This is what you would expect in the Costa's and in the more popular Mediterranean resorts. It is loud, full of people, packed with restaurants of every sort, and in the middle of a large number of apartment blocks, hotels and villas. It is, these days, little different to the old Costa's or Magaluf and has minimal charm. The area originally consisted of one main road and a few hundred metres either side of it but now it sprawls in every direction. 'The Strip' has almost every facility you could want (bars, good food, cheap exchange rates etc.) and all the associated noise and hassle but, with great care, it is possible to stay some half a mile away in relative peace and quiet. Even the giant Kiss disco, on a side road, does not seem to cause any problems with noise, though rubbish can often be unsightly and drunks can be seen in the early to late morning (even at 6am).

The Strip is about 1.5 miles long from the north (Montechoro end) to the south (Praia da Oura end). Most facilities are about halfway down/up, at the crossroads (near the Marrachinho Supermarket - Marvellous for those who want to cook for themselves). The Strip proper finishes to the south at a newly upgraded roundabout with 3 Palm trees on it. Going straight on takes you down Cardiac hill to the Praia da Oura beach; right goes to Albufeira town with a left turn after 100 metres taking you down to the Kiss disco followed by the Praia dos Aveiros area

Although often labelled as part of Albufeira in the guide and tour operators books, it is nearly two miles from the centre of the strip to the centre of the main town. More recently, attempts have been made by some tour operators to promote hotels etc. in or near the strip as either in Montechoro (northern end of the strip) or in Praia da Oura (the southern end). To be frank the locations stated by tour operators are often misleading and you should check the location with the aid of a map.

For the more adventurous there is now a Sling Shot (sort of ground based Bungee jump) near the crossroads (look for what looks like two tall ship masts and rigging). Comments received show this to be enjoyable (if you like this sort of thing) though expensive. If nothing else the screams are good and can be heard for quite a distance! Another noisy spot is just down from the crossroads on the eastern side where "bouncy castle" slides and electric "cars" and  "trikes" are available for the kids..

As mentioned above, there are a very large number of bars and restaurants along the strip. Some are good, but a lot survive only due to the mass of potential customers. These get away with serving food that should only be tolerated once in a holiday and sometimes only once in a lifetime. The good ones are often very busy and generally have Portuguese customers.

Note than in 2001 there have been reports of open drug dealing on "the Strip"!

See also the surrounding areas of Albufeira, Praia Do Aveiros and Praia da Oura

Accommodation (A-Z)

• Villa Aldeia - 1999
  "Situated by the lower crossroads by the post office and next to the tatty water tower - lovely but there appears to be a new bar on the corner with live groups playing until about 4 a.m".
   
• Villa Casa Beatriz - 2003
  (May 03) "(Montechoro end of the Strip) Although on the same street as the KISS disco (about 5 min walk) surprisingly quiet especially at the weekends. Fantastic villa, in spacious grounds with large pool, barbeque area, gardens and roof terrace. Decorated to a high standard and maid service every other day, only problem one set of keys between a villa that sleeps up to 6 people and caretaker often locked the gate on his own accord leaving those without the key stranded on occasion and had to seek refuge in the nearest bar!!"
   
• Garden Choro Apartments - 2001
  "Behind the Montechoro Hotel at the top of the Strip. Basic but clean apts and an ideal location 2 minutes from the Strip. We booked on a late deal 2 days before leaving and ended up with a 2 bedroom, 3 balcony apt for only 2 people. Nice pool view and excellent view over the Albufiera area".
   
• Janelas Do Mar Apartments - 2001
  (July 2001) "consist of three blocks 9 floors high. We arrived at about 2.30 in the afternoon and had to wait for our rooms to be ready. We stayed on the 8th floor with a good sea and pool view. The apartments were clean and spacious with two balconies. The facilities in the apartment were good also. The pools, 4 in all, one children's, two adults and one indoor although none were heated. Also there was a Jacuzzi but it gave our no bubbles and was stone cold. When we asked reception we were told it was working. There seemed to be a reasonable amount of sunbeds around the pools but unfortunately a lack of shades, in fact only seven for about thirty sunbeds. The complex is 2km from the beach so a courtesy bus is available (at a cost of £1 per day no matter how often you use it). My only criticism of this is that it took you to the strip and it took you to fisherman's beach but not to the beach I spent most of my time at which was Praia de Oura beach so I had to get a taxi or walk a long way. There were birds nesting on many balconies at the complex and during our two week stay we had two dead birds on our balcony, and the maid did in fact remove the nests during the first week. I must recommend the entertainer one night at the complex and his name was Tillerman, really good voice and a lot of 70s/80s music".
    
• Mirachoro Apartments - 2002
  (July 02) "Suitable for young people or families who don't mind a bit of noise: karaoke from Father Ed's bar across the street can be heard until 2am if you're at the front. Location is ideal otherwise though, & courtesy bus service to the beaches is useful. Pool area well maintained & everything is clean. Most of the staff are quite helpful & 24hr reception means they have a good attitude to people coming in late! Apartments are spacious, fine for 4 people. Only criticism is the self-catering facilities which are a bit limited".
   
  (2000) "just round the corner from the Hotel Montechoro. If you are looking for something basic then these may be the apartments to aim at. I would suggest more for the young couples than families - I got the impression that the families that were there at the same time as us had, like us, booked late.

  The area is quite noisy, and as it is just over the road from a modern complex of restaurants and bars, there is plenty of music to be heard at night.

  The rooms are OK - again basic. The staff perhaps reflect the apartments overall - basic"!
    

• Novochoro Appts - 2000 
  "It cost £14 per night and the quality of the apartments, swimming pool etc was unbelievable. My wife can be picky to say the least and even she was impressed. Only consideration is must have a car as about a 15 minute walk out of town so for daily trips etc a car is essential".
   

• Oura Praia Aparthotel - 2002
  (July 2002) "our comment is exactly as your report of 2001. We stayed in a studio on the ground floor overlooking the pool, exactly what we requested. The studio was spacious and being split level with the beds in one end and the living area in the other we felt it was as good as a one bedroom apartment. We can say everything was excellent, from the cleanliness to the friendliness of both cleaning and management staff. We highly recommend this accommodation, and would not hesitate at going back again. We also enjoyed having use of the facilities especially the spacious sun terraces at the sister complex Club Praia Da Oura".
  
  (2001) "is the smaller sister hotel to the CPO (Clube Praia Oura) and is MUCH better than the CPO. Only 126 rooms, EXCELLENT, clean well kept facilities with a staff that really caters to your needs. I HIGHLY recommend this hotel".
  
  (Note from Dave - never sure if CPO and Oura Praia Aparthotel should be here or on the Praia Da Oura page so I've put one on each page - The travel brochures and guide books don't know either!)
   

• Dom Pancho Apts.  - 2000
  "(formerly the Tropico Apts.) Situated at the end of the road leading east from the crossroads near the lower end of the strip (past the Cockerel Country Kitchen). The common areas of these apartments look fine, but some of the rooms are suffering from poor maintenance. The air conditioning in the rooms is now non-functional. Overall, this accommodation is reasonably good, but the rooms are not up to the standard found here 6 or 7 years ago".
   

