It’s a breath of fresh air in the Algarve. Cafezique, in Loulé, is a charming spot next to the castle in the historic old town center offering creative, “casual fine dining.” Chef Leandro Araujo (a former cook at the now closed Michelin star São Gabriel) gets kudos for his innovative menu, while business partner and sommelier João Valadas expertly pours distinctive Portuguese wines to enhance the meal.
Cafezique inhabits a renovated building on a quaint corner in the city. Inside, numerous areas spread across many levels offer different experiences to enjoy the meal. A lower floor houses a wine cellar and private table for larger groups. Space on the ground floor is great for quick bites and glass of wine. Banquet seating on the next level is perfect for intimate indoor dining. The outside terrace on the first floor features an olive tree in the center providing a natural ambiance and a little shade. The upper roof terraces are ideal for warm Algarvean nights, with sunset views over the rooftops of Loulé.
At the table, plates are small and meant to be shared. Some in Portugal might call this concept “petiscos” (in Spain, they are “tapas”). At Cafezique, they suggest “sharing is caring” and urge two-to-three guests to order six-to-eight dishes to enjoy together.
It might be best to activate your palate with fresh baked bread. The mother dough for this recipe has a lineage of 10 years! It is accompanied by butter fermented with kefir, and topped with roasted milk. Also on the side is a generous pour of extra virgin olive oil from Herdade dos Grous, produced with Cobrançosa olives.
Other highlights on the menu include: coast prawn tartar, celery and Kaffir lime; marinated mackerel, smoked sweet potato and charred parsley; puff pastry filled with octopus and green curry; roasted pumpkin tortellini, with fresh cheese, seeds and sage; and smoked xerém, with grilled anchovy and fried garlic.
For us, probably the most interesting and delicious dish was a dessert–Abade de Priscos Pudding. This traditional dish was created in the 19th century by the Abbott of Priscos, Father Manuel Joaquim Machado Rebelo. Typically, it is chock full of egg whites and includes an odd ingredient, bacon. Chef Leandro’s version replaces bacon with….blue cheese!…and is accompanied by a baked apple in different textures. It is thick, rich and not too sweet. An excellent way to complete the meal.
In addition to ordering a la carte, Chef Leandro has introduced a tasting menu of 8 courses. Match that with wine pairing from Sommelier João’s recommended list of wines from respected small production wineries.
For more information, visit the Cafezique website.
Cafezique
Rua das Bicas Velhas, 5
Loulé
Central Algarve
Phone: +351 289 043 931
Email: cafeziquept@gmail.com
Hours: Monday to Saturday – 18:30 to 22:30
