Category: Moving Abroad

Eating at Ikea in Portugal

11/1/2023

original post 7/15/22

Filed Under: Algarve Restaurant Reviews • Portugal • Restaurant Review

To start off with some irony, after you have sold all of your precious and well chosen belongings in order to move abroad, one of the first things you will likely need to do upon arrival to your new country is... buy some of those things again.

Yes. It's kind of annoying. Yes. It sort of feels like a waste of time and money. It's just a reality and part of the process for the vast majority of expats and immigrants. So now that we have that out of the way..

Depending what you need, you may be very happy to see the familiar blue building adorned with yellow letters that we all have come to know, love, and hate (you just get so tired by the end!) synchronously - Ikea!

It's very helpful to have somewhere you can find many home items, at a decent price and with decent quality in one place.

Terrace View Ikea in Algarve Portugal Loulé

It's even more helpful when that same place has a restaurant on site so you can refuel after the exhaustion that will more likely ensue. Let's check out Ikea's restaurant at Mar Shopping in Loulé Portugal!

Ikea Loulé Portugal Algarve Restaurant

As you can see, the restaurant seating area is stylish and truly massive and it also extends outside.

Some of the soft drinks available at the self serve beverage area at Ikea restaurant in Loulé Algarve Portugal.

Prices at Ikea's restaurant remain quite affordable from vegetable soup for 0,50€ and full meals for €3-9. Beer and wine are also available as are a variety of desserts, and side salads, fruits etc.

Pernil de Porco (Smoked Pork Knuckle)

Almost every Portuguese person in front of us in line ordered the Pernil de Porco and a wise friend told us before we left to always do what the locals do ;)

I've had a lot of pork in my life and must admit this ranks at the top of the list. Incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful. Even though we were eating outside, sweltering under the blazing sun in an effort to stay a distance from the crowd... it was worth it. We chose broccoli and mashed potatoes as sides for the meal which was the most expensive at €9 but fed both of us!

Cheesecake

Ikea Portugal Berry Cheesecake

Not even a cheesecake person, but the berry cheesecake at Ikea was super yummy.

--> Check Out Hotels & Long Term Rentals in Loulé Portugal

How To Get A Free Pastel de Nata At Ikea:

At the end of the restaurant line you can buy a pastel de nata and a cafe for 0,50€.
Or you can buy a cafe for ...0,50€.
So why not snag both for the same price?!
You're welcome.

Ikea Portugal Pastel de Nata

As you finish the meal with a cafe and a nata, take a moment to enjoy where you at. Look at the view from the terrace of the Ikea restaurant in Loulé Portugal. A beautiful location, hard to capture in a hasty pano.