• Rodrimar Apts. - 2001
  (May 01) "Apartments were a reasonably good standard and spacious with on-site snack-bar. Locally situated with easy access to The Strip and within a 10 minutes walk to Beach".
  
  (2000) "Situated just off the roundabout 300m west of the strip, (R. Dunfermline) opposite the end of the Tropical Sol Apts. Good accommodation, with apartments of a similar internal layout to the Tropical Sol, but with less facilities, and lacking the "as new" look of the Tropical Sol, but guests are allowed to share the facilities of the adjoining Valmangude Apts. (good pools for children)".
   
• Silchoro Apts. - 2003
  (Apr 2003) "Very friendly staff. We were in the room immediately above the bar - it could have been awful, but there was no problem with noise late at night. We'd definitely go back there... in the summer, when the swimming pool might be warm!"
  
  (Aug 2002) "The Silchoro apartments are clean, well maintained and the staff there are friendly. There was no entertainment to speak of apart from a BBQ on Tuesdays which we didn't attend so no comment, and a one man band singer with a keyboard, down in the basement on a Thursday. Our idea was not to stay there anyway but explore the various bars and restaurants, so that worked pretty well for us. The bar at the Apts closes at 1.00am but the kids had had enough by then (ha,ha). The pool and pool area is good and there is a tennis court for the mad English to play in the midday sun. If you asked me for a rating out of 10 - Area 6, Apts 8, Overall holl 8. (10 would be on the beach, by the pool, free beer etc. - you get what you pay for)"
  
  (April 2001) "Situated 200mts. behind the bullring roundabout and a ten minute stroll to The Strip. We had a spacious one bedroom apartment, on the eighth floor, with views towards the coast. The Silchoro is a clean and pleasant place to stay with friendly staff, restaurant and bar and a good sized pool in large gardens"
   
• Solar Do Sol Apartments - 2002
  (Sept 02) "2* Situated on the main Albuferia/Lisbon road approx 20 min walk from Worm Island and Montochoro Hotel. Small block of apartments with approx 8-12 rooms. Very clean, bedding changed and rooms cleaned every other day. A bit out of the way . . . taxis cost approx 4 Euros to either centre of strip or Albuferia Town. Those with walking difficulties would require to use car hire or taxis. We have just returned and hired a car for 13 days, as sometimes taxis hard to find. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at these apartments, however, they do have a number of rules regarding the Pool Area that may cause some problems for visitors. No items from rooms maybe taken to the Pool Area, no airbed, balls or games allowed in the pool. All food and drink required whilst you are at the pool, must be purchased from the Solar do Sol bar (which is a room approx 12ft by 12ft that serves as reception, bar and shop). If walking a torch is recommended for returning late as there is hardly any street lighting or pavements".
   
• Topazio Apartments - 1996
  "Like the Auramar this is situated a little way from the strip (5 minutes walk to reach the bottom end). With its own landscaped gardens it looks good in the adverts but is right opposite the Algarve's most famous disco - Kiss - and suffers from the noise".
   
• Tropical Sol Apts. - 2001
  (Aug 2001) "Superb accommodation. Good size rooms, very clean, well equipped. Great view down towards the sea, and as commented by someone last year, great entertainment watching the staff reposition all the sun beds at night round the pool, only for the rush of towel wielding Brits at 9am rearranging them before disappearing off for breakfast. The poolside bar was excellent, very friendly staff, good prices, and very tolerant of children who appear at the wrong side of the counter having just got out of the swimming pool. I would recommend these apartments to anyone".
  
  (2000) "Situated just off the roundabout 300m west of the strip, (R. Dunfermline) behind the Oura Apts. This accommodation is the best I have found in the area. These are spacious, spotlessly clean apartments, maintained to a very high standard, right down to the staff repositioning every sunbed into line around the pool every night. The pool-side bar is run by a friendly Portuguese couple, and they charge normal local prices for food & drinks, unlike some apartment bars which seem to charge about 30% above local prices. All apts. have a pool view. They have received gold awards from the tour operators using them".
   
• Tropico - 2000
  See Dom Pancho!
   
• Valmangude Jardim Apartments - 2002
  (On a back road that runs parallel to The Strip between the Old Town and The Strip)
  
  (July 02) "cockroaches - there were over 10 in my apartment in one night. They seemed to be coming from the kitchen which isn't a good sign. There were also some in the bedrooms and in the sink in the bathroom. We went to the reception but they wouldn't come up into the room. Someone came in the next day and sprayed something down the drains and around the floor. The thing I didn't know was that they can fly and you aren't meant to stand on them because they can still breathe and their eggs spread. The same day there were two dead cockroaches lying on the stairs. I'm not surprised that they were there because the maids were terrible. They came about twice a week and just sweeped quickly around the floor . The beds never got made - the sheets were just left on the beds. We didn't even get a spray . I ended up using a can of hairspray trying to kill them. They run really fast so I left and slept in my friends room".

Eateries (A-Z) 

• Absolut Bar - 2001
  (June 2001) "Near the top of the Strip on the left walking up. Karaoke bar with British, Scandanavian. Dutch and Portuguese clientele. A very friendly and good fun place to be, especially near the end of the night when it gets very busy. Get your song in early if you want to sing as the demand is high! E went here several tomes on the way home for a nightcap and stayed probably far too long but always thoroughly enjoyed. Great atmosphere. Recommend for a laugh and dynamite cocktails!!"
   
• Albertus Bar - 2003
  (May 03) "(near to Scots Rock and BJ's Canadian Bar on the Strip) Small bar with very friendly staff, good priced drinks especially the cocktails, has nightly Karaoke featuring Robin and Martin who are a scream. Recommend this bar even if you're not a lover of singing in front of people - excellent atmosphere".
    
• Ancora – 2001
  (May) "Although didn't eat there, evening entertainment was quite a good standard"
  
  (1999) "We both had ‘chicken piri-piri’ of sorts, which was fairly pleasant, although the chilli came from chilli seeds on grilled chicken pieces rather than a chilli sauce. Wine was an enjoyable dry white Dão. Cost 3600esc. (17.957€)"
    
• La Bamba - 2003 (Note - bar, restaurant snacks and ice cream sections)
  (Jul 2003) "Superb ice creams (homemade it says). Have also tried Visconti just over the road but this is better"
  
  (Apr 2003) "Absolutely wonderful ice cream. Really really yummy". (very close to Gelateria Visconti)
  
  (Aug 2002) "Very nice ice-cream parlour with good selection of snacks, meals, and of course ice creams. Milkshakes are very nice too. Perfect for lunch or a quick snack, though if you go with a family you may be a little surprised as to how the bill adds up should you go for snacks".
  
  (July 02) "Ice cream parlour - Excellent choice, and friendly staff".
  
  (Aug 01) "The restaurant is just the same as we remember it last year. The food is very good, selected from a pretty predictable menu, and is at a reasonable price. The staff are excellent, very helpful, and keen to please, and entertain where possible".
  
