Category: Restaurant Review

Starbucks Lisbon Parque das Nações Review: Breakfast Deal + hand painted mural

12/3/2025

If you find yourself in Lisbon's lovely Parque das Nacoes neighborhood and want to have a familiar experience with a local touch, pop into the Starbucks at Alameda dos Oceanos 1.06 1.1, 1990-207 Lisboa.

Hand-painted Mural | Lisbon Starbucks Revew | Parque das Nacoes

Of course, my favorite feature of this Starbucks location is the cool hand painted tropical mural on the far wall. But the breakfast deal isn't bad either... ;)

Breakfast Deal at Starbucks in Lisbon Portugal

What is the breakfast deal at Starbucks in Lisbon?

Starbucks offers a nice little breakfast deal including one small latte and a croissant or bagel. Simple and does the job. :)

How much is starbucks breakfast deal in lisbon?

The oferta pequeno-almoço (breakfast deal) was 2.90 (that's about $3.38 with current euro to usd conversion rate) during our last visit to Starbucks in Parque das Nacoes.

Croissant or Bagel and Latte Breakfast Deal | Starbucks Lisboa Review

It was lovely to have an individual jar of jam (so cute!) and butter or cream cheese along side the bagel / croissant.

IS Starbucks In Portugal Expensive?

As always, "expensive" and "affordable" are relative terms. There is no doubt that you can get something similar at a smaller, more local cafe for a bit lower of a price.

However, there is something to be said for the consistency in knowing what you're going to get, that familiarity, the wifi, and let's not forget the city-specific Starbucks coffee mugs for the collectors - you know who you are ;)

Starbucks Mugs - Portugal, Lisboa, Porto | Tap to Order

Gift Idea: Portuguese Starbucks Mugs

A Portuguese Twist at Starbucks in Lisbon

A tosta mista is a popular snack/sandwich served in just about any cafe across Portugal. It's basically a grilled cheese with ham.

Portuguese Tosta Mista at Starbucks Lisboa

At Starbucks in Portugal you can enjoy a tosta mista on a lovely croissant like we did here!

A quick and comforting grilled ham and cheese on a croissant | Portugal Starbucks Review

We're all for eating at local establishments when we travel as you can see by the majority of our restaurant reviews which are generally not at major chains.

But it can also be fun to try some of those familiar chains when abroad (Like when We Tried McDonalds in Portugal - Better Than McDonalds in US?), to see how they compare, what unique menu items they offer, or even just for nostalgia sake.

More Lisbon Restaurant Reviews:

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Fish & Ships Review: Was It Worth It?

9/1/2025

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Fish & Ships Review | Independence of the Seas

Fish & Ships on Royal Caribbean is a complimentary dining option offering, well.. you guessed it fish and chips!

Fish & Ships on Embarkation Day ❤︎ Independence of the Seas Review

Is Fish & Ships open on Embarkation Day?

Yes. Fish & Ships was open on embarkation day during our 4-night cruise and I recommend grabbing a bite here on day one if you want to avoid a busy windjammer buffet.

Fish & Ships Menu | Independence of the Seas

In the past, Fish & Ships was a paid casual dining option, but for the last few years it has been free, aside from an up-charge for a Fried Lobster Tail basket & chips (fries) at $12.

I'd like to try the fried lobster tail basket next time and let you know if it's worth the splurge ;)

Fish and Ships menu on Independence of the Seas

What's on the menu at Fish & Ships?

For free, you can enjoy:

Fish & Chips with tartar sauce
Chicken Fingers & Chips with honey mustard
Fried Shrimp & Chips with cocktail sauce
Crispy Fish Sandwich - lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce

Fish & Ships Independence of the Seas Food Pics

We started with one order of fish & chips and chicken fingers without fries (gotta pace yourself on a cruise lol).

Fish and Chips + Chicken Fingers on Independence of the Seas ❤︎ Fish & Ships Review

Chicken Fingers (no chips)

We requested no chips with the chicken fingers. There is a classic, thick batter on these chicken fingers.

Chicken Fingers ❤︎ Royal Caribbean Food Pics

Fish & Chips

The British style fish and chips comes with thick cut chips (french fries) and battered white fish.

Fish and Chips ❤︎ Cruise Food Pics

The batter was light and delightfully crunchy after being freshly deep fried - this could be dangerous!

Please note: I saw a review online indicating that the fish is battered in chicken finger batter, which is clearly not British style fish, and I think that must have been an anomaly as we did not experience that at all during our cruise.

Please try Fish & Ships for yourself, the batter is delicious! :)

Poolside dining on Independence of the Seas at Fish & Ships

Royal Caribbean Fish & Ships Review Independence of the Seas - Is it Worth It?

Absolutely, it's worth it! It's free - how could it not be worth it?! ;p

No, but seriously, Fish & Ships is one of my favorite complimentary dining locations on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Of the chicken fingers, fish, and fried shrimp the fried fish is easily our favorite and the best thing on the Fish & Ships menu, in our opinion.

Fried shrimp take second place, followed by chicken fingers, but I bet all the kiddies love those unlimited chicken fingers and while they do, the parents can enjoy something a bit more "grown up" with the fish and shrimp!

Which Royal Caribbean Ships have Fish & Ships?

Fish & Ships is included in your cruise fare and is located on the pool deck of Independence of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

I wish more ships had this casual dining option!

