the area!
Fee Kooij
a week agoLovely service, great rood, we had thé red snapper, delicious!
Mario
a week agoI'm afraid I have to speak up for this place. We went to this restaurant yesterday with high expectations (based on a recommendation and the reviews here). We simply cannot understand the hype surrounding this restaurant (we're from the coast and know fish). We ordered fish soup as a starter, followed by the daily fish special (monkfish), and dessert (almond and fig cake with ice cream), along with water and a beer. The soup was barely warm and looked like leftovers from the kitchen. Bread was served with it. I have no idea what rusks were doing in the bread basket. I don't even want to know how much they charged for them. Despite the waiter filleting it, the monkfish still had several bones. It came with "Portuguese potatoes" (halved and listlessly tossed in oil) and a tomato salad that was truly awful (very uninspired presentation). Oh, and... a lemon wedge was added to the plate as decoration. The waiter was friendly and the cake was delicious. However, the price seemed very high for what we had. So we left the restaurant feeling a bit hungry.