  (2000) "Situated down the Strip great restaurant, about 50 metres before the roundabout, very good food, friendly staff who greet kids with a grin not a grimace. The wine is okay, and the prices are good but reflect that the restaurant is better than alot in the area. There is a good bar for lunch time snack, which is a useful refreshment stop after combating Cardiac Hill on the way back from the beach".
    
• La Bamba (Bar) - 2002
  (July 02) "Always packed! If you're a young lady who doesn't appreciate being groped, we'd recommend you avoid La Bamba or stand in the corner"!
   
• Bananas - 2001 
  (June 2001) "Near the top of the Strip on the right hand side. Mainly British food which I don’t usually sample on holiday but a super, bumper sandwich with everything helped me along nicely after too much Casal Garcia the night before. English run and cheap. Would recommend if hungover at all".
   
• Barhon Coffee shop and Pastelaria - 2003
  (Jul 03) "Still good cakes, coffee etc. very helpful staff - excellent Toasties"
   
  (2000) "Some 30 yards down from Cafe Doris and easily recognised by the Delta Coffee logo on the sunshade, this is one of the most pleasant places on the strip to sit at anytime and have cake and coffee. Excellent coffee, good service and a fair range of cakes and pastries. It is now (Sept 2000) self service and you need to order at the counter".
   
• Bella Italia - 2002
  (July 02) "We agree about the poor attitude of the staff- one of us was standing up for 10 mins before the waiter brought a chair. Very busy. Good ice creams but expensive".
   
  (Oct 01) "Excellent Pastas & Pizzas and very good service they also do fantastic ice creams and crepes which were unbelievable to finish of your meal half bottle of wine available and prices that were well within budget".
   
• Bella Pasta Gelateria - 1998
  (1998) "This is the place to go when your eyes are not bigger than your belly! A good range of pasta and Pizza plus excellent ice cream dishes. Waiters use electronic pads which radio through the order so service is generally fast. Rather let down by two things... the "couldn't care less" attitude of the waiters and the poor starters (their idea of Bruschetta is just a chili paste on a pizza base - pathetic!). Also in Portimão and Vilamoura".
   
• Le Bistro - 2002
  (Aug 2002) "While I'm happy with just a picture, this restaurant is pure class. The service could not be any better, with exceptional waiters and top quality food, presented brilliantly. While on the pricey side, you will not find better value anywhere in the world when it comes to service".
   
  (Aug 2002) "Best quality restaurant: Le Bistro (visited twice). Location: South part of The Strip. Walk 200yards down the road at the junction by the Costa Rica restaurant. The food was outstanding and the quality of service the best I've had in many a year. Cost for 3 courses for 4 adults including wine was 76 and 100 Euros on our 2 visits. A must for anyone who appreciates fine food and service".
   
  (Christmas 2000) "hadn't been mentioned but was the best restaurant we tried. The menu is extensive a bit different to all the rest - frogs legs and rabbit for example but again not cheap. The service was excellent and little touches like appetizers before the starters and salad before the main course made a difference. The food was lovely and presented beautifully and the restaurant layout is good with plenty of space between tables".
   
• Blue Sky Restaurant - 2001
  (April 2001) "With regard to the Blue Sky restaurant just off "The Strip" we visited there in April 2001 on three occasions during our stay. We were given a very warm welcome, and on the first occasion it was their first night open under new ownership. We ordered our food and although a little slow the food was excellent and very plentiful. On the following two occasions they appeared to have ironed out the teething problems and the food was quicker to appear but still excellent. We would highly recommend "The Blue Sky" and will be returning there next April".
  
  (June 2000)  "reported to be empty most nights"
  
  (1995 Avoid) "On the Hotel Aldeia - Albufeira road, about 400m from the Hotel and almost in front of the 'Eurasia' Chinese restaurant. "It was August, they were busy, but the service and food were terrible. Keep away from the chicken curry - it was a piece of boiled chicken with some curry sauce poured over. When we complained, the owner gave us a lot of verbal abuse! Other tables around us were also complaining at the same time." .
   
• Blue Star (Bar) - 1997
  "Next to Gregor's (This was also worth a visit) The Blue Star is run by a Portuguese Newcastle United fanatic, always wears a United track suit or top, even sells Newcastle Brown!"
   
• Bomgarpo restaurante and Bar - 2001
  "this is a small Portuguese restaurant about 100 metres north up the street from the Ourapraia Hotel on the East side of the street.  This is a cafeteria type restaurant where you pick up your tray/plate and commence down the buffet line helping yourself to salads, fries, chicken piri-piri, fish, chowder, etc-----a very good selection and the best part is - is when you go to pay for the food your plate is weighed on a scale and you pay by weight!  We ate there 3 times and since my wife is a very small eater it was beneficial --- rather than having a mound of food shoved in front of you. The food was well prepared and tasty and you could take larger portions of the food that appealed to you (since it was all by weight---who cares)
  A dinner with wine for TWO ran about 2100 escudos (10.475€)"
   
• O' Buzio - 2000
  "Situated on the right, as you walk up the strip, about 200m past the main road Over the past 3 years I have heard from 3 families who reported at least one of them having food poisoning after eating here".
   
• Cacho Dourado ( The Golden Grapes) - 1997
  "Situated just off of the Strip along Rua Almieda. "The food was excellent, the prices very good and the staff very friendly. It is run by Paulo and Juan and believe me, nothing is too much trouble for them. The cooking is all done by Fernandos and he has it down to a fine art. Everything is freshly cooked and even the soup is home made. I would urge any visitor to the area to give them a try. You won't be disappointed".
   
• Cafe Cappuccino - 1997
  "A nice place for snacks. This is upstairs, above the small shopping centre right on the main X roads. The daily special offers were extremely good value".
   
• Cafe Doris - 2003
  (June 2003) "Pretty run of the mill tourist place top half of the strip. Food and service were okay, nothing special. We only went in because it was open to the elements and it was a really warm night. Not bad but wouldn't go back as there are far better restaurants on the strip like the O'Poeta, O'Leao, Taj Mahal and O'Poente".
  
  (Aug 2002) "the worst meal of our holiday, we are two families with two kids each, my brother in law & I ordered sea Bass & our wives ordered bream - it turned out to be the same meal! a big no visit for this place".
   
  (July 02) "Nice steak but pizza was a bit undercooked. Average for the price. Staff friendly but rushed us after our meal".
   
  (June 2001) "Bottom half of the Strip on the right going down. Service a little quick and not overly friendly. Menu a bit limited but food was actually pretty good. Fair prices".
   
  (2000) "This was previously a splendid German style restaurant and snack bar. The fittings themselves were well worth a visit though the variety and quality of the food had deteriorated in recent years. Now all the style has been ripped out and replaced with a modern fast food look".
   