No need to stop the poolside fun when you're hungry, just send a delegate over to Fish & Ships and have a taste of the UK on your cruise! ;)

Book a Cruise with Fish & Ships

For Fish And Chips Lovers:

Royal Caribbean Blog:

Weekend Cruise • 4 Night Cruise

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Lupita Pizzaria Alvalade | Lisbon Restaurant Photo Review

8/28/2025

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We've had a great time trying some of the best pizza in Lisbon over the last couple years, but there was a gap in our collection of favorites: Lupita.

Neapolitan style pizza at Lupita Pizzaria in Lisbon

Lupita Pizza Lisbon - AlvaLade Location

Lupita Pizzaria in Cais do Sondré is the original location which some friends of ours whose pizza tastes we esteem had recommended to us before.

When we found ourselves in Lisbon for a medical appointment at Hospital da Luz and saw that we were a 10 minute Uber away from Lupita we had to take the opportunity!

Lupita's Alvalade location in Lisbon | Lisbon Food Blog

As it turns out, Lupita Pizzaria has a second location in Lisbon - Alvalade, which is now open for lunch beginning at 12h.

Lupita Alvalade Open 12-23:30 Wednesday - Sunday | Lisbon Travel Blog

Beyond a 2025 award from Lisbon Insiders, Lupita hit the top 50 pizzas in Europe list, ranking 45 in 2024 on this famous 50 Top Pizza Europa list which is a massive achievement when you think of all the pizza places in Europe!

Lupita is a 2024 winner of Top 50 Pizzas in Europe + 2025 Lisbon Insiders Winner

Vibe

Lupita Pizzaria in Lisbon (Alvarade) has a laid back yet vibrant vibe during a bustling lunch hour.

An open kitchen lets you feel part of the action at Lupita in Alvalade, Lisbon

The open kitchen makes the overall fairly small pizzaria feel more spacious, and the melodic callout "serviço!" makes you nearly feel like part of a team with every order up!

Order Up! Lupita Lisbon Pizza Review

The decor is simultaneously industrial with concrete finishing and exposed pipes ...

Industrial yet homey vibe at Lupita Pizzaria

... while at the same time feeling home-y and down to earth with cans of San Marzano tomatoes and cookbooks like the New York Times bestselling The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz adorning the shelves.

Wine bottles and cookbooks decorate the walls at Lupita Alvalade, a Top Lisbon Pizzaria

What we ordered

Drinks.

Lupita pizzaria has a focus on natural wines, offers beer from an independent craft brewery in Lisbon called MUSA and we decided to take advantage of both of those opportunities.

Lupita branding on their glasses of natural wine and locally brewed beer | Lisbon Restaurant Review

MUSA Blondie (draft) - 2.5
Mur Mur Mur Fizei - 7

Spicy Alla Vodka Pizza

A pizza topped with spicy vodka sauce, crumbled pepperoni and pecorino sounded too good to pass up.

Spicy Alla Vodka Pizza at Lupita Pizzaria

That's one good looking pizza!

Close up of Spicy Vodka Sauce Pizza in Lisbon | Lupita Pizzaria Review

We even have some pops of green for good measure. ;) This pizza was delicious. The vodka sauce was flavorful and the bacon pieces were nice and crispy!

Spicy Amatriciana

One thing is for sure: This isn't your Italian grandma's Amatriciana.

Top down view of Lupita's Spicy Amatriciana Pizza | Lisbon's Best Pizzas

Topped with guanciale, slices of garlic, red onion, pickled jalapeno peppers, pecorino, and chimichurri, you can see why we'd say that..

A modern twist on Amatriciana pizza at Lupita in Lisbon

With the Spicy Amatriciana pizza at Lupita you get really fresh, vibrant tomato flavor, rich saltiness from the guanciale, and the pickled jalapeños add both some heat and some sweet tanginess from the pickling.

It's really a delight to the tastebuds from every angle and we didn't even get to the crust yet.

Lupita Pizzaria: About the Crust

Can we just take a look at this crust for a moment?

Is this a perfect pizza crust? Lupita Pizzaria Review

Just one glance and you can tell how crispy, yet fluffly that pizza handle is going to be!

A crust we will dream of | Best Pizza Crust in Lisbon

This level of spotting is exactly what I want to see when I peek at the bottom of a pizza these days.

And that little hole? I say it's a nod to Benagil caves. ;)

Tiramisu & Espresso

It's pretty hard to pass up tiramisu on any dessert menu, isn't it?

Dessert at Lupita Pizzaria in Lisbon

And I think you'll have to agree that this is a beautiful slice of tiramisu!

Beautiful layered Tiramisu on vintage china at Lupita in Lisbon

Rather than standard lady fingers, it appears to be thin layers of sponge precisely placed between thick layers of cream.

Grandmillenials rejoice when it's time for dessert at Lupita in Lisbon

And can we take a moment for the very grandmillennial china, tea cups and saucers?

Lupita Pizza Menu

Lupita has a perfectly sized menu to offer "safe" choices for the timid and unique toppings for the adventurious, without being a menu of overwhelming proportions.

Lupita Menu with Prices - Pizza and Appetizers in Lisbon

Lupita Drink Menu

And again, we don't need a 6 page drink menu. This is just right.

Lupita drink menu with prices | Lisbon Pizzaria

Lupita Lisbon Pizza Review

Okay wow. Hopefully it is easy to see that Lupita is clearly a pizza spot in Lisbon worth your visit.

