2 Passos

Most peoples Algarve dream holiday includes sunshine, beautiful beaches, great seafood and delicious wines. Visit 2 Passos restaurant, on Praia do Ancão and you get the whole package.

Located near Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, 2 Passos stands on high stilts atop sand dunes overlooking the Ria Formosa nature reserve. The restaurant has been serving the best of traditional Algarve dishes since 1982. As befits a beach restaurant, the décor is simple - a high wooden terrace, with unobstructed views across the beach and the ocean; a simple white wood interior with a lovely high ceiling and the all important lobster tank.

Open for lunch all year round (dinner only by reservation) 2 Passos is special no matter what the season. On a warm summers day it's hard to imagine a better place for lunch. Very popular with both residents and tourists, anyone looking for good Algarvian food fits in perfectly - whether it's a suited business lunch or a t-shirt and flip flops sun break.

There are several meat dishes to choose from on the menu, but fish and seafood is really what it's all about. Simply grilled and filleted at your table or oven baked in salt - fish has never tasted so good. If lobster is your favourite then treat yourself to the famous house special Lobster Casserole. There is always a selection of fresh shellfish, too. The appetizers and side dishes at 2 Passos are worth a mention - particularly the King fish (a portuguese version of whitebait), the scallops and the famed Passos rice.

Not the cheapest restaurant around (but then good fish doesn't come cheaply anymore) 2 Passos offers consistently great food, a relaxed atmosphere and a superb location. Although only open for lunch (and reservations are recommended particularly during the summer months) 2 Passos accepts group reservations for dinner. There is a range of menus to choose from, and bespoke menus can always be arranged.

Praia de Ancão is in the heart of the Golden Triangle and yet is a fairly quiet location. There is a winding road down to the beach , with ample parking. The last 100 or so metres to the restaurant is covered on foot, over wooden sleepers laid in the sand.