• Restaurant Capoeira ( The Sizzling Stone' ) - 2002
  (July 2002) "This restaurant is located at the very bottom of the strip, on the left hand side of a dirt track before cardiac hill (Rua da Victoria). Our recent findings here were not impressive. We arrived at a decent time when all the tables were not filled. Although having been seated in a prominent spot it was fifteen minutes before our order was taken. We then had to wait 30 minutes before our starter of garlic bread arrived and a further 45 minutes for the main course. Between this period, at the blink of an eye, the waitress removed our glasses which still had the contents in them. It was not as if the food was worth the wait as when it arrived the meat was red and leathery even though we said for it to be very well done. It was not due to the lack of time they had to cook it! My daughter's soup claimed to have a selection of 'fresh vegetables' on the menu but whenever it arrived it looked or tasted no different from a convenience can of soup. When we finished our meal, we had to wait 10 minutes for the bill and a further 10 for the change. For a computer generated business they could not even get the change correct as we received less than we should have. All in all, this restaurant was not worth the wait and I certainly would not recommend it if you were in a hurry"!
   
• Carrousel - 2001
  At the very beach end of the strip before the roundabout and hill to the seafront).
  
  Reported April 2002... "The Carrousel has been taken over by the owners of Kiss Disco and only the front of the building remains at the moment, the whole of the back has been pulled down" 
  
  (May 2001) "Excellent food and wine at a very reasonable price. Evening entertainment was good, especially the nights that the Karaoke was on. There is also a small dance floor but sufficient space to "let your hair down" Music to suit everyone. Great night out".
  
  (Christmas 2000) "just plain tacky, steak was small and tough, watery packet mix type mushroom soup"
  (1999) "Brilliant night out for some 'so tacky its excellent' entertainment. Acts included Karaoke, Carlos Lara (singer) and a Freddy Mercury impersonator called Nelson who has to be seen to be believed! Entertainment starts around 10:00pm so you can eat in peace if you don't fancy the acts!
  "The food is generally excellent on the meat side - best steaks I've had in Portugal with a wide choice of sauces. Fish not so good, but a choice of dishes you don't find elsewhere - very good roast pork. If they don't have what you want - ask. They are very flexible with some of the nicest service I've seen anywhere""
   
• A Chama Restaurant - 2001
  "Situated in an alley (Rua Victoria) next to the O Poeta restaurant at the southern end of The Strip. They claim to serve typical Portuguese Food, and with exception of the Chicken Piri-Piri I can't say we were disappointed in that. We ate here twice and both times the service and the food was excellent".
   
• Charlies Bar - 2001
  (June 2001) "From Deano's we carried on further down, turned left at the cake shop, and had a few drinks in Charlies Bar. There was entertainment on every evening, and he stayed open very late".
   
• Cockerel Country Kitchen - 2003
  (Apr 03) "Massive portions for many items like the steaks or the whole shoulder of lamb. I didn't like the Lancashire 'Rag' dish I had - steak chunks wrapped in a very soft pastry - at first, but it got better the more I ate. The owner is justifiably proud of it, and it is the one place we booked (and were glad to have done so as well over half the tables were booked...)"
  
  (Oct 02) "wonderful British cooking again at very good value prices -a must try"
  
  (Sept 02) "Very good, still very reserved, however, we did notice that after 9.00pm it appeared to become quieter. One disadvantage . . . they deal in cash only (no credit cards accepted). Specials most nights - Tuesdays it's a full shoulder of Lamb".
  
  (July 02) "As reported in your 2001 comment. Their specials were excellent value with very large portions, we went back a few times"
  
  (2001) "proved to be a delightful, cheerful restaurant run by a wonderful English gentleman. We went back a few times as the food was always good, the ambience with the table settings and cleanliness made you really feel at home.  Thanks for your recommendation.....I would go back again & again (obviously many people do because every night the tables are 75% reserved)"
  
  1998 - "English owners, good food & service, very friendly waitresses. Need to book a table in advance!
  Cross roads on strip, follow road to Hotel Aldeia, turn left (Hotel Aldeia on right) pass Mary Ann's & Scottish bar (Chinese Rest). on left. Carry on walking - pass Geordie bar on left approx. 30 yards further on right is the Cockerel. (35 Rua Alexandra Herculano, Areias de Sao Joao 8200)".
   
• Coconuts 2 - 2002
  (Mar 2002) "(An English Pub/Cafe). Called in here for full English breakfast. Food very good, well cooked and well served"
   
• Costa Rica - 2002
  (Aug 2002) "Very big queues, very nice restaurant. Food is very nice, especially the ribs. Standard service".
   
  (June 2001) "Just south of the main road on the left hand side walking up the Strip. Very busy and sometimes have to wait for a table. Well worth waiting for. The steak Portuguese was very good and the pork and clams a joy, and plenty of it too. A little pricey but well worth it. Good service, we will be back next year".
  
  (1999) "On the strip at the crossroads. Although the food was good Monkfish Rice Catapalana etc. the bottles of red and white wine we were supplied with turned out to be two of the dearest on the menu - make sure you ask for the house if you visit or be more specific - we didn't return".
   
• The Cottage - 2002 
  (July 02) "English run restaurant very good menu good value, got very busy around 8.pm so don't leave it too late".
  
  (Oct 01) "Very good menu and very good service at reasonable prices....Blackboard specials every day with home made dishes plus the usual fare.Very enjoyable meals at good value prices".
   
• Deano's Diner - 2001
  (June 2001) "is a quite small place with half of the tables outside, but there was eleven of us and we ate there a couple of times and found the food to be very good, and very reasonably priced. It is over the main road on The Strip (by the supermarket), turn right, and about 300yards down, next to the Queen Vic".
   
• Donaldos - 2003
  (May 03) "(bottom end of the Strip by the Montechoro Beach Club Hotel) Excellent food and waiter service the 3 times we visited. Highly recommend this restaurant especially for families, service was excellent, waiters very friendly and helpful, food was amazing and very good value for money".
   
  (Aug 2002) "A friendly restaurant with waiters who are always more than happy to help. Food is extremely nice with good prices too. Situated at the beginning of the strip".
  
  (Aug 2002) "budget restaurant (visited 3 times). Location: Walk to South end of Strip (Praia end), turn right at roundabout, 20 yards on right. Good Portuguese food and very friendly service".
   
• O Dourada - 1997
  (At the lower end of The Strip) "Choices vary from Shrimp Omelette to Steak on a Stone with very good range of Seafood. Well presented, fair prices and Service reasonable".
   
• O Dourado - 2001
  (June 2001) "Left hand side of the Strip going up. Steak Madeira on a hot slab was 1^st class and very tender, came with proper vegetables. Prawn and monkfish kebab a mighty feed and tasted wonderful. Excellent, friendly service along with very reasonable prices. Recommended"
  
  (Feb 2000)"Excellent Fillet Steaks, reasonably priced" 
  
  (2000) "This is located about the middle of the strip. The food and service there was excellent and, although, at most, it was only half full, the staff were really friendly and helpful. I can recommend the delicious "Tuna steak O Dourado". 
  
  (1999) I really think that this place deserves a mention". 
    
• El Rancho - 2002
  (Aug 2002) "So-so restaurant, average food and waitressing, but nothing that really stands out in either direction".
  
  (May 01) "Very busy place but disappointed in the standard of the steak. Basic meal was smallish steak, small piece of salad with baked potato (when available) anything else, including a sauce, was extra. Total bill was a bit pricey".
  