What we loved:

Amazing Crust. Undoubtedly one of the best pizza crusts we've had in a looooong time. Crispy with just the right amount of chew, and a fluffy handle. The crust even stayed crispy once the pizza cooled down, especially with the Amatriciana.
Incredible Topping Combos. Really well executed unique topping combinations. A lot of pizza places will have unusual toppings and when you branch out to try them you end up a bit disappointed, but not the case here. These pizzas stand on their own!
Awesome Staff. Great staff - friendly, efficient, helpful. Just really nice, especially during a packed lunch hour.

Other thoughts:

A bit cramped. The space is small and they do their best. We were sat at a round table next to another couple at a neighboring round table and the tables were so close the guy next to me was having a hard time not accidentally elbowing me while he ate. On the other hand, we didn't have to wait at all which was fantastic!
Not our favorite Tiramisu. Despite looking fabulous, this may be a controversial opinion, but we both felt underwhelmed by the tiramisu. At the first bite of tiramisu I want to taste the espresso and marasala/amaretto/brandy (whichever is fine) in a big way. In this case we didn't get that lift and felt it lacked flavor despite being beautiful and seeming to be great quality. The cream was thick and decadant and I think in a way overshadowed what should have been very flavorful sponge soaked in coffee/liquor.
No House Wine. Here in Portugal nearly every restaurant has a "house wine" that's a bit more affordable and you can default to. Here at Lupita since they are focusing on natural wines, there's a higher price tag that comes with that, naturally. ;p

TL;DR

Go to Lupita. Get Pizza. Get Beer. Be Happy.

We're looking forward to next time we are Lisbon trying Lupita at the Cais do Sondré location and trying some more of their amazing sounding pizzas. Maybe we'll go out on a limb and try that cheesecake too ;)

More Lisbon Restaurant Reviews

5 Great Places to Eat in Ajuda & Beyond
- Tlaloc Un Rincon Mexicano
- Di Amici by Pizza Em Casa
- Churrasqueira Marques
- Food Hub
- Manapula
- Santo Graal
- Fiesta Restro and Snack Bar
- Momo Express
Lisbon Pizzeria Ranks In Prestigious Best Pizza In The World List
Bandalho Meat and Wine - Burgers, Sangria, and one of the fudgiest brownies in Portugal
Bubble Time Expo Review - Bubble tea & Bubble Waffles on the Riverfront
Han Table Korean BBQ Review - Grill at the table with your friends!
Where to get unlimited sushi in Lisbon - Sushi Fixe in Miraflores Review

Lupita Receipt

Cost of Living in Portugal

The cost of eating out in Lisbon was 46 euros at Lupita Pizzaria for 2 people. This included 2 pizzas, a beer, a glass of wine, 2 espressos, and one slice of tiramisu.

On average 23 euros per person

Benagil Caves Tours

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Restaurante Recanto do Ze | Portuguese Restaurant Review Armacao de Pera

5/25/2025

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When you're ready to give traditional Portuguese cuisine a try, consider Recanto do Ze when in Armacao de Pera, Algarve, Portugal.

Recanto do Zé - Portuguese Restaurant in Armação de Pera

Recanto do Ze has some great lunch specials "prato do dia" during the weekdays, but don't be afraid to stop in at dinner time for kind staff and delicious Portuguese food.

Prato do Dia

A typical prato do dia at Recanto do Zé includes a meat or fish main, a drink (including wine or beer), couvert (typically bread, olives etc), dessert, and a coffee for around 15 euro - clearly representing a great value for a quality meal!

Location:

Recanto do Zé Restaurant Address: Rua Dom Joao II lote 7, Armacao de Pera 8365-130 Portugal

Iberian Pork Secretos

I was floored when my plate came. The helping of pork was generous, well seasoned, and as tender as you'd expect a well-rendered fatty cut of pork to be.

In the word's of Levi "That's tenda!"

Iberian Black Pork | Algarve Food Blog

What are pork secretos? What cut is it?

Pork secretos are like a "secret" because they are a hidden boneless cut from behind the shoulder.

This cut of is exclusive to Iberico pigs and it has incredible flavor because of the deep marbling combined with the lifestyle of the pigs - roaming around free range and filling up on tasty acorns.

Ahh.. now that's the life!

Porco Preto | Armacao de Pera Restaurant Guide

Along side the pork were the expected portuguese accompaniments - a simple salad with lettuce, onion, and tomatoes and a pile of french fries. :)

Francesinha

The Francesinha sandwich originated in Porto and it is a serious undertaking, as you can surely tell.

Francesinha | Recanto do Ze Pics

What is in a Francesinha?
Between layers of bread you will find almost every rich meat you can think of on a francesinha - ham, steak, sausage.

The Portuguese sandwich with every meat, topped with melted cheese, egg, and sauce - Francesinha

What is on top of a Francesinha?
Plenty of melted cheese and a fried egg adorn this sandwich, as well as a healthy ladle of piping hot beer-tomato sauce to keep everything sloppy enough to require silverware.

Batatas Fritas, aka French Fries | Portugal Food Blog

As if the hearty sandwich isn't enough, a side of fries is ready for you to mop up any leftover sauce - the Portuguese version of Italy's "fare la scarpetta" :)

Recanto do Zé Review

I really enjoyed my meal (that delicious black pork - porco preto) at Recanto do Ze. I hope to return for a prato do dia with friends some time.

