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Hours
Sun
12:00 - 16:00
Mon
18:00 - 21:00
Tue
18:00 - 0:00
Thu
18:00 - 21:00
Fri
18:00 - 0:00
Sat
18:00 - 21:00
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Ratings and reviews
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
£9.00 – £22.00
CUISINES
Bar, International, European, British, Grill
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Details
About
Open April - October. Winter closure: November - March. Visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/JohnnyHooper'sSaxophoneBistro. Jazz and Blues themed restaurant. Johnny Hooper's live saxophone shows with fun music quiz, party atmosphere and dancing are on Tuesday and Friday nights from April - October. Chill-out Sunday afternoons take place during lunch on the garden terrace with cool local musicians providing the laid-back vibe. Gluten-free and Vegan menu options. Great place for celebrations!
PRICE RANGE
£9.00 – £22.00
CUISINES
Bar, International, European, British, Grill
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Mastercard, Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Jazz Bar
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4.5
1,465 reviews
Excellent
1,156
Very good
195
Average
56
Poor
31
Terrible
27
Derekstothart
Carlisle6 contributions
Aug 2020 • family
My family and I payed 2 visits to this wonderful find . Our first visit was on a Tuesday ( Tuesday and Thursday Johnny plays his saxophone and interacts with everyone ) we arrived to a big welcome from Johnny himself , really friendly nice bloke also the staff were very pleasant, his wife was the chef and all food was home cooked and beautiful- never tasted mash like it . In these hard times it’s a struggle for some but even tho there was only a few tables booked in for this night it was brilliant , the food and drink brilliant and Johnny on the sax , going table to table playing anything we wanted to here brilliant , I can only say that if he had , had a full house with social distance measures of course 🙄 it would of been rocking - great family night out and highly recommended.
The second visit was for Sunday lunch on the terrace with more of a laid back theme and of course Johnny on the sax and his wife and staff cooking and serving one of the best Sunday lunches I have ever tasted and very reasonably priced . We spent about 3ish hours there eating , drinking cocktails , listening to some of johnnys stories and sax playing , with an extra bonus of 2 of johnnys friends being there who were also musicians ( one who got up and sang Baker Street with Johnny playing sax and the other playing the harmonica with Johnny on sax) brilliant brilliant afternoon .
We will definitely be back to johnnys saxophone bistro in the near future and I highly recommend it for anyone thinking about it, You and your family will enjoy it.
Thanks for everything.
Derek Sarah Nicole and Joshua
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobby Moore
9 contributions
Sept 2020 • friends
Me my other half and a friend of ours visited this wonderful little venue in September 2020 . As a fan of jazz / live music I was looking forward to getting here as soon as I heard of it on trip advisor so booked a table a month in advance . When we arrived Johnny himself greeted our party at the front entrance and showed us to our table taking time to ask us where we were from and tell us how he had many moons ago done some recordings with UB40. For me being greeted at the door by the owner of venue was a very nice touch indeed .
Once inside we were made to feel very welcome by the friendly staff and our drinks brought over promptly . We ordered our food and when it arrived it was absolutely delicious and clearly time and talent had been put into the meal . Top top food .
The music and entertainment was brilliant with a closing rendition of Love Train that went down a treat and has since become our Portugal song .
Thank you for a perfect evening and we will certainly be returning ❤️👍
Written 9 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CharlotteRodgers
Reading454 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Very personable greeting on arrival (we reserved and I’d recommend doing so), all of the team were incredibly friendly and catered to any need. Johnny knows the names of each table and you’re made to feel at home.
The food was absolutely delicious. A fairly small menu but that’s good for us, we think it means that the chef can really nail the quality and they absolutely did! Really beautiful.
The entertainment was phenomenal. Johnny is very talented and makes playing the sax effortless. He played a number of classics for singing and dancing along to and we had the best evening. Really enjoyed the atmosphere, music, quiz and food!
Reasonable prices all round and would happily have paid more for such a wonderful evening!
Additional note - we were celebrating a birthday and all the stops were pulled out - definitely mention if you’re visiting for an occasion because the hosts are great and will really look after you.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ken c
Galway38 contributions
Dec 2020 • friends
Just had a Christmas dinner party with a group of friends here on the 4 th of December we arrived at 6.45 for 7.00 start time. Some of the tables had already started their meals before we were seated.The service was very very slow even though the meal was ok but very small.
A bottle of cheap house wine cost 16.50e bottle of water 4.50e.
When it came time to pay the bill it was a total disaster all the bill were mixed up and trying to sort it out took for ever.
None of our group will ever return as we all felt that we were robbed and social distancing was non existent
Written 4 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susieb64
I am very sorry to hear that you were disappointed. We served a quality home-cooked 3-course Christmas meal at a fantastic price of €24.50, or 2-courses for €19.50 which you all ordered in advance. Our house bottles of wine are of excellent quality and are €16 and the large bottle of mineral water is a 1 litre size. With 3 hours of free live music and entertainment throughout the evening we deliver a value for money experience. The initial bill was for your table of six and everything was itemised. When you then all requested individual bills then of course this took time for our staff to sort out. With regards to social distancing, we were operating at 50% capacity and all tables well spaced strictly according to the law. Staff were all wearing masks and customers are required to wear masks when moving through the restaurant. There are 3 hand-sanitising stations in place.