  (1996) "A popular steak house/grill at the bottom end of the strip. Cold display (always on view) of good looking meat and kebabs. While eatable the food is not spectacular. If you have a seat next to the road do watch out for the begging dogs!"
  
  See Webmaster comments on wildlife!!! 
   
• Fernando's Hideaway - 2003
  (Apr 2003) "Well on the road out of the town, almost a mile from Silchoro/the Strip, made more difficult to find by the fact that the sign is only visible when coming into town! It's next to another restaurant, also converted from a house. Good, not great".
  
  (May 2002) "We have been visiting this restaurant every year since 1996 (last visit may 2002) and this is our favourite by far. The food is excellent (try the roast 'baby goat') and very very reasonable. Although just a short taxi trip from Albufeira/montechoro it has a great 'out in the country' atmosphere. Fernando is very friendly but don't mention his waiters trolley".
  
  (1996) "Highly recommended by a British person working in the Algarve. It can be found on the road from the Strip to the EN125 after (north of) the Montechoro hotel complex. It is often full of local Portuguese customers and so it is worth booking ahead".
   
• Garage (Bar) - 2002
  (July 02) "We highly recommend this place if you like R & B, although the same songs get played every night. Very busy at weekends but gets a nice number inside on week nights. Go after 12.30. About 2/3 of the clientele are Portuguese. A word of warning to the ladies: watch out for Manuel, the guy in the yellow shades & jeans who will always be there as a customer or collecting glasses. Don't go there"!
   
• Garfolandia 2001
  (July 2001) "at the top of the Strip which I think was run by English. The house "speciality dish" which was very lean steak in a casserole topped with lots of roast potatoes was lovely. Also a very cheap place to eat, although sometimes did not seem to have everything advertised (but that seems common in Albufeira). Also one of the best breakfasts I had whilst I was there".
   
• Gordini's - 2001
  (Aug 01) "Used for a take away due to a late arrival on the 1st night. Nothing spectacular but it did the job, and the food was reasonable priced. The staff were quite unfriendly, which was disappointing".
  (2000) "On the main road, about 200m west of the strip, on the south side. Very good service, excellent steaks; a 3 course special costs only £4.60, we ate here a few times, and the food, service & prices were always very good".
   
• Green Bar - 2002
  (July 02) "Promotions quite good if you like alcopops, nice place. Staff friendly, especially the tout. Mixed clientele of young people & families gives it a good atmosphere. You can get free passes to Kiss here".
   
• Gregor's Bar - 2002
  (Aug 2002) "Not much of a view being in a side-street, but decent food at good prices if you're looking for a slightly cheaper alternative".
   
• Hot Hot Hot - 2002
  (July 02) "opposite Linekers Good for a quiet drink before 12, mainly families in there then. Drinks are quite expensive but measures are big. DJ plays mostly R & B & there is a fairly large dancefloor".
   
• Jade Chinese Restaurant - 2002
  (July 2002) "This is a Chinese restaurant situated opposite the Kilt & Celt to the left of the Hotel Aldeia junction going down the strip. It is usually busy & does takeaways. Competitively priced. Wonderful when looking for a change from the usual fare on the strip".
  
  (July 2002) "across the road from the Kilt & Celt First class food, good wine and very pleasant surroundings"
   
• Koalas - 2003
  (Apr 2003) "The most expensive of the places we ate at, but the best. 'Roo and ostrich are both yummy".
  
  (Sept 2002) "Koala garden restaurant Turn right at Costa Rica restaurant and walk @ 1/4 mile for some fine cuisine. Soups are gorgeous starters, mains are generous sizes and all manner of taste accounted for. Desserts are excellent, try the home made cheesecake !!!!! A bit pricier than the other eateries but I would recommend it as a must when in Albufeira or Montechoro Gets v. busy 9pm onwards".
  
  (Aug 2002) "Very nicely laid out, with nice food. The whole atmosphere is unique which gives a good change from the normal restaurants".
  
  (Aug 2002) "Walk 300yards down the road at the junction by the Costa Rica restaurant. Want to try eating kangaroo (tasty), ostrich or crocodile whilst listening to a live performance of a didgeridoo. This is the place. All types of food excellently prepared".
  
  (2000) "an Aussie Restaurant in the Algarve??? It was a brilliant night out, food, staff and customers were brilliant.  Made our evening, based to the West of the strip".
   
• O Leao - 2002
  (July 2002) "we were disappointed when we visited after reading the comments on the site. Our young daughter's pizza arrived cold and had to be returned. It was only the only place to serve us cold vegetables. We also found better Pepper Steak in other places on the strip".
  
  (April 2002) "Visited on recommendation from this site and can confirm that the service and food quality are still excellent. 4 superb starters,4 main meals,3desserts and 2 bottles of wine( 60 euros). The chefs specials vary most days and usually contain amazingly fresh seafood. You will not be disappointed with a visit to this great restaurant".
  
  (June 2001) "Top of the Strip on the right hand side travelling up. Portuguese ran family place. I have eaten here 4 or 5 times in the last 5 years and still the best Pepper Steak I have tasted. The grilled salmon was succulent and enough to feed the whole restaurant. Very friendly service, very well priced. Will visit again next year".
  
  (April 01) "From the Hotel Montechoro, 200 mts. down The Strip on the left. A friendly family run Portuguese style restaurant with excellent freshly cooked food and a good menu of various meat and fish dishes. Very good value for money to boot. We went there twice, each time having a three course meal, bottle of house wine with coffee and brandy to follow, and the dearest bill was 5300esc. (26.436€) Well worth a visit".
    
• Lima - 1996
  "This is situated behind the Hotel Montechoro (at the top end of the strip) on the road that goes to Albufeira, just before you get to the Repsol petrol station. Turn left at the junction for Albufeira and the restaurant is 300meters on your right hand side. The food is always excellent, with both fish and meat, and the staff are efficient and helpful". They are closed on Mondays
   
• Linekers Bar - 2002
  (July 02) "Avoid in the evening unless you like a raucous night out! It's also quite dirty, especially the toilets. Watch out for their touts selling tickets for their twice weekly 'pub crawl'-we were ripped off".
   
• Lisa's Pizza Place - 2000
  (Jul 2003) "although queues of 15 minutes for a table the staff handled it well. Food though was international in standard. Pizzas were fine but pasta would make an Italian despair with huge portions, cheap pasta and sauces that were not really sauces. Very popular place for families as has large outside eating area next  to noisy electric cars and bouncy castle".
   
  (2000) "of all the restaurants we visited this one had by far the worse service - unfriendly staff, who did not have a clue about customer service - my son fainted during his meal and all they were interested in was clearing the table for the next customers. Thankfully this was totally untypical of our overall experience, both last year and on our previous visits to the Algarve".
  
  (2000) "Half way along the strip and just to the south of the main crossroads is this Pizza establishment. It serves a range of pizzas, pasta and other items including some suitable for vegetarians. The house wines are, in general, only drinkable due to the spicy nature of the food so go for a slightly more expensive bottle of non house wine. Desserts were poor with 2 or 3 supposedly "home made" items plus frozen ice-cream confections which can be very good (especially the ice cream in an Orange shell). It is very popular even out of season and so service can be very slow indeed. You would be advised to try Senor Frog's which was far better and much more like Lisa's was several years ago".
   