The only bummer was that they did not accept credit cards despite their google listing indicating that they accepted them at the time we visited.

As a result, we had to do the awkward scramble to scrape together enough cash. So our pro tip would be to make sure you have cash on you ;)

Best Restaurants in Algarve (armacao de pera):

The Waterdog Pub Fish and Chips Review - Armacao De Pera Restaurants

5/21/2025

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Looking for a British Pub in Armacao de Pera? Fish and chips await you at The Waterdog Pub!

The Waterdog Pub - British Pub in Armacao de Pera

Located on Avenida Beira Mar at the western end of Armacao de Pera lies The Waterdog, a British pub serving up all your favorites from Fish and Chips to Sunday Roast to a Full English Breakfast.

Location:

The Waterdog Bar Address: Av. Beira Mar 1, 8365-101 Armação de Pêra, Portugal

--> Later in this Post: The Waterdog Pub Menu <--

Friday Fish and Chips

On Fridays at The Water Dog, a classic Fish and Chips meal is available - Friday's only guys, plan accordingly!

Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas | Waterdog Pub Review Pics

The fish is fresh and delicate, the batter crispy, and the peas mushy.. just how you like them...

Unless you don't, in which case non mushy, sweet peas could be an option, as shown below. :)

Sweet Peas, Fried Fish, French Fries | British Pub Food in Armacao de Pera

Wash it down with a refreshing Magner's Irish Cider, a Guiness, or a local Portuguese beer if you'd like!

Magners Irish Cider at The Waterdog | Algarve Portugal Food Blog

The Waterdog Review

The Waterdog is an institution in Armacao de Pera which is always busy and beloved by tourists and residents alike.

Enjoy the sunshine, saltwater air, and sip a cold one with friends as you take advantage of ample outdoor seating.

Or perhaps you prefer sitting at the back of the pub, on the cushioned bench, enjoying the buzzing atmosphere and live music.

The point is, you really can't go wrong here!

The Waterdog Menu with Prices

We've been to The Waterdog Pub twice, both times equally enjoying Friday's Fish and Chips special, but we'll have to make our way back to try Sunday Roast, Chilli con Carne, and a Steak Guiness pie.

Classic homemade English food in Portugal's sunny Algarve!

The Waterdog Menu | Armacao de Pera, Portugal

And maybe we oughta try the Bailey's Cheesecake for good measure ;)

The Water Dog Pub Menu | Armação de Pêra Portugal

Where to eat in Algarve (armacao de pera):

N'ice Cream Review - Armacao de Pera Algarve

5/19/2025

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Is anything sweeter than an ice cream cone after a day at the beach in Portugal?

Ice Cream With a View | Armacao de Pera Food Blog

After a leisurely stroll through Armacao de Pera with our parents, an ice cream cone seemed the perfect choice to end the outing on a sweet note.

We stopped in at N'ice Cream in Armacao de Pera. N'ice cream has several locations across central algarve including Albufeira, Portimao, and Armacao de Pera .

N'ice Cream Flavors

Wondering what ice cream flavors are popular in Portugal?

You'll find a combination of classic standbys like Chocolate, Coffee Ice Cream, and even Oreo Ice Cream.

Ice Cream Flavors at Armacao De Pera Beach

N'ice cream has a lot of candy bar flavored ice creams too like Bounty, Snickers, After Eight and M&Ms.

Gelados Saborosos Praia de Armacao de Pera

In Portugal, you will almost always find Nutella flavored treats as well.

Uniquely Portuguese Ice Cream Flavors

One fun thing about N'ice Cream in Algarve is they tend to have some uniquely Portuguese Ice Cream flavors.

Figo c/ Amêndoa Gelado (Fig and Almond)

For example, the Algarve is an agricultural region known for delicious juicy figs and bountiful crops of almonds. So a fig and almond ice cream is spot on!

Gelado com sabor Figo com amêndoa

Dom Rodrigo Ice Cream (Egg Yarn and Almond)

Dom Rodrigo is a traditional dessert from the Algarvian town of Lagos. It's made with "egg yarn"which sounds so weird, but it's egg yolks and sugar so think sweet and rich with the texture of thin coconut shreds.

Gelado com sabor Dom Rodrigo

In addition to these ice cream flavors you can find Pastel de Nata (famous custard tart of Portugal), and Perna de Pau. (Meaning wooden leg in Portuguese).

Perna de Pau is an ice cream on a stick you can buy in grocery stores across Portugal featuring a pirate on the package with, you guessed it, a wooden leg. It's vanilla ice cream with stripes of strawberry 'jelly' and the outside is dipped in chocolate.

--> Recommended: Tap here To Make Pastel de Nata at Home! <--

N'ice Cream Armacao de Pera

Where We Went:
N'Ice Cream in Armação de Pêra is located at R. Sra. dos Navegantes 13, 8365-184 Armação de Pêra, Portugal

There is an outdoor counter to walk up to and order your ice cream. Around the side there is outdoor seating. There is also a spacious indoor seating area. Bathrooms are available, but located down a number of stairs.

Armacao de Pera Beach Ice Cream

It really is hard to beat ice cream with this view, isn't it?

N'ice Cream Cone | Gelado com visto lindo | Praia de Armação de Pêra

We opted for the very Portuguese (and very sweet!) Dom Rodrigo and Fig & Almond flavors in a waffle cone.

