This village is the gateway to a massive beach, with sand dunes topped with restaurants that all serve the clams that can be raked up at low tide just offshore. The town itself has little to commend it, unless you like driving through very narrow streets full of tourists. In its favour however it has no massive "Strip" as do many  other Algarve coastal towns and villages and it is generally more Portuguese in that the back streets reflect an older way of life; bird cages outside houses, dogs, and ladies in typical dress, in doors and windows. Overall it isn't the liveliest place in the world, but the night time is very enjoyable along the Rua Fredrico Mendes

Most people visit for the excellent beach, which is somewhat spoilt by the ugly tower blocks at its eastern end, the main other reason to visit Alvor is for the large market held on the second Tuesday of the month. The Church at the top of the hill is worth a visit as is sunset over the fish market. The little square does have musicians in the evenings (In June 2000 these were Los Trios Paranoias -Ecuadorians)

The road from Alvor to Portimao takes you also to Prainha and then to Rocha (famous for the Praia da Rocha Beach) before leading you into the outskirts of Portimao.

See also the adjacent areas of Praia da Rocha, Lagos and Portimao.

Accommodation (A-Z)

• Few  Entries - can you help?
   
• Tower blocks eastern end - 2000 (See Alvor Plaza)
  (2000) "We were 'notified on arrival' of our resort and subsequently were unfortunate enough to be accommodated in one of the the hideous 'eastern end' tower blocks. If you think they're bad on the outside..."
   
• Alvorferias Apartments - 2000
  (2000) "Low-rise, 3-storey mix. Some apartments back onto private villas and farmland, with good sea views. Mainly English visitors - some German and Irish. Go before mid-June to avoid kids (it tends to be a "kids' club" sort of place, with pools virtually monopolized by the little horrors ! Much better to try the beach about 1.5 km, walk in 15 minutes. Private bus runs at 9.30/12.30/4 pm, 700Esc. (3.492€)  pp return. Helpful reception. About 1.5 km from Alvor village, so walkable for eats. Alisupermercado in Alvor (quite good) and small but well-stocked market in complex. Good base for Praia da Rocha - taxi  1000Esc. . (4.988€)"
   
• Alvor Plaza - 2000
  (May 00) "Stayed in Alvor Plaza the first time round, and yes, it's an ugly tower block, but as we spent most of the time out, it didn't matter at the time".
   
• Delfim Hotel - 2001
  "Wow! Absolutely first class standards, spotlessly maintained, friendly staff (apart from one miserable guy on the front desk who always gave the impression he was doing you a great favor by speaking to you - but he was most definitely the exception) and a decent sort of clientele. The laid on evening entertainment, (something I normally avoid like the plaque) was excellent night after night with some really good and unusual acts. The in house shop however (which I got the impression is a concession rather than part of the hotel itself), having something of a monopoly has some horrendous prices (2 mini bottles of pop and some crisps coming to a fiver) - and it wouldn't kill the girl behind the counter to smile occasionally either, but as Alvor is only a 700$00 Taxi ride away then that's easy got around. I totally recommend this hotel".
   
• Prainha Clube and Village - 2002
  (Sept 02) (www.prainha.net ) - "What a fabulous place. The setting for this complex is absolutely stunning. There is a cliff top fresh water pool, and the pictures on their website do not do it justice. It was the most breathtaking place. It has big green areas for sitting and the pool itself it really well maintained. There are a number of restaurants on site including one at the cliff top pool which serves all day, one at the beach, which serves through the day and late into the night (with a separate bar), a pizzeria (which does take away), and two other very posh restaurants, which we never actually made it to There is a lovely beach attached to the resort. The Prainha Clube itself has a full health and beauty centre and an outdoor and indoor swimming pool".
    
• Quinta Nova Apartments- 2002
  (Oct 02) "Is about a 15 minute walk to town- not too far, and after you have feasted, the walk home really helps you to sleep! A taxi ride was €4 each way if you needed it. The apartments at Quinta Nova are large, airy and well furnished- ours had a full gas cooker, microwave, sofa bed, 4 seater dining suite, TV, large clean bathroom with shower and bath, plus a bidet, and had a small but adequate balcony. The grounds are mostly well maintained but some of the areas furthest away from the reception needed a little attention. There were good facilities on site - shops, gifts, bar, restaurant, snack bar, games room, squash/tennis, gym, 2 pools, plus the use of the golf club next door- some things obviously were at a small extra cost."

Eateries (A-Z)

• Abajuba restaurant - 2001.
  "Right on seafront at harbor. Deservedly popular with indoor, "semi", and outdoor seating. The usual excellent range of fresh seafood to be found at the harbor, but the "Beef, Portuguese Style" was particularly good and I'd recommend anyone to try it. Helpings good sized, and service as fast as can be expected when food is prepared from scratch like this.
  
