6 days ago
Gorgeous town in Portugal is a foodie paradise with flights from £27
World-class beaches, quaint cobbled towns, and delicious wine. It's no surprise that thousands of British tourists flock to Portugal's Algarve region every summer.
Returning visitors likely have their favourite destinations: from historical Sagres to the buzzy Praia da Rocha.
But there's one place that isn't as well known — and it's a must-visit for fans of Portuguese food.
Named as an emerging foodie destination by Airbnb, the town of Almancil is just a 20 minute drive from Faro Airport.
Close to the popular Loulé, this glamorous spot is part of the Algarve's affluent Golden Triangle area, with boutique shopping and world-class golf courses — it even has two Michelin starred restaurants.
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Fancy a luxe getaway? Here's everything you need to know about this up and coming town.
The journey to Almancil from the UK s pretty straight forward.
To get to the town (which was recently approved for city-status by the Portuguese government) you'll need to take a flight from the UK to Faro Airport.
According to Expedia, flights can start from as little as £27 one-way (based on an EasyJet flight from London Southend Airport on August 29.)
Direct flights from London SEN take two hours and 55 minutes and once you arrive at Faro it's a short 20 minute drive to Almancil.
No car? No problem. There are buses from the airport, which will take you to Albufeira, and then you'll need to hop on another bus to Almancil. Travel via public transport from Faro takes about 40 minutes.
If you love shopping, you'll be in your element in Almancil, as there are two giant shopping destinations in town, including MAR Shopping Algarve and Designer Outlet Algarve.
MAR Shopping is a mall containing high street stores like Bershka, ALDO, Clair'es, Deichmann, Flying Tiger, H&M, IKEA, LEGO, Mango, Pandora, Primark and Sephora. While the designer outlet features brands like Ray-Ban, Adidas, Karl Lagerfeld and Levi's.
Those who prefer to soak up a bit of culture will want to head to the stunning Igreja de São Lourenço de Almancil, a little treasure that was built in 1730. From the outside, it looks like most other Portuguese limestone churches, but inside the walls and cupola are covered in blue and white hand painted azulejos (tiles), which depict the life and death of Saint Lawrence. The church also contains plenty of gold carvings and gilding, especially around the altar.
According to Tripadvisor reviews, it's 'beautiful' and 'definitely worth a visit'.
Those who enjoy splashing about might also want to pay a visit to the Aquashow Waterpark, which is an eight minute drive away from the town, or a 12 minute bus journey.
Alternatively, Almancil is a short drive to Ria Formosa nature reserve, as well as popular beaches on the Algarve such as Praia do Ancão, Praia Quinta do Lago, Praia Vale do Lobo, and Praia Vilamoura.
Golf fans will also be easily entertained at one of the many luxurious resorts in the area, including Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago. The former has two courses (the Ocean and the Royal), while the latter has three award-winning golf courses, surrounded by pine forests, lakes and the Ria Formosa.
The wider Areias de Almancil neighbourhood boasts not one, not two but three restaurants from the Michelin guide (within a 15 minute drive from the main town itself).
These include 2 Passos, a seafood restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Praia do Ancão, meaning you can enjoy picturesque sea views while you eat. The grilled squid and tiger prawns with rice are said to be unmissable dishes.
There's also Gusto by Heinz Beck located at the Conrad Algarve hotel. Open Tuesday to Saturday, the restaurant offers innovative seven and nine-course tasting menus by the German chef and the food features Mediterranean and Italian influences. More Trending
The Fagottelli Carbonara is the chef's signature dish, so you'll want to try that if you can. Enjoy with a premium wine pairing, while dining at the outdoor terrace.
And finally there's Pequeno Mundo, a romantic fine dining restaurant in an Algarvian house with pretty courtyards filled with plants and greenery. The menu has strong French and Portuguese influences and there's a six-course tasting option, as well as vegetarian dishes and seasonal off-menu specialities.
According to the Michelin guide, the prawns with sautéed portobello mushrooms are a must try and for dessert, you'll want to order the crispy red fruits. If you're looking for something a little different social media users love Parrilla Natural, a nearby Uruguayan restaurant which specialises in beef. Many dishes are cooked over the grill and they also serve Sunday roasts. The steakhouse is unique in that it has a beautiful outdoor deck with a giant pine tree in the middle, strung up with fairy lights that twinkle in the evening.
Metro's Kristina Beanland has been lucky enough to visit the Algarve more times than she can count — and there's one dish she keeps going back for.
She says: 'I love everything about eating at a Portuguese restaurant, from the no-frills decor, to the simple yet-oh-so delicious 'couvert' of bread, olives and goats cheese, to my favourite childhood desert, Sawdust Pudding, which I promise tastes better than it sounds.
'But my favourite dish, not just in Portugal, but anywhere in the world, has to be Bacalhau a Bras. It translates to 'salt cod in the style of Brás' (catchy), but is essentially shredded cod with scrambled eggs, matchstick potatoes, onion and olives to garnish.
'It's thought to have hailed from Lisbon (potentially invited by a chef named Brás) back in the 19th century, and become popular as an easy, cheap dish to make. I've always eaten it in the Algarve, famed, of course, for its fresh seafood.
'Bacalhau a Bras is the ultimate comfort food. Stodgy, salty and delicious, it might not be the most elegant of dishes, but it always hits the spot.
'If you can't make it to Portugal but still want to give it a try, I'd recommend Londoners head to Stockwell's Little Portugal, and trying to Bacalhau a Bras served at O Cantinho de Portugal.'
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