Written 6 December 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
deb0rahjaynew
17 contributions
Oct 2021 • friends
I feel I have to write an honest review of our experience as the team may be able to learn from
My feedback. Firstly the entertainment on the terrace on a Sunday is great. Willy ( not sure of second name ) has the most amazing voice and was a pleasure to listen to. The Sunday roast was lovely but the portion was so small we left hungry! With only 2 roast potatoes each and a very small Yorkshire pudding we were gutted!! The thing is the Yorkshire pudding was fab snd you could quite easily triple the size and make this a signature pud!
We returned on the Tuesday for the sax show snd meal ( keeping our fingers crossed the welly menu may fill us up) the show was great , everyone singing and dancing and joining in. We all bonded over a music quiz snd had lots of laughs - luckily Willy was in so gave us a few songs too which was a treat.
The meal of chicken with Parma ham really was stunning and cooked to perfection . The portion size was just right and chicken so succulent. ( don’t understand why chicken isn’t offered with Sunday roast ? Only beef or pork options )
As we knew we were staying for the evening I decided to have a cheese board later in the evening at 8.95. I have to be honest I was absolutely dumbfounded by 4 prepacked crackers and 6 miniature pieces of cheese with 2 small pieces of jam! I was embarrassed by the offering I’ve never in my life experienced such a poor offering of a ‘cheeseboard’ I really couldn’t understand who had thrown this together. No grapes no cracker selection just something you would get on a Ryanair flight to be honest! I must also comment on the cost of drinks as these were extortionate at 9.50 for a gin and lemonade we were in shock when the bill came!
The chicken and Parma dinner was the only thing that I would say is priced appropriately at 15.95 and was of some quality . I understand times must be hard at present but times are hard for everyone. Please don’t take advantage of people who just wanted to have a nice evening out!
This was our most expensive evening of the whole holiday by over double what we had been paying in old town for food and drinks snd we were also not the only people to choke on the bill ….our friends had to return home to apartment for extra money to pay!
I want to also just quickly mention that the staff were just stunning so lovely, attentive and such hard working people. I hope they are not taken advantage of like the customers are! 😢
Written 21 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susieb64
Thank you for visiting the Saxophone Bistro and taking time to write your review. I’m happy to know that you enjoyed the entertainment, our lovely staff service and the food on both occasions.
I sincerely apologise if you did not receive enough potatoes on the Sunday visit (we normally serve 3 - oops!) and we would happily have brought more if brought to our attention. I know you loved the Tuesday night chicken but on Sundays, as well as our traditional roasts (ribeye of beef or stuffed pork loin with crispy pork belly), we also serve a slow-braised lamb shank and vegan nut roast as an alternative.
I feel I must clarify the prices that you mention - €9.50 is the price for the Pink Gin, berries and full mixer of lemonade that was ordered. Our normal Gordon’s G&T is €7.50 and they are generous measures.
The cheeseboard is actually priced at €6.95 (not €8.95) - nevertheless, I am sorry that the board was not presented well for you, and I will certainly address this issue in future.
We do feel that we represent good value for money considering 3-4 hours of entertainment, good food, drinks and dancing, and we hope to welcome you back for another great afternoon/evening in the future.
Written 10 November 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie W
Haddington20 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
Had a fabulous night last night at Johnny Hoopers. The food was delicious as always and despite it being quieter than normal because of the effects of the Covid crisis, it was still a wonderful night.
Johnny went out of his way to make it a special night for all his guests and his wife Sue does the cooking which is always a highlight of our holiday.
Don’t miss this experience when in Albufeira!
Written 28 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenny T
Maybole9 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Spent second day of our holday here. Very nice it was Sunday Johnny was very welcoming he payed the saxophone it was busy with Sunday lunches . We had a light lunch it was very good . The place to go for a nice change
Written 18 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth Ilgunas
Manchester23 contributions
Sept 2021 • none
We went to Johnny Hooper's last night and had such a wonderful time. Johnny and his team instantly made us feel welcome and at home and explained to us how the evening was going to go. We started with some Prosecco followed by a tasty wholesome meal cooked by Johnny's lovely wife Sue. Between the four of us we tried the pate, garlic mushrooms and salmon to start - all very tasty. For mains we all had the beef fillet with whisky mushroom sauce and chips which was really well cooked and very yummy. For desserts we had the cheesecake and apple crumble which were yummy. We had some cocktails after dinner, our favourite was the Tequila Sunrise. We loved Johnny's fabulous saxophone playing and the tunes he played. He played a variety of songs which got everyone dancing and having a great time. Johnny told us some good stories about the people he has met over the years which was very interesting. I particularly loved the audience participation, especially joining in with the tambourine! The pop quiz was great fun and we surprised ourselves with our pop knowledge by finishing in second place! Overall, we had a fantastic evening, filled with laughter. Thank you to the whole team for making us feel like a part of the family and for looking after us so well. If we return to Albufeira in the future, we will definitely be back!