• Luigis -2002
  (July 02) "Good service, nice meat & fish at good prices. Pasta is also nice. They give you free port or brandy after your meal. If you ask nicely you can get a discount at Gregor's restaurant & bar, which is owned by the same people".
  
  (July 2001) "I must say by the way my experience of Luigis was not a nice one. I decided to try Cataplana only to find it full of shelled fish including grit and all".
   
• McGregor Restaurant  - 2001
  (May 01) "Not the kind of restaurant you'd come back to again. Situated in an alley halfway down The Strip (on the left, coming from the beach) next to the McGregor Bar. Some of the food was already cold when served and the meat was not very tasty and of poor quality".
   
• O Manel dos Frangos - 2002
  (July 02) "top end of the Strip We didn't actually eat in here but heard they do the best chicken on the Strip. Very popular with the locals. We did sample the waiters though, & if they are anything to go by the food should be good".
   
• Le Martinique - 2002
  (Sept 02) "Again, as previous reviews . . . very friendly staff, excellent food , competitive prices. Duck Rice is excellent for 7 Euros. We ate there a number of times and found the staff very friendly and helpful".
  
  (Aug 01) "A very good restaurant, for both lunchtime snacks and evening meals. The quality of the food is very high, and is in good supply, and the staff are very efficient. It was also one of the few places we visited which sold ‘power’ drinks, these were basically fresh fruit cocktails, and made a refreshing change from the regulation lunchtime Super Bock".
  
  (2000) "a highlight from the holiday. This place is just down from the Hotel Montechoro, next door to the Casablanca. Excellent food for all the family, from the starters through to desert. The staff, who initially seemed quire stern turned out to be superb. Very accommodating with children, which as a family man is very important. the prices very reasonable, and the wine was good.
   
• Mary Anne's - 2002
  (July 02) "Excellent value English meals and always had good Jumbo fish and chips as specials".
  
  (July 2002) "Mary Anne's British Pub behind the Kilt & Celt Full English breakfast at 3.5 Euros was very good but their Sunday Roast is a must have, either Beef, Chicken or Lamb with Yorkshire pudding, Roast and Boiled Potatoes, fresh cabbage, cauliflower all this and more for 6 Euros".
  
  (2001) "Mary Ann's for the breakfast to get rid of the hangover is a must"
  
  (April 2001) "Down The Strip from the Hotel Montechoro to the Hotel Aldeia crossroads, turn left and Mary Anne's is to side and rear of the Kilt and Celt bar. Excellent value English style meals in a country pub atmosphere".
  
  ( Christmas 2000) "Mary Ann Bar, behind the Celt and Kilt does excellent fried breakfasts, the 'mega' is a double of everything and it still costs only about £3".
   
• O Migalhas - 2003
  (May 2003) "Close to Tres Palmeiras. Lovely restaurant opened in 2002. Smallish menu but also serves some unusual old style local dishes (pheasant stew, rabbit, pork ribs with breadcrumbs). Very friendly owner who made a big fuss of us on our two visits. Nice house red & cheeses also. Reasonable prices".
   
• Montechoro - 2002
  (Aug 2002) "Extremely good restaurant with very nice food, very nice view and very nice waiters. We went there several times"..
   
• 'Mumtaz' - 2000 [AVOID]
  (2000) "in 1997 we were regular visits, as the food was as good as we could get anywhere. In 2000, things had changed. The food was average and rationed in size, the prices were very high, the children's meals were poor (when ordering chicken and chips for a 2 year old with very ordinary tastes in food, I did not expect Chicken Tikka), the service was disappointing, and the decor / flooring etc seemed to be falling apart. Very disappointing overall for a place we had been looking forward to visiting. Maybe that's I deserve for seeking out Indian food in Portugal"!
  
  (June 2000) "Can't agree with your previous (1999) comments - this turned out to be the most expensive restaurant for an average curry about £32 for 2 including wine" 
  
  (June 2000) "I too found the food to be very mediocre, and highly overpriced. Also the service was not very good. A meal for 2 with 1 starter, 2 main courses with naan, and a couple of drinks was in excess 0f £45",
  (April  2000) "Very average chicken tikka, fairly small portion. Not cheap."
  
  (1999) "an Indian restaurant which was located at the top of the strip beside the Hotel Montechoro. I have visited countless Indian restaurants all over the world and this is without doubt the best I have ever tasted. Excellent food and reasonable prices. Helpful staff too".
   
• Mustang's (Bar) - 2002
  (July 02) "Found this place on the 2nd to last night. Good promotions, regular ladies night. Variety of music & decor is better than most bars. Most of the cientele are very young though".
   
• Natalies Bar - 2001
  (Aug 01) "We finally stumbled on Natalies Bar on the second last night before we were due to go home and it was a relief to meet some people who had a bit of an interest in you other than you being there to fill the till, nice people".
   
• O Paella – 1998
  "Over the crossroads going towards the beach, set in the left hand corner of a square just before the entrance to the Villanova Villas and Apartments. Bright, clean and friendly. As you would suspect from the name their speciality is paella, which is delicious. Had a number of different meals here in 1998 and was never disappointed. The kitchen is open-plan so you can see your meal being cooked. Reasonably priced".
    
• La Palacete – 2000
  (1998) "Going towards the beach, turn right immediately before the Hotel Aldea. Follow the road for 4 to 500 yards and the restaurant is on the right. It is not very big so it is advisable to book. Friendly staff. Traditional Portuguese food. The Steak Portuguese is superb".
  In June 2000 "Fairly enjoyable steak and pork dishes - prices reasonable"
   
• El Panchito - 2000 AVOID
  "I would also not recommend El Panchito Mexican restaurant, the food was appalling" !!!
   
• O Poente - 2001
  (2001) "O'Poente, the peppered steaks are to die for"!
  
  (1996) "Highly recommended by a British person working in the Algarve. It can be found on the road from the Strip to the EN125 after (north of) the Montechoro hotel complex."
   
• O Poeta - 2003
  (Jul 2003) "Great service, brilliant wine selection and excellent food - portions large. Some older wines superb both for taste and value plus you get giant glasses to drink it from"
  
  (Aug 2001) "Having read the comments on this website we decided to visit this restaurant and were not disappointed. The food was superb, and quite reasonably priced. The staff were very friendly, and extremely professional – it did not feel like it was one of many restaurants on The Strip, it almost had an exclusive feel about it".
  
  (May 2001) "Excellent food, excellent service. Here you'll find the service one would expect and the food is very good and very well prepared. Excellent wine-list as well! Has the best Chicken Piri-Piri around. Go there".
  
  (1999) "excellent fish and chicken piri-piri especially - gets very busy with locals, also does take-away chicken".
  
  (1998) "At the southern end of the strip about 100m before the hill down to the sea. This is a friendly place serving good quality Portuguese type food, simple fish, grills etc., plus a range of more novel items as well. Starters and main courses are excellent with large portions, sweets only so so. A good selection of wines including some of good quality and age".
   
