Fish and traditional meats — very close to us. Estr. Nacional 120 n 73
Lagos · Algarve · Portugal
The Stone Cottage
Guest Guide
“Welcome my friends to our little slice of paradise! Here are some tips that may be useful while you are here.”
Wi‑Fi
Network: Cottage Guest 5G
Password: theguest
(one word, small letters)
Location (GPS)
37° 7.2360′ N // 8° 42.9400′ W
Contact us on WhatsApp for a pin drop or directions, if needed.
Emergency
112 all emergencies
Hospital: 808 24 24 24 · Tlm: +351 918 183 591
A Little Portuguese Goes a Long WayLanguage tips
SE FAZ FAVORplease — pronounced “se fash favvor” (or simply POR FAVOR)
OBRIGADO / OBRIGADAthank you — obrigado if you’re a man, obrigada if you’re a woman
BOM DIAalways say it when you enter a small shop — even to other customers!
BOA TARDE · BOA NOITEuse “boa tarde” after lunch. “Boa noite” is only for when you are going to bed!
Good to Know Around the CottageImportant notes
- Well water. The Cottage is supplied with well water. You can drink it, but the high mineral content can upset your stomach — be cautious.
- Gentle drains. All drains go to water the garden, except the toilet, where waste is treated in a septic system. Please be respectful — they are very sensitive systems!
- Solar power. We have solar power and batteries, plus back-up grid electricity. We have lots of energy!! …except on cloudy days…
- Guide books. There are a few guide books on the shelves, as well as light vacation reading! I can answer a lot of your questions — and our website has guide links too (see the QR codes at the bottom of this page).
- Complaints book. There is an “official” complaints book as we are registered with the government. Please talk to me first so we can resolve any problem.
Food & DrinkComer e beber
Ice Cream — more than just a breakfast food!
In Lagos
Several homemade ice cream shops, all in the centre and near the Avenida (the main road along the river). Aside from one Portuguese shop, the rest are Italian-based styles. My two favourites:
- Taquelim Gonçalves (the Portuguese one)
- Gelícia – Gelateria Italiana
There are several more — go explore!
In Luz
The Ice Cream Shop next to the Forteleza (the old fort on the seafront) — expensive, but still tasty, with a shady spot to sit and look. And one more at the other end of the seafront walk: Licks Gelato.
Breakfast, the Portuguese Way
| PASTEL DE NATA | the famous custard tart — best ones from “Paderia Central” in Lagos |
| PASTEL DE BACALHÃO | small salt cod (“morue”) and potato cakes |
Coffee Decoder
Ordering coffee in Portugal is an art form. Here’s your cheat sheet:
| MEIA DE LEITE | coffee with milk (like a “latte”) |
| MEIA DE LEITE ESCURO | same as above, but stronger |
| GALÃO | coffee with milk served in a tall glass (ask for an extra shot) |
| BICA (or “um café”) | espresso |
| BICA CHEIA | full espresso (not so strong) |
| BICA DUPLA | double espresso |
| BICA PINGADA | espresso with a little bit of milk |
| BICA COM CHEIRINHO | espresso with a shot of alcoholic spirit |
| GARROTO | half espresso, half milk |
| CARIOCA | weak, watery coffee |
| ABATANADO | large cup of black coffee with hot water (an Americano) |
Best & cheapest cafés around the area
Lagos
- “Alcucar” — excellent homemade cakes; opposite Lidl, next to Millenium bank (shady side)
- “Coffee Time” — near the main post office (not downtown)
- “Pastelaria Pao Doce” — near the skatepark & ProPutting (carpark)
- …and many more inside the old town, away from the central zone…
Portelas / Bensafrim
- “Taberna das Portelas”
- “O Molião Caffé” (centre of Portelas main street)
- “Café do Marché” (next to the market in Bensafrim)
Menu Decoder — starters, mains & wine
Starters
| Couvert | bread, olives, carrots, sardine paste (not free!) |
| Salada de polvo | octopus salad |
| Ameijoas à bulhão pato | clams with garlic, oil and coriander |
| Tremoços | lupin seeds, a bit like olives |
| Salada de ovas | fish roe salad |
| Caldo verde | soup of shredded cabbage, potato and chorizo |
Fish mains
| Sardinhas | sardines |
| Bachalhão | salt cod (“morue”) |
| Cataplana | fish, peppers etc. steamed in a “cataplana” copper pan |
| Caldeirada | fish stew |
| Arroz de marisco | seafood rice (“fruits de mer” risotto) |
| Camarão | prawns (try them at Bar Quim, Meia Praia) |
Meat mains
| Frango no churrasco / assado com piri-piri | grilled or barbecue chicken with chilli |
| Arroz de pato | rice with duck and chorizo |
| Cozido à portuguesa | meat stew with vegetables and sausage |
| Feijoada à transmontana | bean stew with various meats and sausage |
| Entrecosto | ribs |
Wine
| VINHO VERDE (“green” wine) | grapes harvested before they ripen — a light, refreshing, slightly sharp wine, unique to Portugal |
| VINHO TINTO (red) | all Alentejo wines are good. In the supermarket, pay less than €4.50 for a perfectly good red |
| VINHO BRANCO (white) | whites from the North (Tejo, Douro, Setubal) are all good |
Supermarkets & Fresh Markets
Supermarkets
- Pingo Doce — national chain, good quality, good prices. Two in Lagos: a quiet one near City Hall, and a big busy one near the marina as you exit town direction Portimão
- Continente — opposite the cemetery
- Intermarché — south end of town
- Lidl — one roundabout from City Hall (west)
- Aldi — near the main cemetery, next roundabout from Continente
Fresh markets (fish, fruit, veg, artisanal)
- Daily — Mercado Municipal, Avenida dos Descobrimentos (indoor); Mon–Sat, 8am–2pm
- Daily — Santo Amaro, Praça de Santo Amaro (indoor); Mon–Sat, 7am–2pm
- Saturday morning — Mercado do Levante (fruit & veg); Sat 6am–1pm, next to the bus station
- Wednesday evening — Viv’o Mercado (organic fruit & veg, live music); Wed 5pm, April–Oct, same location as Levante
Our Restaurant Shortlist
Hint — search online for a restaurant’s telephone or location using “name_Lagos_Portugal” for the best result. Green badges = very close to the Cottage.
