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Essential Alvor
Cinco Quinas on Alvor beach
Fresh seafood, endless ocean views, and a welcoming family-run vibe.
Even in the winter months, with the sun shining and a fresh breeze off the sea, a walk along the beach is perfect and really refreshing. I spent lots of time with my wife and daughter on the beach and we were not alone. Most days we walked from Tres Irmãos along to Alvor, and we would often stop at Cinco Quinas for lunch in the open air overlooking the beach with Lagos in the distance.
There are two beach restaurants on site, both are equally good, but we picked Cinco Quinas. There is seating inside or out and, if the sun is strong, there are large shades to pull over. As with most places by the sea, fish is big on the menu. But there really is something for everyone, from sandwiches to three course meals. There is also a comprehensive kids' menu.
Opening hours
Sunday 10:00 - 22:00
Monday 10:00 - 22:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 22:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 22:00
Thursday 10:00 - 22:00
Friday 10:00 - 22:00
Saturday 10:00 - 22:00
The other great feature about Cinco Quinas is that it is open all day and every day. They offer a fantastic English breakfast. But the speciality is fish. Recommended are Monkfish, Sardines, Octopus and Cataplanas. Other dishes include Portuguese steak and the infamous Chicken piri-piri.
A short distance from Alvor town, there is also ample parking for the less energetic and many just drive and park, especially for lunch. It can get busy at times, so if that was the case, we would walk along the beach for half an hour and come back when it was quieter.
The service was really good and this family run restaurant is very welcoming. They offered us plenty of help with our small daughter and prepared suitable meals. She loved the wooden seagull that looked down on her from the corner of the restaurant's roof. And here follows a word of warning: remember you are in Portugal, things take just a little bit longer here, so be prepared to wait once you have ordered. But hey, there's a fantastic view, the weather is normally great and all that fresh sea air will do you good. The food and the fantastic setting makes the wait well worth it.
There are toilets and shower facilities along the small walkway between the restaurants, and they even have baby changing facilities, which proved very useful.
If you’re in Alvor, Cinco Quinas is a must-stop for breakfast, lunch, or just a refreshing drink by the sea.