Which flavors will you try?

Explore: The Best Ice Cream Flavors Delivered To Your Door

Best Restaurants and cafes in Armacao de Pera:

Algarve Restaurant Reviews:

The Waterdog Bar Review with Photos
N'ice Cream Armacao de Pera Ice Cream Review with Photos - You are here!
Recanto do Zé Portuguese Restaurant Review with Photos
Sam's Bar + Kitchen Beachfront Restaurant Review with Photos
Sapori da Giovanni Pizza Review with Photos
Restaurante da Pino Pizza Review with Photos
Alma Lusa Brunch in Armacao de Pera Review with Photos
Restaurante Chines Long Xing Chinese Food in Armacao Review with Photos
Shahi Darbar Indian Cruisine Armacao Indian Restaurant Review with Photos
Algarve Happy Hour

Do You Make Delicious Food? ❤︎ Want to collaborate?

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Sam's Bar & Kitchen Armacao de Pera Restaurant Review

5/18/2025

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Sams Bar & Kitchen Review - ArmaÇÃo de PÊra Restaurants

If you find yourself in Armacao de Pera and with an appetite, consider stopping in to Sam's Bar & Kitchen.

I know, I know, any restaurant right on the boardwalk with ocean views is likely to be more about location than food right?

That's what I thought too, but tell me what you think after you see the pictures ;)

Later in this post: Sam's Bar + Kitchen Menus with prices in English and Portuguese! :)

Apple Walnut Salad w/ Balsamic - €9.90

A perfect blend of sweet and savory with fresh apple slices, crunchy walnuts, crumbled feta, and mixed greens all drizzled with a rich balsamic vinaigrette.

Apple Pecan Feta Salad | Food & Travel Blog

If you're super observant you may notice that there were pecans instead of walnuts. But honestly, that was a score in my book!

Apple Feta Salad | Portugal Food Blog

This apple pecan salad with feta was fresh and delicious and I swear there was an intriguing touch of cumin!

When you want a light lunch or snack with a view of the beach in Armação de Pêra, this salad may be for you.

Thai Red Curry with Vegetables and Tofu - €10.90

A delightful blend of fresh vegetables, tender tofu, and rich coconut milk all brought together with a fragrant Thai red curry paste.

Thai Red Curry with Tofu | Sams Bar and Kitchen Armacao de Pera

I have to admit, I was really impressed with this Thai red curry. The flavors really packed a punch and I enjoyed it far more than I expected!

Side Salad + Thai Red Curry and Rice at Sam's Bar and Kitchen Armação

To my delight, the Tofu Thai Red Curry came with white rice and a fresh salad on the side!

Mango Passonfruit Milkshake

The mango passionfruit milkshake was adorned with a pirouline/pirouette cookie (you know those little wafer cookies that look like tubes) and an environmentally friendly paper straw.

Mango Passionfruit Milkshake | Algarve Food Blog

Sam's Bar and Kitchen Review

Sam's Bar and Kitchen has more to offer than a great view of the beach at Armacao de Pera in the Algarve. The food we had was actually really tasty - very flavorful, very fresh, and felt health-conscious yet fun!

As you can see, they pride themselves on presentation and nothing is better than eating something delicious that also looks like a work of art!

Sam's Bar and Kitchen also offers happy hour cocktail specials and live music at times.

By the way, if you're looking for a vegetarian or vegan restaurant in the Algarve, Sam's Bar and Kitchen is a restaurant in Armação de Pêra which will suit your preferences!

Location

Av. Beira Mar 14, 8365-101 Armação de Pêra, Portugal

Where to eat in ArmaÇÃo de PÊra

More Armacao de Pera restaurants - reviews with photos!

The Waterdog Bar Review with Photos
N'ice Cream Armacao de Pera Ice Cream Review with Photos
Recanto do Zé Portuguese Restaurant Review with Photos
Sam's Bar + Kitchen Beachfront Restaurant Review with Photos - You are here!
Sapori da Giovanni Pizza Review with Photos
Restaurante da Pino Pizza Review with Photos
Alma Lusa Brunch in Armacao de Pera Review with Photos
Restaurante Chines Long Xing Chinese Food in Armacao Review with Photos
Shahi Darbar Indian Cruisine Armacao Indian Restaurant Review with Photos
Algarve Happy Hour

Sams Bar and Kitchen Menu

Wanna get a glimpse of the menu over at Sam's Bar and Kitchen to plan your visit?

Here is the menu for Sam's Bar and Kitchen in English and Portuguese:

Breakfast Menu

Snacks and Starters Menu

Salad Menu

Main Course Menu

Dessert Menu

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Padrinos Cuban Restaurant Review

3/15/2025

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Padrino's Cuban Restaurant Review With Photos

Traveling to Southern Florida provides one with ample opportunity to indulge in authentic Cuban cuisine!

Seeing as we already respected our Pittsburgh roots with a couple of trips to Primanti Bros, it was time to nod to my Cuban heritage with a visit to Padrino's.

New Category: Cuban Food

Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale Florida

Padrino's Cuban Cuisine is a family owned restaurant with a few locations in South Florida and has been rated Best Cuban Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine multiple years in a row!