  Grilled Squid: enormous helpings and as fresh as it gets, - absolutely delicious. Tried several Alvor restaurants, but overall this was our favorite".
   
• Adega d'Alvor: - 2002
  (Sept 2002) "An absolute find! We held our wedding reception here and they couldn't have been nicer. The choice on the menu and the quality is excellent. The menu is very varied with a good choice of both Portuguese and other European dishes. There is the restaurant itself, which also has a courtyard behind this, which can be covered over and then a function room out the back. We had welcome drinks in the courtyard with the sun shining and then had the dinner in the function room. It really was just perfect".
   
• Os Amigos - 2001
  (2001) "although recommended in this guide, we were disappointed by the Chicken Piri Piri, which was served as usual as a roast chicken with separate sauce to add as per taste, but the sauce was simply a bought bottle and utterly mild. Disappointing. Ice cream dessert, and house Vino Verde, spot on (but it is difficult to go too far wrong with a Vino Verde anyway)".
  
  (2000) "If you must head for the tourist bars/restaurants of Alvor this place is worth a visit. It is a small restaurant (essentially a converted house) located on Rua Pedro Alvares Cabral, seating around 20 people. The food is good, mixing Portuguese dishes with 'international' ones, and the prices were reasonable for its location. Service was good and friendly. The size of Os Amigos seems to give it a 'family atmosphere' missing in many of the other local restaurants".
   
• O Arco da Velha - 2002
  (Oct 02) "At the bottom of the road, near to the harbour, there is a first class place to eat serving fresh fish and meats. The fish platter is probably one of the best meals we have ever eaten anywhere- back in our 2000 visit, it cost us less than £20 for starters, a huge platter of fresh whole breams, bass, shrimps, tuna, vegetables, salad, and a jug of sangria. If you are in Alvor, it's a must- trust us!"
   
• Atlantida (Restaurant) - 2000
  "Book a table outside in calm weather. Very good sea-bream, but relatively expensive (eg house wine 33% more than same bottle in Vasco Da Gama (q.v.). (Note on beach beneath Hotel Delfim)".
   
• O Castelo Restaurante - 2000
  (2000) "This was a real find, the best restaurant in town by a long yard. Located slightly off the main tourist streets on Travessa do Castelo. The menu is mostly wonderfully cooked traditional Portuguese food (saltcod, suckling pig etc.), in huge portions (beware: a starter maybe enough for some). Good selection of local wines and (as always) spirits. There is probably seating for 30 inside, with an additional large courtyard outside. The service and general atmosphere is exceptional; there is live music on offer (though not while we were there). The 2000 season was remarkably the restaurants first. I cannot recommend this place enough - we'll be heading back there when we next return to the Algarve, even if it means travelling from another town".
   
• Helman's (Restaurant) - 2000
  (Sept 2002) "Really fantastic. I can honestly say that we went back to the restaurant again and again. Beautiful view on the terrace and lovely atmosphere. Great staff, good service and excellent value".
   
  (2000) "A little different, with sauces a feature (unusual for Portugal). Don't use the terrace - too blinding in evening sun"! (Note near fishmarket)
   
• Bar Mourisco - 2002
  (Oct 02) "is lively and friendly, the guys serve some superb cocktails and are really genuinely pleased to see you".
   
• Phoenix - 2003
  (Aug 2003) "As a single parent I save all year to go on holiday and don't have a large amount of spending money yet we went out for dinner every night thanks to finding a small English restaurant called phoenix. The food was delicious, traditional English food the waitress was warm and friendly my children became rather found of her and it was really cheap. My children will only eat English food and it was nice seeing them enjoy there dinners whilst I was also able to enjoy the food!!!!!"
   
• Ruby (Bar) - 1998
  (1998) "It's hard to find, but there is an amazing bar, off the main road in Alvor. It is situated underneath a house, and presumably was a wine cellar, the atmosphere and hospitality is matched by nothing on the southern tip of Portugal. You have to look out for it, as it is well hidden, the only give away is a mural of a ruby that is marked on the street above it. The pub is full of interesting characters, the beer is cheap, and the smiles are numerous".
   
• Sardine (Restaurant) - 2000
  (2000) "Not bad, reasonable with (dry) vinho verde". (Note near fishmarket)
   
• Vasco Da Gama (Restaurant) - 2000
  (2000) "Authentic Port-Indian food, with a nuclear piri-piri sauce (homemade). Extremely reasonable. Eat inside for local colour" !