Vilamoura Entertainment

Vilamouras entertainment is strongly centred on the marina, where there are numerous bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels. There is some great local food to be tried, the seafood is especially famous and there are also plenty of international restaurants. The resort also includes a number of shopping centres and boutiques.

Golf is one of the biggest attractions in Vilamoura. There are four superb courses in the resort itself and many others in the surrounding area. The most famous course is the Vilamoura Old Course, set in a beautiful green landscape. This tough par 73 course has hosted the Portuguese Open on the European tour and is considered one of the best courses in Europe. The Pinhall course has been used on the womens professional circuit and brings together the best of course design from Britain and America. The course is attractively set in the middle of a pinewood forest. The two newer courses are the Laguna course, with three loops of nine holes and the Millennium course, with its tricky par three 6th hole which has a lake on the left and a huge bunker facing the tee.

The seas of the Algarve have Atlantic currents meeting the Mediterranean streams which result in some of the finest deep sea fishing waters in Europe. In 1993 a Vilamoura boat caught the worlds largest ever recorded black marlin, a staggering 737kg and 3.65m long. Tuna, swordfish and corvina are all readily found here. Boats can be hired for a day of fishing, with lunch included.

If you dont want to take to the waters, you will find plenty of opportunities for line fishing from the rocks and cliffs around here. The Algarve area has a rich tradition of fishing and colourful fishing boats can be seen dotted around the coastline, with local fishermen keeping the traditions alive.

Vilamoura has a relatively small music and entertainment scene. The famous casino, close to the marina, is one of the most popular venues with nightly cabaret shows as well as some international music acts. There is also a cinema within the casino complex.

Around the marina, there are many restaurants and clubs, some with live music to entertain. One of the most popular is The Irish Cabin, which offers live music every night in a great atmosphere. It also has Guinness on tap. For jazz lovers, the Vilamoura Jazz Club has live jazz three or four nights a week in a relaxed atmosphere.

There are other options in the surrounding villages and towns. Albufeira (about 30 minutes drive away) has a number of traditional festivals during the summer including Feira de Nossa Senhora da Guia which finishes with a stunning fireworks display. There are also bullfights in the Albufeira Arena during the summer.

The Vilamoura development has plenty of shopping options with a range of clothes shops, souvenir shops, sports stores, jewellers and many more within the resorts shopping arcades. Vilamouras shopping is predominantly modern, but for some of the more traditional Algarve shopping try some of the surrounding villages and towns. The Algarve is well known for its terracotta pottery and fine ceramics and its easy to find shops selling some beautiful products, including Azulelejos, which are hand painted colourful tiles that were traditionally both decorative and acted as a sea defence for the buildings.

The nearby town of Loule has a bustling market and is known for its excellent handicrafts. It is easily reached from Vilamoura and is a fun place to stroll around and to savour the Portuguese atmosphere as well as indulging in some shopping. Gipsy Markets are held twice a week in Albufeira, which are excellent locations to pick up a bargain.

Eating out

As you would expect of such a large tourist resort, there are some excellent restaurants to be found. Much of the focus is on the fresh seafood, but there are also some delicious Portuguese meat dishes. Vilamoura has a wide range of international cuisine available, including Indian, Chinese, French and Italian.

One of the most respected restaurants in the resort is the Sirius Restaurant, located in the elegant Marinotel hotel and offering stunning views over the marina. The food is French, influenced with some great seafood dishes such as lobster thermidor.

For Portuguese food in an attractive setting try Ptio das Laranjeiras, this is in a quiet northerly location overlooking Vilamoura. Rei dos Mares is a small traditional restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and pleasant outside seating and a reputation for good local cuisine. The seafood is especially good, with grilled king prawns and lobster with white beans just two of the house specialities.

Vilamoura has some surprisingly tasty and authentic Indian food. The Indian King Palace, just behind the marina is well received and offers north Indian cuisine which is freshly prepared every day.

As a traditional fishing region, much of the local cuisine is centred on seafood. You will find an enormous range of excellent dishes and good fresh fish to choose from. Bass and flounder are especially popular here and there is also some excellent shellfish to be enjoyed. One of the most traditional delicacies of the region is Caldeirada, a delicious fish stew made with potatoes, fish, peppers and parsley, usually served in a clay pot.

Another Algarve favourite is Peri-Peri chicken, spicy barbecued chicken which is often accompanied with French fries and especially good eaten while admiring the view of the ocean. Make sure you tell the waiter how spicy you want it or it could be far too hot for you to eat.

The restaurant in the Hotel Vila Gale Marina has a Portuguese themed buffet dinner, which is an excellent introduction to the food of the region.