Padrino's Menu

Padrino's serves up some of the most popular cuban dishes like a cubano (cuban sandwich), pan con bistec (palomilla steak sandwich), ropa vieja (shredded flank steak), lechon asado (slow roasted pork marinated in citrus mojo), arroz con pollo (yellow rice with chicken and chorizo) and paella (all your favorite seafood cooked with yellow rice).

Padrino's Menu | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Frijoles negros (black beans), maduros (sweet plantains), tostones (green plantains) and boiled yucca make for classic cuban side dishes.

For dessert try tres leches cake or cuban flan paired with a cafecito.

Padrino's drink menu

Looking for a cocktail? A classic Cuban Mojito will never steer you wrong!

Padrino's Drink Menu | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Still, if you're planning a Cuban Night or Havana Nights Dinner Party, you can get some inspiration from some of these cocktails and menu entries!

Added to Category: Inspired By Travel

PAdrino's Drink Specials

Padrino's runs some midweek drink specials including $6 mojitos on Mojito Tuesdays, Half off bottles for Wine Wednesdays, and half of sangria carafes on Sangria Thursdays.

Padrino's Drink Specials | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If I was local, I would be stopping in on Tuesdays for Mojitos or Thursdays for Sangria, how about you?

Fort Lauderdale Food Tours:

Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

There's plenty of seating inside and if you're more of a booth person, Padrino's has you covered!

Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Enough decor, let's get to the grub.

Cubano - $13

Classic Cuban Sandwich of sliced ham, pork, swiss cheese, and pickles in a hot-pressed sandwich.

Cuban Sandwich at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ropa Vieja - $13

Flavorful shredded beef, slowly cooked with green peppers and onions in a light tomato-based sauce, served with white rice & black beans and sweet plantains.

Ropa Vieja at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

PAella - $30

A combination of scallops, shrimp, mussels, flounder, chicken, and chorizo sausage cooked with a flavorful yellow rice. Served with sweet plantains.

Paella at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Combinacion Cubana - $18

Fiesta tostones, croquetas de jamon, picadillo empanadas, mariquitas and black bean salsa.

Combinación Cubana at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Now let's break down every part of this delicious Cuban Sampler Platter!

Mariquitas

Crispy plantain chips served with fresh black bean salsa and garlic mojo.

Mariquitas at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fiesta tostones + croquetas de jamon

In the foreground we have the croquetas de jamon - traditional ham croquettes.

Croquetas de jamon y fiesta tostones at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

In the background to the right with the glistening chunks of meat are the fiesta tostones. Pressed green plantains, topped with creole chicken or chorizo sausage, melted cheese and fresh pico de Gallo.

Picadillo Empanadas

Crispy pastry filled with perfectly seasoned ground beef, served with homemade guava chutney

Picadillo Empanadas at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Padrinos Review

As a media-cubana I can say I approve of Padrino's lol. Their food was great, beautifully presented and a solid representation of Cuban dishes I grew up loving along with some fun and modern twists.

I definitely recommend getting the 'cuban combination' platter as it is a great way to sample a variety of classic Cuban foods in one go.

This week's assignment: grab some friends on Thursday, split a 50% off carafe of sangria and nosh on some great Cuban Cuisine at Padrino's in Fort Lauderdale.

Dale! :)

FORT LAUDERDALE RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Fort Lauderdale Food Blog:

Fort Lauderdale Day Tours:

FLORIDA HOTEL REVIEWS

Port Everglades Cruise Port Hotel Review: Gallery One Doubletree by Hilton Fort Lauderdale
Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel Review with Photos
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Villa Lemon Tree Venice Beach Pool House Review with Photos - coming soon

MIAMI RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Miami Food Blog:

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Meraki Greek Bistro Restaurant Review - Miami Happy Hour Review
A Family Brickell Review - Too Good To Go Review
Dumplings Mi Amor Review - Miami Ramen and Dumpling Restaurant Review
Marabu Coal Fired Cuban Cuisine - Miami Happy Hour Review
Raccoon Coffee and Kitchen Miami Food Truck Review - Too Good to Go Review
Versailles Cuban Cuisine Miami Restaurant Review
Azucar Ice Cream Company Review - Miami Little Havana Calle Ocho
Miami Slice Review - Pizza Review

Miami Excursions:

Have one day in Miami? Check out these popular tours and activities:

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Primanti Brothers Fort Lauderdale Beach Restaurant Review

3/14/2025

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Primanti Bros Review Florida - with pics!

Primanti's is a Pittsburgh institution serving up unique sandwiches with French fries and Cole slaw not to mention delicious pizza.

But did you know they also have Florida locations?!

Primanti Bros at 901 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd

In This Post:

Breakfast at Primanti's

Primanti's serves breakfast every day!

If you're up early, stop in at Primanti's for Homestyle Breakfast from 8am to 10:45am every day.

Primanti Brother's in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Lunch at Primanti's

In our case, we stopped in for a lunch seasoned with nostalgia.

Nostalgic Pittsburgh icons adorn this Florida Primanti's location

Primanti Sandwiches are famously topped with fresh-cut French fries and Cole slaw - a must try!

Primanti's Pitts-Burger - #2 Best Seller - $8.99

The number 2 best seller at Primanti's is the Pitts-burger.

It only seemed appropriate for literal Pittsburghers to order this sandwich.

You can just tell with a glance that the Italian bread is fresh and delicious, can't you?!