• Portofino - 2001
  "This serves a good range of food with a number of Portuguese specialties. It is often very busy but can suffer from slow and careless service. To find it, head for the bottom quarter of the strip and if you come to a roundabout then you have gone too far by a 150 metres or so".
   
  (Oct 01) "Excellent service and quality service at reasonable prices with very good choice on menu excellent meals excellent service".
  
  (Aug 01) "We visited Portofino on the back of comments made on this website, and ended up going 3 times within a week – it was that good. Very popular with the locals as well. The chicken casserole (for two) was exceptional, as was the Pork Portuguese Style. My 7-year-old son thoroughly recommends the Pork Chops, which were not on the children's menu, but he managed to devour them on all visits. If you have room at the end, we recommend that you try the Chocolate Mousse and the Algarve Style Coffee – both excellent, and steeped in alcohol so be warned. The staff were excellent, nothing was too much trouble. A great all-round experience, which we would not have enjoyed had we not read the comments here".
  
  (April 2001) "We had Grilled Sardines here at lunchtime and they were very fresh, moist and served nicely with a salad and boiled potaties".
  
  (Sept 2000) "Good quality, well cooked food. When the bottle of wine was found to be off there was absolutely no hassle - it was just replaced! Do try the flambéed peaches - Hic!!!"
  
  (June 2000) "Discovered this place last year and still felt food and service were above average here. Staff were also very friendly - can recommend the special chicken casserole and flambéed crepes. One of the better restaurants on the strip".
  
  (1999) "We had Sea Bream in a tomato sauce and Portuguese Pork Stew. The fish was good, the stew above average. For dessert we had a flambéed banana ice cream affair. It was above average. The wine was an acceptable dry white (not house, but I can’t remember the exact choice) Cost 4500esc. (22.446€)".
   
• Puccini's- 2002
  (July 02) "Motechoro Parque, near Montechoro Hotel Staff are reasonably friendly, food is tasty for a good price. Good pizza & pasta. They also do a take away service".
   
• Ramos – 2003
  (May 03) "Ramos (up from Libertos Disco on the Strip) Food was extremely tasty and great value for money (try the chicken kebabs), very family friendly, excellent service and friendly staff".
  
  (Aug 2002) "fantastic for us, Great piri piri and steaks, kebabs etc - and the kids were looked after with pizza or chicken nuggets etc".
   
  (1999) "We both enjoyed Tuna ‘Portuguese style’ – a large tuna steak in a tomato, pepper and onion sauce. Delicious, and the only time we received FRESH vegetables. Wine was a dry white ‘BSE’ which was also good. Cost 4660esc (23.244€)".
   
• Renos –  2002 
  (July 02) "Opposite La Bamba. Very busy in the early hours, ages more mixed than in La Bamba & Garage".
   
  (Aug 01) "We visited this restaurant based on previous good experience, and whilst it was not bad, I found the food nothing better than so so. Perhaps it was just the food we selected, the place was certainly busy, but it was not up to standards of other places. Be warned also, there was not apparent air conditioning, so be careful on hot nights, it can get uncomfortable in the depths of the restaurant".
   
• A Rica Pipa - 2002
  (Sept 02) "We found the food excellent and at a reasonable prices. It is no longer run by the ex Montochoro banqueting manager. Apparently, it was a partnership and the partnership has ended. The owner now has no connection with the Montochorro. Staff very friendly".
  
  (1997) "This opened July 1996, on the road behind the Hotel Montechoro, going up to the traffic lights at the junction of the EN125. This place is custom built, with a large covered car park, children's playground, large outside terrace and very spacious dining room, with a fireplace in the centre. It is owned and run by the ex-banqueting manager of the Hotel Montechoro, Sr. Freitas".

  "When visited, they had a different dish of the day at lunchtime, which is always very economical. In the evening, they have a fairly limited menu, mainly grilled fish or meat, but always fresh, however the prices are a little on the high side. Be prepared to pay around 2500$00 a head or more for an evening out. They also appeared to be still getting their act together and so service was not exactly wonderful, however, overall 7/10".
   

• Rick's Cocktail Bistro - 2003
  (May 03) "(Next to the Garage Bar on the Strip) What can we say except excellent night out every time we went there on our 2 weeks in Albufeira. Bar staff extremely friendly and funny - always made us feel welcome even in the early hours of the mornings!!! Entertainment:- You MUST check out Raphael when he's performing there, he's a star. Good Sangria, fab cocktails even though a tad on the expensive side".
   
• Senhor Frog's - 2001
  (Jul 2003) "Pizzas had good bases but toppings were erratic in quality. Don't even think of eating the puds go to La Bamba or Visconti instead (all of 1 minute's stagger) and the salad is smothered in an odd tasting house dressing. As for the sangria - dishwater!!! Wish I had remembered the review below"
  
  (Oct 2001) "I used to like pizza's from Frogs but we went in October last year and they were horrible, we won't be going there again"
  
  (Aug 01) "As good as ever. Excellent pizzas, and my 3-year-old daughter would recommend the lasagne (not on the children's menu). If you eat at the restaurant on the south of The Strip, the great thing is there is a large outdoors seated area, which is good for children to run around whilst waiting. The staff were very accommodating and very efficient. It was good to see that a lot of the staff were the same as those there last year. Whilst it might not be local cuisine, it is a good place to visit for a change (or 3 times as we did, due to children pressure)".
  
  (2000) "the other end of the scale when compared to Lisa's. Friendly staff, who seemed to enjoy their work. The food was good, certainly for young children, and as a result customers were in high spirits. We went 3 or 4 times, and I have been told by my 6 year old son we will be there on our first night this year".
  
  (Sept 00) "Good American pizzas (especially good tasty bases) served by excellent staff. It is situated just back a bit from the road, near Portafino's, in the bottom quarter of the strip. A nice touch is that you can often sample the Pizza in the street as a member of staff offers small slices to entice custom. Well visited by the locals. Do avoid the Sangria however other drinks seem to be okay. The alternative to the house red wine "Irmâos Costa" was very good value in September 2000".
   
• Tamariz - 1998 [Has anyone eaten here?]
  "At the bottom of the strip by the roundabout at the top of the steep hill to Praia da Oura beach. There are always plenty of tables available and rarely any customers though in 1998 there were some in the new covered area". Has anybody eaten here?
   
• Taj Mahal - 2002
  (July 2002) "'Excellent' we visited here twice and would recommend this restaurant, the food and the service were both first class and very reasonably priced".
   
  (April 2002) "If you cant last a week on holiday without a curry, then i can thoroughly recommend this restaurant. Try any dish with prawns and you wont be disappointed either by the size or quality. The prices are very good - meals about 10 euros, house wine 5 euros and the service is excellent".
  
  (Mar 2002) "Visited here twice in the evenings and found the staff all very friendly and helpful. Food was excellent both in quality and in quantity".
  
  (Aug 01) "We only used this place for a take away, but it was excellent and very reasonably priced. The starters were plentiful, and a rest was needed between courses (which we got thanks to a power cut at our apartments). Chicken Karahi was as good as you could hope for".
  
