The Best Dining Options at Quinta do Lago Resort

Article by Golfshake Equipment Expert Ryan Rastall

Earlier this season, the Golfshake Team visited the stunning Quinta do Lago Resort in the Algarve region of Portugal to sample everything that the resort had to offer. The three golf courses located on the estate (Quinta do Lago North, South and Laranjal) provided a golfing test for all skill levels. The amazing Campus facility has everything you could possibly need to stay active and work on your fitness and the variety of accommodation options with the Wyndham Grand Hotel, the Magnolia Hotel and the on-site villas cover all bases. The one area that is often overlooked is the dining options and Quinta do Lago is packed with choices which prompted us to document our gastronomic experiences in this article. You can also see evening that we experienced in the videos we have uploaded to our YouTube Channel recently.

The Clubhouse at Quinta do Lago

After arriving early in the afternoon on our first day, we headed over to the clubhouse at Quinta do Lago for some lunch. The menu was a great mix of traditional Portuguese dishes such as Chicken Piri-Piri, Cured Ham Toasties and my personal favourite Batatas Bravas as well as traditional clubhouse fair such as their clubhouse burger and chicken curry. We then visited the driving range and hit a few balls to shake off some of the rust from the morning's travelling and after a couple of hours we headed to reception and checked into our villa. Once we had unpacked and settled into our accommodation we started to do some research on the various eateries located in Quinta do Lago.

Casa Velha

As stated earlier, there are a number of different options all within close proximity to wherever you are staying in QDL. The beautiful Casa Velha is located right in the heart of the estate and offers a wide range of traditional Portuguese dishes full of traditional flavours with a contemporary touch. The restaurant is famous for its ‘Pesticos’ which is small plates of each signature dish very similar to the more familiar tapas style dining. This encourages diners to enjoy all of the tastes of Portugal in an informal, sharing style and experience local flavours like never before. Dishes such as Tavira oysters, Casa Velha’s speciality Codfish and of course Piri Piri chicken are extremely popular with every customer receiving an authentic Portuguese dining experience.

Bovino Steakhouse

Situated next to Casa Velha is the stunning Bovino Steakhouse which can only be described as a meat lover's dream! The decor had a traditional Portuguese feel and if you are fan of wine, Bovino has a huge collection with their in house sommelier on hand to recommend the perfect pairing for even the most discerning customer. 

We were treated to a three course tasting menu which featured some of Bovino’s greatest hits including authentic Portuguese Chourico and of course a selection of amazing cuts of steak. This was all accompanied by some amazing Portuguese red wine to further enhance the impressive array of dishes. 

Gigi's

If you are looking for something a little less formal, the resort has a number of options for breakfast, light lunch, coffee or even a cocktail or two. Q Beach has a selection of tasty sandwiches and light bites that you can enjoy while basking in the Algarve sunshine down at Quinta do Lago beach. This is where you can also find Gigi’s restaurant and bar. This classic restaurant overlooks the tidal lagoon and offers stunning views of the Ria Formosa National Park.

Casa do Lago

Around the lake at QDL, you will find Casa do Lago offering fresh seafood straight from the local markets and the terrace overlooks the peaceful waters of the lake. The menu features clams, tiger prawns, tuna and salmon dishes but the highlight for me was the Seafood Cataplana. This Portuguese favourite features a variety of fresh fish and shellfish which is slow cooked in a Cataplana sauce and served in a casserole dish for two people to enjoy. It really was one of the highlights of our stay and something I would definitely return for. Another lakeside offering is The Shack which has lots of small plates to choose from in their Pesticos menu as well as more substantial dishes such as enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos and burgers. This is a much more informal setting and ideal for families who want a more chilled out setting overlooking the lake.

Umami

On our second evening in QDL we visited the renowned Umami restaurant which was just a two minute drive from the golf clubhouse. This was honestly one of the best dining experiences of my life. This Japanese inspired restaurant features some of the most amazing and unique flavour combinations as well as amazing skill from the chefs to produce dishes that not only taste great but are visually stunning. We were treated to a private dining experience in a room overlooking the Ria Formosa and the view as the sun set was really remarkable. The five course tasting menu was equally as impressive and we got to sample some of the new dishes that were being added to the summer menu. If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine and the unique flavours then you will fall in love with Umami. Each course was expertly paired with a different Portuguese wine and the staff were very knowledgable about every dish and flavour combination. We were lucky enough to interview the head chef Evo and restaurant manager Beatriz who were really proud of the restaurant and extremely passionate about the dining experience that Umami provides.

Dano's

During our stay we visited The Campus, which is a state of the art sports and training facility located in the resort. After working up an appetite on the padel court we decided to head into Dano’s bar and restaurant. This sports bar style venue is the perfect place to grab some food, enjoy a few beers and watch all of the latest live sport on their numerous screens. We enjoyed it so much that we ate here twice during our stay and thoroughly enjoyed both the food and atmosphere.

The Cheeky Pup

On our final full day at Quinta do Lago, we played early on the South Course and in my opinion we saved the best until last. After an enjoyable morning out on the course and reviewing it for the website, me and the rest of the team headed over for a full five hour filming session at the golf academy and managed to film all of our ‘Best of 2024’ club reviews which are now live on the YouTube Channel. This extremely busy day meant that we worked up a healthy appetite and decided to take the short drive to Quinta Shopping located just behind the golf course. We had been told to visit The Cheeky Pup. which is an Irish gastropub offering delicious food, live music and the best atmosphere in Quinta do Lago. The atmosphere was really good and was definitely the most lively venue that we visited. There was a good mix of locals enjoying a drink while watching the football and groups like ours enjoying a hearty meal after a long day. If you long for some home comforts while out in Portugal then the Cheeky Pup really delivers. The local pub style environment coupled with the extremely tasty food and the added bonus of being able to watch Champions League football really elevated the experience for me and I think if I was visiting Quinta do Lago with a group of friends playing golf, I would be spending a lot of time here.

KOKO

After the frivolity of the previous evening, we then had to get up the next morning with the dreaded job of packing before heading to the airport. Our late afternoon flight however meant that we had chance to sample one more of QDL’s eateries before departure. We made the short walk over to the driving range to KOKO. This cafe restaurant was the perfect place to grab a quick bite before we left. The menu had pizzas, burgers, Peri Peri chicken sandwiches and wraps that were extremely tasty. The team ordered a variety of different dishes and all remarked on how good they were. It was also enhanced by the fact that we were so close to the range that you could almost practice between bites and the kids only area was great, allowing young golfers to experience hitting balls while waiting for their food to arrive. The highlight of our trip to KOKO was the fantastic coffee which really helped clear a fuzzy head from one too many Guinnesses in the Cheeky Pup the previous evening!

All in all, Quinta do Lago has a large variety of restaurants, cafes and bars to enhance your stay and they are spread throughout the resort allowing you to explore this picturesque and popular corner of the Algarve. Whether you are here for a few days as a couple or enjoying a few days of golf in a larger group, heading out for a snack and a coffee or a more substantial evening meal, QDL has you covered.

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