The Pitts-Burger at Primanti's - a Beef hamburger on fresh Italian bread, topped with coleslaw, French fries, provolone cheese, and tomatoes

And look at all the fries and cole slaw piled on there! :)

* New Category: Noteworthy Burgers *

Primantis French Fries - $5.29

Fresh fried French fries at Primanti's

Almost Famous Chili with Italian Bread - $5.29

I got a bowl of chili on a whim and oh my was it delicious!

It was a thick chili, served with that fresh Italian bread. Comforting and delicious, an easy recommendation!

* New Category: Chili *

Primanti Brothers Receipt

There are not too many places that 5 adults can eat quality food for $48.73 total.

5 can dine for under $50 (before tip!)

PSA: No Credit Cards!

Does Primanti Bros Ft Lauderdale take credit cards?
No. Primanti's is a cash only establishment. With prices like this.. we're okay with it! ;)

One Day In Fort Lauderdale:

Have one day in Fort Lauderdale before a cruise or after a cruise?

Eating at Primanti's Twice in Two Days!

Primanti's was so tasty, reasonably priced, and conveniently located (We were staying at Gallery One Double Tree by Hilton - Photo Review Here • Check Current Prices Here) that we decided to come back the next night for pizza!

Primanti Brothers at Night

Here are some reasons Primanti's pizza is the best pizza in Fort Lauderdale Beach:

Dough made fresh 24 hours a day
"Home-Cooked" tomato sauce
100% Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese
Hand-Tossed Pies

What makes Primanti's Pizza so special

Primanti's Cheese Pizza - 14" $15.89 or 18" $18.89

Look how crisp that undercarriage looks!

Fort Lauderdale Beach Primanti's Menu

If you'd like to plan ahead so you can bring enough cash ;), here's the menu for Primanti' Brother's Pizza & Grill in Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale Primanti's Menu

The phone number for Ft. Lauderdale Primanti's is 954-565-0605

Florida Primanti's Review

If you're a Steelers fan who finds yourself in ftl or anyone who spent their summers riding the Log Jammer at Kennywood growing up, you're going to get the warm and fuzzies at Primanti's.

Next time I will try the Triple Chocolate Brownies - "They're REALLY GOOD!"

If you're not from Pittsburgh and never heard of Primanti's then you'll be sure to love this no frills, affordable sandwich and pizza shop on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It's rare to find taste at this value in the area.

And if you're not typically a cole slaw fan - honestly neither am I - but you should still try it on your sandwich. It's not a mayonnaise-y slaw, so you may be surprised to find you like it more than you expect!

Primanti Bros: Almost Famous, Always A Favorite. Since 1933.

Fun Facts From My Brother:

The Florida locations import everything from where the Pittsburgh locations get it from. That's why the bread is so good.

They import it from Cellone's.
Also, the #1 seller is Iron City Beer. Haha

Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Pics & Review

FORT LAUDERDALE RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Affordable Fort Lauderdale Tours

FLORIDA HOTEL REVIEWS

Port Everglades Cruise Port Hotel Review: Gallery One Doubletree by Hilton Fort Lauderdale
Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel Review with Photos
Holiday Inn Sebring Florida Hotel Review (HGTV Hometown Takeover) - coming soon
Hyatt Regency Miami Cruise Port Hotel Review with Photos - coming soon
Villa Lemon Tree Venice Beach Pool House Review with Photos - coming soon

Miami Restaurant Reviews

El Primo Red Tacos Miami Review - Too Good To Go Review
Meraki Greek Bistro Restaurant Review - Miami Happy Hour Review
A Family Brickell Review - Too Good To Go Review
Dumplings Mi Amor Review - Miami Ramen and Dumpling Restaurant Review
Marabu Coal Fired Cuban Cuisine - Miami Happy Hour Review
Raccoon Coffee and Kitchen Miami Food Truck Review - Too Good to Go Review
Versailles Cuban Cuisine Miami Restaurant Review
Azucar Ice Cream Company Review - Miami Little Havana Calle Ocho
Miami Slice Review - Pizza Review

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GALLERYone - DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale Hotel Review

3/13/2025

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Port Everglades Cruise Hotel Review

GalleryOne a Double Tree Suites by Hilton in Fort Lauderdale photo review

After disembarkation day from our Southern Caribbean Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, we checked in to GalleryOne a Double Tree Suites by Hilton in Fort Lauderdale for a few days.

In This Post:

Port Everglades Cruise Hotel Review

Location - Water Taxi Stop 7
Outdoor Space - Bar, Pool, Games
Lobby Cafe Menu with Prices
Vue on the Water Restaurant Menu with Prices
Lobby Bar
Gallery One Double Tree Room Photo Tour
Double Tree Cookie Review
PF Changs Review - Fort Lauderdale Restaurant Takeaway
GalleryOne Ft. Lauderdale Hotel Review
Check Current Prices
How to stay here for FREE!

If you're looking for a hotel near Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades for an overnight stay before or after your cruise, hopefully this photo review will help you decide if GalleryOne DoubleTree is the right fit for you!

Water TAxi Stop 7

Gallery One is located conveniently on the Water Taxi line at stop 7.

You can purchase a water taxi ticket for $38 that gives you unlimited rides. They also offer multi-day passes and annual passes.

Outdoor Space

One fun thing outside of the hotel was the placement of outdoor games to pass the time along the water.

Would you be playing corn hole or jenga?!

Outdoor Bar

There is a nice outdoor bar if you would like to enjoy a drink along the waterway with plenty of palm trees in view!