Vegetarian
Good website: happycow.net/europe/portugal/lagos
- Sunrays Kitchen (very good)
- Beats & Burritos or The Green Room (Mexican)
- Pom Pom Bagels (daytime only — becomes a burger bar at night)
- Blue Whale
- Gorilla (fusion)
- Indigo Bar
Meat, fish & everything else
Traditional meat dishes, good value — very close to us. Estr. Nacional 120 n 34
Italian — excellent food and service (Italian wines). R. Dr. José Francisco de Matos Nunes Silva lt3 loja C
Very good service and value. Fontanário, Largo da Praça
Excellent Indian food, walk-ins ok. Av. dos Pescadores 10L4
Main dish €13.50 — must book. R. Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro 23A
All styles, good fish, great views — must book. Carvi Hotel top floor, Praia Dona Ana
Old town, popular & small — great Italian. R. Infante de Sagres 56, Old Town
Fish, main dish €14–16. R. do Compromisso Marítimo 11, near Moinho Cafe
Tapas, main dish €12–14. Rua da Oliveira, Lagos Centre
Modern Portuguese, dish of the day €14. R. do Moinho do Azeite 1A
Main dish €10.50. R. Filarmónica Primeiro de Maio 6
Main dish €18–20, at the Marina. R. Salgueiro Maia 8
Traditional Portuguese and pizza — must book. R. Dr. António Guerreiro Tello 10 loja B
Good Mexican food and ambiance, near the Tivoli Hotel. R. António Crisógno dos Santos 51
Beaches & BoardwalksPraias & passadiços
Two Boardwalk Walks
Boardwalk #1 (Lagos) — start from Praia Dona Ana at the top of the loop road; follows the sea cliffs to the Lagos lighthouse. About 5.0 km, 90 min return.
Boardwalk #2 (Lagos) — start from the east or west end of Meia Praia; follows the beach, elevated above the dunes. About 6.6 km, 90 min return.
Beach List — pick your cove
Lagos
- Praia de Batata
- Praia Dona Ana
- Praia do Camilo (route Ponta da Piedade)
- Meia Praia (take the “Vai-Vem” ferry or the pedestrian bridge)
- Porto de Mós
- Canavial
Lagos to Sagres
- Burgau
- Cabanas Velhas
- Praia de Figueira (20 min walk from parking)
- Praia das Furnas
- Zavial (Raposeira)
- Ingrina (Raposeira)
West coast
- Bordeira (route Carrapateira)
- Amado (route Carrapateira)
- Monte Clérigo (route Aljezur)
- Arrifana (route Aljezur)
East of Lagos
- Praia dos Três Irmãos, Alvor
- Praia do Carvalho, Carvoeiro
- Benagil, Carvoeiro
Things to Take HomeEdible souvenirs
Queijo — Portuguese cheese
Queijo da Ilha from the Açores islands — São Jorge is best (and most expensive). Also look for queijo de cabra (goat) and queijo de ovelha (sheep). There are loads of types: strong, mild, hard, soft.
Some named suggestions
- Queijo Serra da Estrela DOP — Fernando & Simões
- Queijo Soalheira Quinta Pomar
- Malpiqueijo
- Queijos Santiago — Cerrado do Vale Amanteigado
- Lactacores São Jorge
- Queijaria Artesanal Víctor Fernandes
- Sabores da Soalheira — Queijo de Ovelha Curado, Alcains
- Conde de Vinhó — queijo de cabra
- Brejo da Gaia — queijo de cabra
- Queijaria Guilherme — Queijo Serpa
- Serras de Penela — Clássico
Also look for these names
Serra da Estrela · São Jorge · Rabaçal · Transmontano (goat) · Évora · Azeitão · Nisa (sheep) · Terrincho (sheep) · Castelo Branco (raw sheep)
Sausage, Tins & Piri-Piri
Portuguese sausage: morçela, chouriço, paio, alheira, farinheira, chourição…
Tinned fish paste: paté de sardinha (sardine), also atum (tuna), bacalhão (cod) and cavala (horse mackerel).
Piri-piri sauce or oil (red hot chilli) — there is a good Portuguese brand called “Paladin” for all sauces.
Useful Phone NumbersKeep them handy
Emergency (all services)112
Public hospital emergency808 24 24 24
Stone Cottage (your host)+351 964 677 843
Fire117
Information118
Cruelty to animals21 765 4242
National civil protection214 247 100
Maritime search & rescue214 401 919
Children’s help line217 931 617
Domestic violence800 202 148