Gluten-Free tips for the Algarve, Portugal

Portugal has been at the top of my list for quite some time now. So I was looking forward to exploring the Algarve in August this year. The research I had done in the lead-up to my trip led me to believe that travelling gluten-free in Portugal can be quite challenging. I’ll admit that, at times, it was difficult, and there wasn’t a lot of info available online, but once we got there, we found many places that could offer gluten-free options. So here’s a rundown of everything that I ate while visiting the Algarve. From traditional Portuguese foods to fast food treats, there’s plenty to choose from.

Gluten Free Praia da Luz

My family and I stayed in Praia Da Luz, which is only about a 15-minute drive from Lagos. If you’re travelling as a family, then I would definitely recommend this area as it’s much quieter than Lagos. The beach is also much more accessible as there are no steps down. There are plenty of bars and restaurants which all sit along a boardwalk with lovely views of the sea. So if you’re looking for somewhere in the Algarve that’s a little quieter, then Luz is a really great option.

Best Gluten Free Resturants in Praia da Luz

Boatys

Boaty’s sits right on the promenade on the beach. So it’s a lovely spot to sit and have a drink. This is a tapas-style restaurant, and their menu is fully marked with gluten-free options. I’d say that less than half of the menu is available gluten-free, so the choices are slightly limited. Still enough to have a decent meal, and the cocktails are lovely. It’s worth a visit just to sit and people-watch over some sangria! There’s also a rooftop bar just above that is a great spot at sunset.

Latitude

Lattitude was the first restaurant we visited when we arrived in Praia Da Luz, and it was definitely one of my faves. All allergens are clearly marked on their menu, and they have plenty of options. The standout for me was the burrata salad. They even had a gluten-free dessert which was olive oil pudding with passion fruit seeds and lime zest.

Pizza Real

Pizza Real is just a few steps from the beach and has gluten-free bases available. All their pizzas can be made with a GF base, but you’ll want to double the toppings to ensure they’re all gluten-free. The base is also a generous size, which isn’t always the case with gluten-free pizza bases. Mine was about the same size as my husband’s non-gluten-free pizza, so I didn’t feel like I’d missed out. You can sit in or take-away.

Nah Nah Bah Luz

Nah Nah Bah is a bar and restaurant serving some pretty outrageous burgers. They have 2 locations, one in Lagos and the other in Luz, I visited their Luz restaurant. It’s a super relaxed atmosphere, and they also have some really nice cocktails. They don’t offer gluten-free buns, but the burger patties are gluten-free and you can order all of their burgers without a bun, which they’ll happily make for you. I had the Toucan burger which comes with Bacon and Pineapple, the portions are huge so you don’t even miss the bun. Well worth a visit.

Gluten-Free Supermarket in Praia Da Luz

Supermercado Baptista

There were 2 supermarkets in Luz, Babtista was the closest to our accommodation. I was thrilled to see a full Gluten-Free section which had bread, pasta and cereals. They also have a frozen section with GF frozen Pizza. There were also a few things marked GF that were not in the dedicated section so it’s definitely worth having a look around because you can still find things that are clearly marked.

Where to stay in Praia da Luz

Gluten Free Lagos

Lagos is a historic city in the Western Algarve, about an hour away from Faro International Airport. It’s a busy town with lots of nightlife, restaurants, historical sites, and access to spectacular beaches. We only visited for the day. The area is quite popular with tourists so you’ll find there are the usual tourist traps. But they’re easy enough to avoid and find some tasty authentic Portuguese food.

Best Gluten-Free Resturants in Lagos

O Mexilhao

O Mexilhao is a mediterainean restaurant in the heart of Lagos. Their menu is marked with items that contain gluten; everything else is gluten-free. There are quite a few options as well. Almost 80% of their menu is gluten-free. We had the fried calamari, which the chef confirmed was made using corn flour, followed by the mussels. You can’t go wrong with seafood in Portugal. This meal was a real standout!

The Garden

This alfresco bar and grill has plenty of gluten-free options on its menu. All items that are Gluten-Free are clearly marked on their menu which makes things really simple. The staff also have a pretty good understanding of coeliac disease as well so you know you’re in safe hands. It’s a really cute garden setting with some really delish cocktails, so it’s worth a visit.

My Sushi

My Sushi is a Japanese restaurant that offers some gluten-free options. Their menu is marked with allergens, but the allergen is listed as ‘flour’. So, I would check with the staff before ordering to be sure that there are no other gluten-containing ingredients. The options are limited, as with most Japanese restaurants, because they use soy sauce, but there are some items that are safe.

Casinha do Petisco

This is a small family run restaurant and usually has a queue to get in, so you know the food is decent quality. They specialize in Portuguese cuisine, and all allergens are very clearly marked on the menu with plenty of gluten-free dishes to choose from.

R. da Oliveira 51, 8600-700 Lagos

McDonald’s

The elusive gluten-free bun is available at Mcdonalds’ in Portugal, which is always exciting! The Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger, Big Mac, McRoyal and McRoyal Deluxe can all be made with a gluten-free bun. This is a great option if you’re looking for something on the go.

Gluten Free Ice cream in Lagos

GeIícia Gelateria Italiana

Did someone say gluten-free waffle cones? Coming across a gelateria with gluten-free cones is rare. So when I heard about this place, there was no way I would miss out! The cones are pre-made and individually wrapped to reduce any cross-contamination. There’s also full dietary info displayed inside to check which flavours are safe. I tried the one with 1 scoop of stracciatella, delish!

Where to stay in Lagos