Ala do Castelo

Someone from this business manages this listing.

663 reviews

#76 of 447 Restaurants in Lagos££ - £££, Seafood, Mediterranean, European

+351 282 788 486+ Add website

Hours

Sun

10:00 - 23:30

Mon

10:00 - 23:30

Tue

10:00 - 23:30

Wed

10:00 - 23:30

Thu

10:00 - 23:30

Fri

10:00 - 23:30

Sat

10:00 - 23:30

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

663 reviews

#76 of 447 Restaurants in Lagos

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Portuguese, Vegetarian friendly

“Superb octopus rice!!”

“The Seafood Cataplana, a traditional Portuguese dish, was packed with a varie...”

“We had crab, octopus, prawns, sea bass and muscles.”

Location and contact

Rua do Castelo dos Governadores 40, Lagos 8600-563 Portugal

+351 282 788 486

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Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?

Yes

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Details

Manage this business?

About

Sorry! We are closed for holidays until 01 March 2022! Great news! We are open after quarantine! Family restaurant open for over 14 years! Traditional Portuguese Cuisine! The best seafood dishes in Lagos Algarve Portugal! Only fresh fish and seafood! Original soft and alcoholic drinks and cocktails! Great breakfast with coffee and juice!

PRICE RANGE

£4.00 – £13.00

CUISINES

Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Portuguese

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Family style, Non-smoking restaurants

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4.5

663 reviews

Excellent

446

Very good

101

Average

Poor

Terrible

RuLenAB

Lethbridge6 contributions

Excellent Little Restaurant!!!

Mar 2020 • couples

We had an excellent meal in this little restaurant which is a little off the beaten path but well worth the walk to find it. The waiter was excellent, very friendly and very attentive. We shared an order of cataplana which was loaded with a lot more seafood than I expected. The meal was delicious and it was all we could do to finish it. The restaurant has about four or five tables outside and plenty of seating inside with local paintings on the walls. Quite charming. Would recommend this place and would definitely eat here again. We found the dish we had was priced about 10% less than other restaurants we saw so that made it an even better.

Written 6 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.

wheredoesthefox_stay

Prague123 contributions

Simply AMAZING food and service

Sept 2020 • couples

We managed to have a dinner at this restaurant on a 3rd attempt since it was always full - we thought it’s a good sign and weren’t disappointed. Initially we wanted to get paella, but then we got tempted by a waiter’s suggestion to try a local dish - a bowl of pasta with fish, shrimps & some other seafood and an amazing seafood sauce. It was super delicious, accompanied with a very good house wine! We couldn’t be happier we followed this suggestion. Absolutely recommended to drop by for lunch or dinner, besides the food being great the staff is also fantastic. We will certainly be back when in Lagos :) thank you!

Written 29 September 2020

Jill C

Marlborough37 contributions

Superb meal

May 2022 • none

The quality of food here is excellent. It’s a small, unpretentious restaurant but we couldn’t fault it at all and we had a superb meal at a very reasonable price. The house wine was very drinkable, garlic bread and olives abundant, the melon and smoked ham perfect and the prawns…well, we each had half a kilo of shrimp with garlic and they were absolutely delicious. We probably could have shared the one dish as I couldn’t finish mine. The service was excellent, too, and we thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

Written 11 May 2022

Sascha P

3 contributions

A horrible experience

May 2022 • friends

We anticipated a gastronomic journey, based on the amazing reviews and quaint family run restaurant. We were seated immediately and for that, they earned one star. However, the experience quickly deteriorated into one of the worst meals we have had in Portugal. For starters, the waitress recommended the squid which tasted like it came from a frozen package. While the fish soup was decent, she forgot to serve us our cocktails. When we tried to order mains, they were out of everything we wanted and she recommended the seafood rice. Then she came back a few minutes later to let us know they were out of that too. She then recommended the shrimp and octopus in tomato sauce. We asked for white wine and it was served tepid. They cleared the app plates (the squid was completely untouched because it was so gross). Then the disaster continued with the mains. The shrimp was fine at best. The squid looked like a plate of chopped up spaghetti in tomato sauce with rice - entirely unappetizing and equally disgusting to taste. To make matters worse, the couple next to us was served a pot of seafood rice which they dug into but then they realized that that was not what they ordered! Was that the last seafood rice we wanted to order??? This restaurant was so disappointing. Again, we left our meals mostly uneaten. Do yourself a favour and just eat at a tourist trap where at least the service is better and the food is edible.

Written 24 May 2022

Jono D

1 contribution

Amazing spot!!

Jun 2022 • couples

Amazing food! Great service! We drew on the table to pass the time while we waited for food, they gave us colored pencils which was awesome. Order an appetizer and some drinks if you are getting the sea food rice because it takes a while for them to make it. Expect to hang for a while and relax. It’s veeerrrry worth the wait. Amazing food, 5 stars.

Written 25 June 2022

rldra

Paris114 contributions

Good restaurant and food

Oct 2021 • none

We went twice to this restaurant. First time we took the octopus rice, it was lovely with a lot of seafood (octopus, clams and prawns). Second time, my husband has the grilled tuna and I had the grilled sardines and we both enjoyed it. Samir, the waiter, was very friendly. We recommend this restaurant.

Written 27 October 2021

David C

London371 contributions

Great Food and Favourite Restaurant

Sept 2021 • none

Great to be back in Lagos staying in house next door after Covid delay. We have tried numerous other traditional family run restaurants in Lagos but found none better. We dined four times and had Cataplana, Seafood Rice and Paella. All home cooked and excellent. AdC serve good house wine too. Sabir and team provide friendly service and we really enjoy being there. It may not have views but we like sitting outside there. Suggest to book for dinner as it gets very busy and people are often turned away.

