Carvoeiro

[Costacoffeeplease]

I know there are several mnetters coming to Carvoeiro on holiday this summer, as I live here I thought I'd start a thread for any questions anyone might have?

Hi Costs Have arrived in Cavoeiro and am currently sitting outside the snack bar Jomar on the incoming 1 way system we are staying just round the corner from Santander.

Ds and I love sea food so which are the best sea food restaurants and can we get sardines here or do we need to head to Portimao?

I

Welcome! We were there yesterday, but home tonight!!

You can get sardines most places, portimão is the traditional place but lots of traditional Portuguese restaurants will have them on the menu - more of a lunchtime thing for locals, rather than dinner

Try a fish cataplana (usually for two people) or seafood rice - Rei das Praias at Caneiros beach is the best fish restaurant locally - it is expensive, but very good

Thanks Costa may well be back for more advice. Dc are both chatting on about water parks and boat trips ....

If they like boat trips, there are dolphin watching trips out of portimão and lagos, they have a fairly good success rate at seeing them too!

No problem - any questions, I'm around

If you go to the restaurant up at Vila Nova they always have very fresh fish, and bring it out to show you when you're looking at the menu

Dourada is another popular choice (golden bass or bream, I can never remember which!)

So jel jakadaal I would love to be sitting in Carvoeiro . Enjoy, it's the best place

I need to pick up a map - our apartment is lovely but no info at all on the area (or where to put the rubbish out!)

Beautiful day today - we have been to the beach and got stung by the cost of the sun loungers. Will be returning with parasols and beach mats next time.

I have to say Costa you love in a beautiful part of the world

It is, isn't it?

There are large communal bins everywhere, not sure where your nearest are, maybe towards the bottom of the hill near the taxi rank?

Have a look for a freemap, you can pick one up in lots of the bars and restaurants, or at the pottery market near jomar - white paper with 'Freemap' printed in red

Or ask here and I'll give you directions

I need to pick up a map - our apartment is lovely but no info at all on the area (or where to put the rubbish out!)

Beautiful day today - we have been to the beach and got stung by the cost of the sun loungers. Will be returning with parasols and beach mats next time.

I have to say Costa you love in a beautiful part of the world

Hope you've arrived ok maki and the villa is ok - is it hot enough for you??

Oh good, glad it's all ok! I'll watch out for the aroma of BBQ drifting over later

Just seen a flyer for what looks like an 'x factor' type singing competition in the square tonight, if anyone's interested? 9pm start

What about O Stop at Centeanes? We were there last week

Glad you're having a good time

There are also several beach bars and restaurants on Praia Grande at Ferragudo, and a small beach bar/restaurant at Praia do Pintadinho, between Carvoeiro and Ferragudo

If you walk from Vila Nova towards Carvoeiro, at the top of the cliff on the right hand side is a restaurant called O Boteco - it has changed hands just this season so I don't know what it's like food/price wise

Just thought of another one - O Barco on the square, the place on the left as you look at the sea

O Barco had lovely sardines when we went and the waiters were really nice with the children

Here's the flyer, and their Facebook page is Voz de Lagoa

As you've got quite young children, maybe Praia Grande would be the best bet as it has a playground at the bottom of the steps?

Hi again Costa, what would be your top 3, mid-priced restaurants for:

• a family of 4 with DCs aged 15 & 13
• we love fish but DCs don't
• walking distance from Areias Dos Moinhos.

I've already got the restaurant on the Moinhos development in my mind (forgotten the name of it though but I'm sure we'll find it!) and O Stop on Centeanes beach.

Oh - and just how hot exactly is it at the moment?!!

6 days and counting...!

The restaurant on ADM is Ponto de Encontro - good choice of fish and meat

As you walk down from ADM, you'll turn right onto Estrada do Farol (restaurant hill) first restaurant on the right is Vimar, very popular, typical Portuguese. Next is A Rede - ignore!! I also wouldn't go to either Primavera or Villa Medici - opposite Vimar, next door to each other, I think they're overpriced for what they are!

The last restaurant on the right before you get to the Mirachoro Praia hotel is A Marisqueira - another good Portuguese restaurant

Further down the hill Jota Lita, A Galé, Casa de Bife are all good, Maximes is nice, a bit pricier - for pizza, Mirage on the left and up some steps. On the 'out' road, Ele Ela (bit more expensive, very good, have to book!), A Vela and Taste - on the 'in' road near the chemist and up some steps is A Fonte - how's that for starters? By the way 'bife' on a menu just means steak, so bife de atum - tuna steak

And it's mid 30s daytime, probably early 20s at night - there's been a nice breeze today, which has been very welcome!