Ericeira is a charming little fishing town that hasn’t been subjected to mass tourism like other parts of Portugal. As such, it has a lovely authentic Portuguese charm. Given its location, it has many incredible seafood restaurants all providing good value for money. There are very few global fast-food chains to be found here, it’s all locally owned small, family restaurants. Gambas (shrimp) are a speciality in this town, so you should definitely try some if you’re into your seafood! All restaurants here do tend to be on the smaller side and it’s always recommended to book ahead if you’re looking for a table at a specific time, otherwise, be understanding if you perhaps have to wait for a table!
Below, we have chosen 3 fantastic restaurant options to be found in Ericeira. Of course, they serve seafood, but we’ve been careful to select options that also have fantastic alternatives for those that don’t/can’t eat seafood:
Prim
This restaurant is in a brilliant location, just north of the main square. It is run by Brazilian born Andre and his brother who were initially enticed to the area as it’s fantastic for surfing! It offers a laidback, casual atmosphere, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. Of course, the fish dishes are amazing – grilled octopus, squid, shrimps, but they also offer great alternatives such as a fantastic curry dish and steak, which comes on a hot plate so you can cook it yourself, exactly how you like it. There are also a variety of tasty side dishes on offer to perfectly complement your meal.
The restaurant is open from noon to 3 pm, then from 7 to 10 pm every day. 8 pm tends to be their busiest time, so if you’re looking to go when quieter, I’d avoid going then. The prices for mains range from €9 to €23.50.
They have an Instagram page @primrestaurante where you can see more of their menu and drool over the tasty looking food!
Mar D’Areia
One of the best seafood restaurants in Ericeira is Mar D’Areia. You can even pick which fish you would like! It has an informal, relaxed vibe. The staff are incredibly friendly and are very knowledgeable about the menu and about the different types of fish and wine, and what goes nice together, so if you’re unsure of what to try, don’t hesitate to ask – they’ll be happy to help you!
The fish here is sold by weight. So you pick the fish you want, they weigh it and then they’ll give you a price based on that weight. On average a 700-800g fish will be plenty for two people. The fish will then be freshly grilled over hot charcoal. The sea bass in particular, comes highly recommended!
This lovely little seafood restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday. From Tuesday to Saturday it is open from 11 am to 3 pm, then from 7:30 pm to 12 am, and on Sundays, it is open from 11 am to 3 pm. Prices are reasonable, with a meal for two averaging €40.
Tik Tak
Last, but certainly not least on our list is Tik Tak. This is one of my favourite restaurants in Ericeira and It is in a fantastic location, only 50m north of Ericeira’s main square. Again, a laidback, relaxed atmosphere is on offer here too, alongside some jazzy music and rather eclectic decor. All menu options are very reasonably priced and there are great indoor and outdoor seating options available.
The seafood selection here is the main reason why locals and tourists alike flock here, with the Gambas frequently being described as some of the best in the area! What’s great about this restaurant though, is that there are also many fantastic options for those who are not as keen on their seafood. If you’re more of a meat lover, their parrilhada real dish, is a plethora of grilled meats that could easily feed 2, even 3 people for €27! There are also some great vegetarian options too.
This restaurant is open from 7 pm to midnight Monday to Friday and from noon to 3 pm, then from 7 pm to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays throughout May to October. From November to April, this restaurant will be closed on Mondays.
This is of course, by no means, an exhaustive list. There are a huge variety of restaurants in and around Ericeira! With these three that we’ve detailed, we’ve tried to demonstrate that while seafood does dominate, given Ericeira’s location, there are always options available for those who don’t want seafood. The best advice I can offer is to do plenty of research yourself, get an idea of what the area has to offer and which restaurants you think will be best for you!
If you enjoyed this blog on restaurants in Ericeira you might also like to read about the best Ericeira bars and nightlife.