Written 3 October 2021

no1rover

Bronx49 contributions

Order Paella 4 Hours In Advance!

Jun 2022 • couples

Ala do Castelo We were dying for Paella and we were initially disappointed to find we should have ordered in advance (as one should to receive a true quality paella that is cooked in all of it's ingredients juices) but the helpful staff provided a better substitute then we could have imagined! The Seafood and Rice with Octopus for two and garlic bread was rich, hearty and rediciously delicious! We landed in Porto and have traveled north to south and this is the best food we have enjoyed the entire trip including several fine food eateries in Lisbon. A side story of the chef having family currently stuck in the Ukrainian war zone made her acknowledging our request to thank her personally for her delicious effort and her sheepish but grateful response was very gratifying. Simply a great and memorable evening of culinary delight

Written 18 June 2022

Code6CC

16 contributions

Worth any wait.

Aug 2022 • family

First, get there early, there will be a wait and the kitchen closes well before the official closing time. Also, if you want the paella, you have to order 4 hrs in advanced. We missed it, so we went with the cataplana. Let me say, we didn't miss out on anything!!! It was phenomenal. Soooo good. Recommend ordering bread or rice on the side if you get the cataplana, which has extra gravy for you to smother it in. The mussels and shrimp were also delicious. Family owned and operated business for 16 years. Exceptional.

Written 2 August 2022

Betka P

Ankaran15 contributions

Worth a visit

Sept 2022 • couples

We tried the cataplana for the first time and it was very delicious. The waitress was very nice and made the whole experience even better. We paid ca 42€ for cataplana (one portion is for 2persons), 0,5L of house wine and garlic bread. Would recommend!

Written 10 September 2022

chjah

Harrogate110 contributions

Superb Back Street Portuguese Restaurant

Sept 2023 • couples

This restaurant is exceptional and we have already eaten there twice. Family run with Mum doing the cooking, the food is just on another level coupled with great service and very reasonable prices what is not to like? We have had the Cataplana and the Octopus rice both dishes for two people but much more in reality. With a litre of house wine the bill was around €50 euros which for the quality of food is brilliant. Get there early though as it can get very busy and it’s only a small place. Great service and they try really hard to fit people in although you never feel rushed. A must for food in Lagos.

Written 15 September 2023

Luma A

21 contributions

Delicious hidden gem!

Aug 2021 • family

The food is incredible here with huge portions! I think I had the best garlic shrimp I have ever tasted, I highly recommend this dish! It was so delicious, I was contemplating licking the bowl! The Portuguese steak was authentic and huge with lots of delicious flavour. This is a great family restaurant Nd it’s definitely a hidden gem. It was excellent priced for the amount of food we had and the staff were very helpful and friendly.

Written 31 August 2021

Simon M

Nottingham4 contributions

Excellent family run restaurant.

Apr 2023 • family

We went to this restaurant twice whilst in Lagos and loved it both times. The waiting staff are truly friendly and the whole place has a family run vibe. They made our six year old feel really comfortable. The warmth of the staff is equalled by the deliciousness of the food. Both nights we had the prawns to start cooked in a delicious sauce with garlic bread to soak it all up. We had the seafood rice which was rich and generous, packed with mussels, prawns and other assorted seafood. I had a sea bream on the second visit that was cooked perfectly. If you like seafood, then this is your place. Our little one chose the breaded chicken and it was actually really top quality and he loved it. Anyway, just writing this I’m wishing I was back in Lagos and able to visit this place again.

Written 8 April 2023

SVF_Trip

Oftersheim37 contributions

Authentic Flavors and Warm Hospitality at Restaurante Ala do Castelo

Dec 2023 • family

During our visit to Lagos, we had the pleasure of dining at Restaurante Ala do Castelo, a charming and unassuming spot that offered us a very good culinary experience. This small restaurant, with its basic yet cozy ambiance, immediately gave us the impression of being a family-run business, which was evident in the warm and gentle service we received. We started our meal with clams and shrimps, accompanied by mixed salad and garlic bread. Each dish was a delightful showcase of fresh, local ingredients, nicely prepared to highlight their natural flavors. The clams and shrimps, in particular, were outstanding, setting a high standard for the rest of the meal. For the main course, we indulged in the Seafood Cataplana and Grilled Swordfish Steak. The Seafood Cataplana, a traditional Portuguese dish, was packed with a variety of seafood and rich in flavor. We liked it a lot. To accompany our meal, we chose White Sangria, which was refreshing and a perfect match for the seafood-dominated menu. It added a light and fruity touch that enhanced the overall dining experience. Restaurante Ala do Castelo is a gem in Lagos for anyone seeking authentic, homemade-style Portuguese cuisine. The combination of delicious food, homely atmosphere, and friendly service makes this restaurant a strong recommendation. If you’re looking for a place that captures the essence of traditional Portuguese cooking, Restaurante Ala do Castelo is definitely worth a visit.

Written 27 December 2023

Lucy H

8 contributions

AMAZING

Apr 2022 • family

We had walked past this restaurant a few days before visiting and the food being served looked absolutely amazing, we then made it our mission to go and sample the food and we were not disappointed! We sat inside the restaurant as it was raining outside which was quaint and felt very traditional. We had two kids with us and one was not a fan of seafood so choose the pork, as a smaller eater he polished the lot. The rest of us had sea food which included sea bass, clams, the fish soup, and the seafood stew. It was by far the best meal we have had and that is saying something because the food has been spectacular. Highly recommend this place, it’s a must visit when in Lagos.

Written 22 April 2022

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