Located in the Algarve right next to Tavira, you can find a charming coastal town which is called Santa Luzia. In Santa Luzia, it’s all about octopus and this beautiful town is known across Portugal as the top spot for enjoying this beloved seafood.
Moreover, the village offers a serene and breathtaking view overlooking the beautiful Ria Formosa. In this idyllic setting, fishermen originally settled five centuries ago. Over time, their focus shifted from tuna to octopus, and this small village began to earn recognition as the “Octopus Capital.”
One of the best octopus in Portugal close to Tavira
As we arrived in Santa Luzia, it was already late in the evening. We were walking across the estuary-side avenue from the small parish harbour to have dinner at a waterfront restaurant. The restaurant we searched for is called Casa do Polvo Tasquinha and it is located in one of the first houses you come across on the right. This waterfront restaurant is known for its various octopus dishes and has already achieved a special mention in the renowned Michelin Guide for 2022. The guide particularly praised the restaurant’s cuisine and the unique fishing atmosphere it provides to the visitors. Locals from this area call this restaurant even the best restaurant to eat octopus in the whole country. This made us curious and it was for us the decisive reason to visit this restaurant in Santa Luzia.
As we arrived at Casa do Polvo Tasquinha, the restaurant was already very frequented. We were afraid as there were no free tables available and we did not had a reservation. However, a very kind waitress told us to wait about 20 minutes and for us it was definitely worthwhile. As soon as we got a table, we could not hardly wait for the extensive menu. While the menu offers the day’s catch, including grilled fish like tuna and Bacalhau à Brás, the octopus is unquestionably the star of the show. With over ten delectable octopus dishes to choose from, we faced a delightful dilemma.
A menu full of Portuguese octopus dishes
Imagine a menu entirely dedicated to octopus, where you will find options such as octopus salad, thinly sliced and delicately seasoned octopus (similar to a carpaccio), crispy breaded octopus, exotic octopus curry, the beloved octopus feijoada, traditional octopus fillets paired with octopus-infused rice, and the equally famous octopus pataniscas served with a mouthwatering tomato mousse. In addition, the restaurant offers also classics such as “Polvo à Lagareiro,” which pairs octopus with fried potatoes and sautéed greens, and the “Polvo Grelhado,” a renowned grilled octopus dish.
After a long back and forth, we decided to take the octopus salad as a starter and the baked octopus made with sweet potato, toasted almonds and apricots as the main dish. Especially, the main dish was a delightful surprise and a culinary masterpiece. It was a true harmony of flavours!
In our opinion, Casa do Polvo Tasquinha clearly deserved the spot in the Michelin Guide. The fact that they serve traditional octopus dishes with a twist is a true culinary excellence. For every octopus lover, “Casa do Polvo Tasquinha” is a must-visit and will become one of your top unforgettable dining destinations in Santa Luzia.
Good to know:
Even if we had luck by getting a table without reservation, we would recommend anyone of you to book a table before.
