The food in Lagos is terrific, and you should make sure to take time to taste all of the local flavors. The city offers some of the best food in the Algarve. The old town has plenty of restaurants that are both affordable and high quality. Seafood is the obvious choice, but you'll also find tapas, paellas, and local dishes such as cataplana (a seafood and chorizo stew). Most restaurants serve up a local fish of the day as well as prawns and other seafood items.
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Lagos is around $38 (€34) per person, with previous travelers spending from $16 to $75. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Lagos are as follows:
- Breakfast: $4 to $11
- Lunch: $6 to $15
- Dinner: $11 to $26
- Coffee: $3
- Fast Food or Street Food: $6
Being a little town on the sea, Lagos is known to be abundant in fresh fish and seafood. Sea bass, prawns, razor clams, scabbard fish, and more can all be found served grilled, in seafood stews, or in flavorful risottos. You can even have fresh oysters on a bed of ice and garnished with lemon. Other local specialties include squid stuffed with a spicy ham and sausage mixture called lulas recheadas, a dried salted cod called bacalhau, as well as an octopus salad. Beyond seafood, meat dishes are also available including items like frango piri-piri (chicken in a fiery pepper sauce), bife de vazia (sirloin steak) or costeletas de borrego (lamb chops). Accompanying each meal it is common to indulge in some of the local wines of Lagos, both red and white, produced locally. And then for dessert, try one of the honey cakes (morgados) made with figs and almonds or the ‘Dom Rodrigos,' a sweet cinnamon-flavored confection.
As far as where to eat goes, the town center has restaurants, cafes, and bars down every street and in every square. You can find anything from traditional Portuguese cuisine to Mediterranean, Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Thai. There is also a good selection of bars and restaurants down by the Lagos marina.
When dining out with children, prioritize restaurants with a kids' menu. This can help you save a fair amount of money, as those options are typically less expensive. Some eateries might not showcase kids' meals on their menus, so it's a good idea to check with the waiter.
Many hotels include breakfast in their price, while some add it on as an extra charge. The price and quality can vary depending on the hotel. Knowing ahead of time can help you decide if you need to spend even more money. Maybe it's worth your money for the delicious buffet at the hotel. Or, perhaps you should just go to a nearby bakery or cafe that's much cheaper.
Enjoy the scenery and save some money by preparing a picnic. Head to a local grocery store or market, select some fresh goodies, and find a picturesque park or spot to enjoy your meal.
Bring your own water bottle instead of grabbing drinks on the fly. It's better for the environment as well.
If you're planning to take a tour, make sure you know which meals are included beforehand. You might be on the hook to pay for some of the food yourself which can add to your budget.
If you're looking to experience the culinary culture in Lagos, taking a food tour or cooking class is a terrific way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. Some of the best food-related activities here include:
- Portuguese Cooking Class in Portimao with a Local Family for $124 details
- Portuguese Cooking Class: Experience Authentic Algarve Cuisine for $110 details
- Classic Food Tour - Lagos for $99 details