Reviews - A Vela
Reviews
8.8of 10
Ratings and reviews can only be left by guests who have booked with TheFork.
Therese L. • 2 reviews
September 6, 2025
7/10The food was okay, nothing special but the service was very good. The restaurant itself looked a little tired.
Pietro E. • 7 reviews
August 14, 2025
9.5/10The octopus was exceptional! All the main dishes of my table were good. Not as much as the starters.
Nicola S. • 19 reviews
August 7, 2025
8.5/10Warm welcome, attentive staff. Lovely cocktails, well priced. Both of us had pasta, lots of fish and prawns, delicious.
Asim S. • 3 reviews
August 5, 2025
7.5/10Service was great. The lady (manager or owner) was exemplary to be honest. Ambience was great too. It’s a lovely restaurant. The food was ok. I felt the prawns were overcooked and the seafood rice was good. I think there is better quality food in other places for similar prices, but it was still an enjoyable evening.
Terence M. • 1 review
August 2, 2025
10/10
My favorite restaurant in Carvoerio. The Octopus Carpaccio was a masterpiece and the Bacalhau with mashed potato, onion and cream was also delicious.
A Vela • Owner
Thanks for your words. We allways do ouro best . I'm só gratefull for having you as customers.
Seamus O. • 1 review
July 26, 2025
9/10The quality of the food was very good and the service was excellent
Denise L. • 1 review
July 5, 2025
10/10So, everybody has a favourite restaurant but I have been coming to Carvoeiro for 30 years and in my opinion there is nowhere as consistently good as A Vela. Antonia is an exceptional host and remembers every one who has visited previously. The food is outstanding. The best steak on stone, superb prawns and the Codfish (needs to be pre-ordered) is a standout dish. Excellent value compared to anywhere else in the heart of Carvoeiro. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough!
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much, I do my work thinking about all my clients, I do it with a lot of love, grateful for your words. All the best to you.
Byron M. • 6 reviews
July 8, 2025
10/10Good food and service. Thank you. Best deserts in Carvoeiro!!!
A Vela • Owner
Thanks you for your words ,
Ann Gallier P. • 1 review
June 30, 2025
10/10
The food was so fresh and simply prepared but delicious! Out of the five restaurants that we tried in the Algarve region, this was our favorite.
David P. • 1 review
June 20, 2025
9/10Service was amazing main courses were excellent unfortunately desserts were a little expensive and were not fantastic
Phillipa L. • 7 reviews
June 19, 2025
9.5/10The food was excellent and the owner makes it a friendly personal experience. If you are a good piano player they have a beautiful baby grand upstairs you can play with permission and have drinks whilst listening to your own family concert - great fun
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much
Kieran M. • 1 review
June 13, 2025
4/10We had high hopes for this restaurant given other positive reviews that we had read and it always being busy when we had walked past. We were a party of 6 with one child. The lady serving us was very polite and attentive at first and explained the menu to us and took our orders. We all opted for different dishes to try and sample a bit of everything. When the food arrived it was a massive disappointment, one of our party ordered the 'fresh' calamari, which arrived almost burnt and was absolutely not fresh, they were the type that you would buy from a supermarket that look like onion rings, his chips were also cold, it was so bad we asked to have his meal changed. I ordered lamb, it was absolutely swimming in oil, it was bland and came with 3 potatoes and 1 broccoli floret. Upon completion of our meal we did tell the hostess who I believe is the owner how disappointing the meal was, all she could say was "we tried our best". I would definitely not recommend this restaurant
A Vela • Owner
Mr Kieran, I read your comments very carefully, I'm sorry to say but we don't have anything frozen, the squid comes from the Algarve coast, that must be why you're not used to the taste of fresh products. As I told you, we do our best. If I have been managing my restaurant for 21 years, it is because it is of high quality. I am sorry that it was not to your liking, because not even JESUS pleased everyone. Take care. and enjoy the good moments in life...
annette w. • 1 review
June 13, 2025
10/10Excellent vegetarian food -tasty and as good as home made. Lovely service- friendly and helpful but not too pushy. Will go back definitely
A Vela • Owner
Thank you for your review, we try to be as genuine and Portuguese as possible, simplicity always wins. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Steve D. • 1 review
June 12, 2025
9/10The front of house welcome sets the scene for a great dining experience. House wine is exceptional value and the food always excellent. My favourite are the signature dish cheesy potatoes just delicious
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much it is so Nice to know that we make someone so happy.
Michael R. • 13 reviews
June 12, 2025
10/10Been visiting A Vela many years. Antonia and staff always provide an excellent service with delicious food. Definitely recommend.
Mary H. • 1 review
June 9, 2025
10/10Love this restaurant! Fabulous owner, amazing food, my favourite restaurant in Carvoeiro!
A Vela • Owner
Thank you very much, it is gratifying to read these words, it is always a pleasure to see you. I wish you all the best.
Kristin C. • 9 reviews
October 11, 2024
10/10
The owner greeted us with such a warm smile and was so friendly. If you want a nice meal in a charming restaurant, this is the place. Although it’s in the heart of downtown Carvoeiro with other touristy restaurants and trinket shops, the restaurant felt authentically Portuguese. My husband had the codfish with a cornbread crust and I had the monkfish and shrimp skewer. Both were delicious, but made even better by the wonderful service.