Written 22 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
McGoo
London22 contributions
Jun 2023 • couples
My wife and I booked a table for Friday night on 9th June. I had goats cheese starter and beef stroganoff while my wife had chicken liver parfait & chicken breast. The food was served promptly and was tasty, good portion size and good value. They serve an IPA on tap which is rare in the Algarve and was a nice drop. Johnny is a good entertainer and if you like live music, which I do, this is a really enjoyable evening which is great value and suitable for all types of visitors, be it couples, large groups or families with kids. We’ve been going to the Algarve every year for many years now and this is the first time we’ve visited. We’ll definitely visit again next year when we return
Written 15 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca O
3 contributions
Aug 2022 • family
Eating out with a child with coeliac disease is so much of a challenge that we tend to avoid it. But Johnny’s place had so much GF choice that my 10 year old little coeliac was spoilt for choice! The warm welcome, easy parking, great food & fabulous entertainment meant we had such a great night that we’ve booked to return before going home! Johnny has a way of making the atmosphere comfortable & inviting so that all three generations of our family enjoyed every minute. Hugely recommend this place for anyone looking to get away from the commercial, impersonal vibe of the main drag but needs catering for with attention & care (& enjoys dancing on tables, doing the conga, a music quizz & listening to some excellent musicianship with tales from a saxophone legend!)
Written 11 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
busby1971
Manchester41 contributions
May 2022 • family
Absolutely a must when you go to Albufeira, I knew about Johnnys as my mum and dad have been several times in the past years, they also used to watch him play in the old town’s main square many years ago, the music and atmosphere was excellent.
I booked a table on Friday 13/5 for myself and my mum and was not disappointed it was a fantastic night, Johnny dedicated My Girl to my mum as she had told him about seeing him numerous times previously.
The food was delicious we had the chicken with Parma ham and chorizo, the mash was lovely and creamy, with a jug of sangria which was one of the best I have had.
Also a big shout out to the staff there too who were great, as well as Johnny & Sue, thanks for a wonderful night hope to return soon.
Written 17 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russell P
Freuchie45 contributions
Mar 2020 • couples
We were there on the opening night of the season and what a great night.
We have been here before two years ago and wasn’t disappointed.
Met at the door by Johnny as is customary and had a couple of drinks on the terrace.
I had the catfish for my main and as I said to Johnny’s wife who is the chef it is one of the best cooked dishes I’ve had, delicate and superbly cooked.
Again the entertainment was excellent and the quiz in which my wife an I had a small part in winning was good.
I hope this virus doesn’t scupper the season for you at the bistro and hope to see you again in the future.
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen H
Nenagh21 contributions
Apr 2022 • couples
Wow, just finished Sunday lunch here and I can’t recommend it more. The food, cooked by Johnny’s wife, was superb. My husband had the roast pork two ways and said it was melt in the mouth and the and roasts were delicious. I had the battered catfish and chips, lightest batter I’ve ever had and homemade chips, with peas and a lemon mayonnaise. All served with a smile and our lovely waitress was so nice and attentive. Johnny was around to all the tables checking in with everyone and the atmosphere was friendly with great backgrounds music. Can’t recommend enough. If I could give it more that five stars I would. A nice quiet location off the beaten track.
Written 24 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nc37onn
115 contributions
Apr 2023 • family
The most fun night of our holiday, Johnny got the party going from the start... We had a big group of mixed ages, from babies to 70+ and everyone had a ball. While saxaphone may not be everyone's cup of tea, don't let that put you off. It is so much more than that... a sing song, a music quiz, dancing.
The engagement with Sue to make the booking was prompt and helpful. The welcome to the restaurant by Johnny himself was warm. Everybody in the restaurant was made feel at home and not overlooked during the night. The children in our group had a blast, nearly as much as the adults.
The food was decent for a group menu. Only comments would be to reduce the garlic on the garlic bread, it was too strong for the children and to put the sauce on the side of the steak meal. The caesar salad (with iceberg lettuce) and catfish that I had were tasty. Drinks were decent.
Turning on the AC or opening windows when the dancing gets going would be recommended.
For a great night out and a night you won't forget, book into Johnny Hoopers.
Written 10 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vicky f
Belfast135 contributions
Apr 2023 • none
Our 3rd time back & as usual had a fab night. A very warm welcome & the food is always amazing, we usually are a large party of 7 or more and everyone always enjoys the night. There’s a music quiz and singalong to the famous saxophone music which is always fabulous music & a good laugh. Children would love it too as it’s something different. Highly recommend a visit, easy to get to walking is literally 10 min from strip.
Written 12 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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