This area gets lively in the evenings and when the hotel holds events.

Pool

GalleryOne Double Tree Ft Lauderdale has a handicapped accessible outdoor pool.

Lobby Cafe

There is a small cafe counter in the lobby of the Double Tree where you can order a latte if the in-room coffee isn't cutting it for you.

Cafe Menu with prices

Below you can see the menu with prices for some non-coffee beverage options including Julius Meinl teas.

You can also grab a quick breakfast yogurt parfait, fruit cup, piece of fruit or croissant/bagel.

Vue on the Water Restaurant Menu with Prices

Inside the Ft Lauderdale Gallery One Hotel there is a restaurant called Vue on the Water.

If you're wondering what the prices are like at the restaurant and what kind of foods they offer, here is the menu for Vue on the Water.

How much are cocktails at Vue on the Water Ft Lauderdale? Cocktails range from $12-16.

Smoothies for $10 and beers are $7.50/8.50.

Lobby Bar

If you'd like to enjoy pre-dinner drinks with your friends, there is a bar in the lobby.

Second Floor Views

With some time to kill before check in, we explored the public spaces of the hotel. On the second floor you can enjoy some nice views from these floor-to-ceiling windows!

Checking In at Galleryone Double Tree Ft Lauderdale

It was finally time to check in and if you have allergies you will be happy to know that Double Tree now carries allergy friendly cookies for their guests!

Room Tour

The GalleryOne Double Tree in Fort Lauderdale offers suites, meaning the rooms are very spacious as you will see!

Kitchen

Upon entering the suite, the kitchen was located to the left. It is well equipped with a dishwasher, microwave, and small refrigerator.

Coffee Station

The in-room coffee setup was a cuisinart double brewer. There were coffee pouches, sugar and sweeteners, creamers and some tea bags.

Dining And Living Areas

A dining table that seats four makes eating a meal or working on a laptop very convenient at this hotel.

Of course there is also a couch to lounge upon as well as an oversized chair in the opposite corner.

A pocket door separates the living/dining space from the bedroom.

bedroom

The spacious bedroom includes a large king size bed, 2 night stands and a dresser, Tv, recliner and closet space.

If you have hanging clothes, you will appreciate that there is a closet.

The hanging height is a bit short as there is an upper shelf in the closet which houses the in-room safe and iron. There is also an ironing board.

The closet doors offer full sized mirrors which is a great and often overlooked detail in accommodations.

Bathoom

A tiled walk-in shower with rainfall shower head await. The DoubleTree also provides shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower.

There is a spacious countertop surrounding the sink and a large mirror.

The View

Being on an upper floor, our suite had nice views!

In one direction you could see the Fort Lauderdale Skyline as a backdrop to the Galleria Mall.

In the other direction you could see the intercostal waterway and the ocean!

Looking straight down you could see the pool area along the waterway.

The Doubletree Cookie

One of the highlights of staying at a DoubleTree are the cookies!

And this is definitely one of the best backdrops you can get for your Double Tree Cookie!

We opted for the original cookie as we don't have any relevant allergies and my is she a beaut!

Not only is this cookie a looker, but it's actually an absolutely delicious cookie.

As a big chocolate chip cookie girl, I was actually shocked how good this cookie was!

And I don't mean it was "good for a free cookie".

I mean it was legitimately one of the better chocolate chip cookies I've had ever.

Hands down better than the one from this French Boulangerie.

PF Changs Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Irrespective of how delicious the double tree cookie was, we were starving and needed to get some real food.

It had been a long day after disembarkation and waiting around for check-in time so we just wanted to get take out and call it a night.

If you're looking for somewhere within walking distance from GalleryOne Doubletree Fort Lauderdale, try PF Changs!

PF Changs Lettuce Wraps Pics

We went for the cult favorite chicken lettuce wraps.

PF Changs Spicy Chicken Pics

PF Changs Spicy Chicken bowl.

Mongolian Beef

PF Changs Mongolian Beef

The only disappointment was that we could not eat our meal outside as we were shooed away by the restaurant management.

We assumed the outdoor tables and chairs were available for hotel guests.

The sign was promptly pointed out to us.

Good thing our suites have nice dining tables! :)

Galleryone Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel REview

The GalleryOne by Hilton near Port Everglades can be a great choice before or after a cruise. It's conveniently located, the rooms are spacious, and the access to a kitchen is convenient.

And we can't forget the cookies! ;)

If you have time to kill you can take the water taxi all over creation as a DIY excursion, visit the mall next door, or walk to the beach.

There are also plenty of great restaurants to try near by!

Fort Lauderdale Restaurant Reviews

Best Hoagies In Fort Lauderdale - Laspadas Hoagie Review
Manhattan NY Pizza in Ft Lauderdale - Delivery Review
Primanti's Fort Lauderdale Pizza Review - A Pittsburgh Favorite in Florida - coming soon
Padrino's Cuban Cuisine Ft Lauderdale Restaurant Review - coming soon

FLorida Hotel Reviews

Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel Review with Photos
Holiday Inn Sebring Florida Hotel Review (HGTV Hometown Takeover) - coming soon
Hyatt Regency Miami Cruise Port Hotel Review with Photos - coming soon

Want to Get a Free Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay?

Check out this post: Hilton Free Night Certificate

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Later in this post: Sam's Bar + Kitchen Menus with prices in English and Portuguese! :)

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