A Vela • Owner
I am very grateful for your words, we always do our best to make everyone feel at home. I wish you all the best. I hope to have your presence soon at my restaurant
Melissa G. • 2 reviews
October 4, 2024
10/10Service was fantastic. Owner was accommodating and friendly. Highly recommend to support a local family
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much
Michael R. • 13 reviews
September 25, 2024
10/10Visited A Vale many times and always provides excellent food and service! Well done to Antonia and staff
A Vela • Owner
I'am so grateful for your words , is always a pleasure to see you. Take care , see you next year .
Chris T. • 7 reviews
September 13, 2024
10/10Absolutely fantastic in every way
Stephanie L. • 1 review
August 28, 2024
10/10
Such a great little restaurant in Carvoeiro. Authentic Portuguese food. Delicious meat & fish. Loved the sardines as a starter. The chef Antonia was super friendly too. Decent prices for the quality
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much
Francisco P. • 14 reviews
August 22, 2024
6/10Good overall, nothing particularly remarkable
Marjorie H. • 5 reviews
August 16, 2024
10/10would definitely recomend Vela. The food and service is amazing. The staff cannot do enough for you. The desserts are all home made and delicious 😋
Frank J. • 14 reviews
August 14, 2024
10/10First class friendly service, good menu, cheerful atmosphere. Big recommendation.
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much for your words make me so HAPPY
Sue S. • 1 review
August 3, 2024
9/10The owner I assume female) and the food delicious
Paulo P. • 1 review
July 30, 2024
10/10Excellent food and service.
Mo M. • 6 reviews
June 20, 2024
8.5/10Always a very warm welcome, food mostly delicious. Great wines. We always visit when we ate in Carvoeiro.
david w. • 3 reviews
June 7, 2024
10/10Excellent meal. Octopus was superb, so was sea bass. Will go back. All round Excellent standard
A Vela • Owner
Thank you so much for your words ,make me so happy. See you soon
Michael R. • 13 reviews
September 25, 2023
10/10We've been coming to Carvoeiro for many years and always visit Antonia at A Vela several times during our visits. Never let's us down. Always a good experience and excellent food! Would recommend!
A Vela • Owner
Thank you very much for your words, that make me so happy, I do always my best . See you next year
Ken D. • 2 reviews
August 2, 2023
10/10Our family have been regular visitors to Carvoeiro for twenty years, and always ensure we have a meal at A Vela. Good food, good service, good ambience, and Antonia (the owner) is always most welcoming of us.
Richard B. • 1 review
June 1, 2023
10/10
My wife and I had the Cataplana which was fantastic as were both my daughters meals, the service was excellent. We will be returning and perhaps next time even do the baking course with Antonia
Roger L. • 1 review
May 31, 2023
9.5/10Wonderful dinner for our travelling group of 8! Among the best dinners we've had in Portugal - pork tenderloin, salmon fillet in brik, monkfish, A Vela salad. Sparkling vs still water got a bit confused - overall excellent!
Eman A. • 1 review
May 27, 2023
10/10The experience was excellent. They were attentive, and you can’t fault the hosting and the service was fantastic too. Couldn’t recommend it any more.
Pierre D. • 39 reviews
September 24, 2022
10/10A really warm welcome, excellent cataplana, great diner experience. I strongly recommend
Nicola K. • 1 review
August 26, 2022
9.5/10Great find so glad i booked this little gem, really friendly staff and great food excellent t-bone steak and desserts were home made and delicious. Will be returning.
Eliot G. • 5 reviews
August 19, 2022
10/10Great food and service from Antonia and her team. Amazing service even when we had a couple of corked bottles of wine. Brilliant and worth a trip. Dishes to try - Portuguese Pork, Monkfish and prawn skewers and prawns curry.
stephen g. • 2 reviews
August 19, 2022
9/10Good food and excellent service
Afonso P. • 1 review
August 4, 2022
4/10The experience was not enjoyable at all. From the beginning to the end. The food was average. I made a reservation and the table that was assigned to me when I got there was right next to the kitchen. Expensive for what it was. Took ages to get the food ordered. They lied saying that they served coca-cola when was in fact something else that came in a glass half full. Had to wait 15 minutes after asking for the bill to pay. On top of everything else they added an extra 10 euros than it was supposed to be to the total. Worst restaurant experience. Would never recommend to anyone.
Jamie G. • 4 reviews
July 14, 2022
9.5/10Excellent food and amazing staff! We ordered the Polpo Carpaccio and Salmon Avocado Tartar for appetizers — and then shared the Roasted Seabass with vegetables as well as the Grilled Octopus, for mains. Enjoyed a bottle of local dry white wine (only €15!) to wash it all down. Simply incredible! Highly recommend!
João Pedro A. • 19 reviews
June 17, 2022
10/10The staff was really friendly, we felt as if it was home. The food was amazing, traditional Portuguese flavors that melted in our mouths. The desserts were freshly baked by the owner of the restaurant and were truly wonderful. We could easily communicate with one another because the staff could easily speak all languages (Spanish, Portuguese, English, German, etc). Simply astonishing!
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