  (June 2001) "Top of the Strip on the left. As excellent as ever. This is my 4th visit here and it has never disappointed. Sit outside as very warm inside. Smaller portions than in the UK but easily enough for my Wife and I. Extensive menu. I will visit again next year due to great food and efficient and friendly service. Good value".
  
  (April 2001) "We had as good an Indian meal here as we have probably had for a long time. Excellent Chicken Jalfrezi and Lamb Rogan Josh. Nice house wine and good value".
  
  (2000) "I had a much nicer Indian meal just across the road in the Taj Mahal (than in the Mumtaz) and significantly cheaper to boot!"
   
• Taj Palace - 2002
  (Oct 02) "in Rua Alexandre Herculano Tel 289 541398 As you come up from the beach (Praia d' Oura) turn right at the first main turning at Crazy Tshirts and it is down that street on the right. I had one of the best vegetable Biryanis that I have ever tasted for 6.50 Euros - just over £4 and their house wine is inexpensive and very good value. It is very popular and we went there twice".
   
• The 60's Bar - 1997
  "Near the top end of the strip is a nice place for a drink, Portuguese run, and gets a good cross section of local and tourist customers".
   
• Talk of the Town (Bar) - 2002
  (July 02) "At the bottom end of the Strip, right at the zebra crossing. Avoid! Very scruffy, always nearly empty. On the night we visited the clientele were somewhat scary! Promotions don't compare that favourably with other bars, neither does the music".
   
• Tom and Jerry's - 2000
  (Christmas 2000) "Tom and Jerry's was a disappointment. A tiny cafe serving frozen fish and chip type meals, probably great for kids but that's all."
  
  "This is (late 1999) behind Liberto's Bar - Rua Almeida Garret - opposite Eurasia Chinese Restaurant (was prior to 2000, about 200m up the strip from the main X roads near the supermarket) and is certainly worth a visit especially for any one who wants good English food at very reasonable prices. Very good service from excellent staff, but beware from about 8pm - 9pm you will have to queue to get in. But from 5.30pm to 6.30pm there is a 10% discount. Children are welcome, and crayons are provided to draw on the tablecloths".
   
• Três Palmeiras - 2001
  (Aug 01) "We found one excellent restaurant - Tres Palmerias on the coast road to Albufeira, about half a mile past The Strip with the Panda rental place on the left as you head out".
  
  (2000) "Tres Palmeiras was excellent especially the fish and choice of bread! Service was very good, definitely need to make a reservation, a bit pricier than some restaurants but very worth it".
  
  (2000) "Would never have found this without your guide. Definitely the best. We ate here most nights although booking is essential. Food was delicious - watch out for the dish of the day, usually around 1500 esc. (7.482€) for a special fish or pork dish. Monkfish kebabs were exceptional although expensive. Smoke problem you mentioned didn't seem to exist - they did have smoke extractors and air conditioning".
  
   (1996) "One of the best restaurants in the Algarve. The food and service here is exceptional, even in the very heavy summer months. It is best, especially in the evening, to reserve a table, or you might find yourselves in a long queue! People have been seen waiting for tables until almost 11.00 at night. The menu is extensive, but concentrates on fish, with a large refrigerated display of everything as you enter, to give you some idea. It is not cheap, but never disappoints". Três Palmeiras is closed every Sunday. Tel. 515423 or 586353.

  To find it take the Hotel Aldeia/Albufeira road or the westerly road from the roundabout at the bottom of the strip followed by a right fork afterwards. Both of these roads meet at an odd oval roundabout next to the restaurant.
  Note - As with most restaurants frequented in numbers by the Portuguese it gets very smoky and noisy . The food is good but the service was somewhat patchy and rushed even out of the main season in September 1996.
   

• Venezia - 2002 AVOID
  (Aug 2002) "The food was satisfactory, but the speed of service is appalling. Waited 30 minutes to take our order, and little in terms of apology except for 3 free drinks. Waiters weren't very helpful".
   
  (Aug 2002) "Service crawls along. Although the restaurant wasn't busy, we waited one hour and twenty minutes for pizzas of forgettable quality. Staff seemed to regard our several requests to get our food as an inconvenience. Heard others complain".
  
  (1996) "Situated almost opposite O Poeta is this "Italian" themed restaurant. Very poor service; Unbelievably bad Italian food. How can any place labelling itself as an Italian restaurant make such a mess of simple pasta dishes and Pizza? They even screwed up Spaghetti Amatriciana. As for Spaghetti Carbonara - well, if you like scrambled eggs... "Sangria" - dishwater could well be better"!
   
• Gelateria Visconti - 2003
  (Apr 2003) "No problems at all with the staff (mind you, things might be different at the height of summer when things are busier) or the sandwiches. The problem is that La Bamba's ice cream a few metres away is much better, and they must know it".
  
  (July 02) "Good ice creams but the sandwiches are awful, don't try one! Service was also slow & unfriendly".
  
  (May 2001) "Truly the best ice-cream in the area. We never had dessert in the restaurants but always walked down to Visconti for a real treat! Very friendly owner and staff. A definite must-visit! Highly recommended"!
  
  (2000) "Ice cream heaven - a wide variety of ice cream and good coffee as well. Have your main courses elsewhere then walk here so as to make room for pudding" (Lower half of the strip)
   
• Windsurf - 2002
  (Aug 2002) "on the left of the strip as you walk down - again great. After a misunderstanding that "us English" want what we order and not to share it with another party - brilliant food and kids got looked after too".
   
  (Aug 01) "On the basis that we had a reasonable meal at this restaurant last year, we ventured in again this year, and that was probably the biggest mistake of our holiday. Whilst the food was okay, the service was diabolical, with all courses of the meal having to be chased. The staff had a regardless attitude second to none, and certainly was like nothing we have experienced during any visit to Portugal. On one occasion, when trying to attract the attention of a member of staff, the waiter tried to deny that he was working (he was right, he was just wondering around aimlessly). The final insult came when my wife chased our long awaited coffees. When they were finally thrust at our table, having taken one drink of hers, my wife swiftly returned the contents to the cup, stating that it had been spiked – it tasted salty and was only warm. The waiter concerned was seen looking over, and then sensibly disappeared. Whilst we were there, at least 4 parties of people left before being served due to the wait for attention. When I went to pay, the manager was complaining that they were too busy. Before I forget, when my 3 year old daughter visited the ‘ladies’ room with my wife, they were passed by a distressed young lady who stated that she had seen a cockroach in the ‘ladies’. I would strongly recommend avoiding this place. It was by far the worse restaurant visited in 3 trips to Montechoro. Interestingly, during the course of our holiday it was one of the few places on The Strip with visible empty tables at around 9.30pm".
  See Webmaster comments on wildlife!!! 
  
  (2001) "most nights we would go out for dinner, on your website it says that the restaurant windsurf was not very nice. I went there most nights as I liked it so much it was lively and a fun place to be."
  
  1997 - "Very unremarkable Cafe/Restaurant".
   
• Yellow Submarine - 2000
  "Situated in the top half of the strip, opposite John's Bar. Very clean (inc. toilets), good selection of meals/snacks, and good portions".