Breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday price. You will enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel with a variety of cold and hot dishes to choose from.
You will dine mostly in local restaurants for dinners. Sometimes you may dine in the hotel's restaurant on some evenings, depending on the season you are visiting. Wine and soft drinks are included at all evening dinners.
Your local guide has extensive knowledge of the area you are staying in, so the local restaurants chosen by your local guide are usually smaller and family run, serving traditional homemade Portuguese food and used by locals. They may not be typical tourist restaurants, but they will usually be traditional and simple restaurants run by a local family found in a quieter road away from the tourist route! Eating in local restaurants allows you to enjoy an authentic experience in a casual traditional Portuguese restaurant, with a lively atmosphere along with local diners and the Portuguese hospitality.
The Portuguese cuisine is very different to the Mediterranean diet you may expect to find in Spain, Greece and Italy. Portuguese dishes are usually created using locally sourced fresh ingredients, and from homemade traditional recipes shared between family generations. You may hear your local guide mention “like my Grandma used to make”. When travelling with a group, local restaurants will most likely ask you to pre-order from a set menu, which will usually consist of Portuguese soup for starters, and an option between a meat, a fish, and a vegetarian main meal option. The Portuguese cuisine includes a lot of carbohydrates, so you may find your dish includes rice and chips, ideal if you have enjoyed a long day of walking. Portugal is also famous for its seafood and fresh fish and usually it is caught, cooked and eaten the same day! During the first night of your holiday, it is usual that you may not have an option for your meal, so you may expect a typical traditional dinner of Portuguese Chicken and chips. Dietary requirements will be taken care of, and an alternative will be provided.
Vegetarian options are available if we are advised in advance so please contact our Sales & Reservations department. However please be aware that Portuguese food mostly consists of meat and fish. We do make suggestions on what ingredients to consider to produce a well-balanced and tasty meat and fish free meal, however vegetarian and vegan options can sometimes lack protein. You can, however, guarantee that ingredients will be fresh and locally sourced.
The hotels are selected for their close location to the main town centre and local restaurants so on some evenings you may have the opportunity to be able to walk to local restaurants, on others transport may be provided. During the quieter winter months, many local restaurants close for the season. Therefore, you may eat in the hotel more and you may eat in the same restaurant more than once as availability of open restaurants could be limited.
Lunches are not included and can be taken as picnics or in cafes.
During the festive holiday dates, you'll spend Christmas Eve in the hotel's restaurant or a local restaurant where you can enjoy a festive atmosphere with delicious local delicacies. Christmas Eve is celebrated more than Christmas Day in Portugal. Christmas Day is usually quieter and families eat and gather around the Christmas tree at home. You'll celebrate Christmas Day with a quieter but delicious festive dinner in the hotel restaurant or a local restaurant. You'll spend New Years Eve and New Years Day in either the hotel's restaurant or a local restaurant where you enjoy an evening of celebrations with delicious local delicacies.