The largest concentration of Albufeira's cafés and best restaurants is in the Old Town and seafront area (but be warned that the most expensive eateries are located here). Its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean has done its job - local cuisine is based on fish and seafood.
Authentic dishes include fish espada with fried banana, octopus in wine, swordfish kebabs, lobster pate, crab salad, charcoal sardines, fried shrimp and more.
If you want a true taste of Albufeira's cuisine, order the cataplana. This dish takes its name from the seashell-shaped pot in which squid, octopus, prawns and other sea creatures are stewed in fish broth and white wine with tomato sauce and spices. Cataplana is eaten with rice or potatoes - one pot of the dish will cost 23-29 EUR (together with wine).
Besides seafood, dishes made of cornmeal, pork or sausages, young horse meat, chicken baked with giblets, young lamb shoulder with almonds are common.
With the addition of almonds are madeand sweets include the famous almond balls, almond nougat and cakes.
