Mira Tapas & Wine

R. Dr. Marcelino Franco 27, 8800-669 Tavira, Portugal

Portugal is a beautiful country. My husband and I went to Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, and the Algarve region in June, and there was a lot to see, do, and eat. We had a rental car when we were in the Algarve, so we had the freedom to stop in various towns on the way from Faro railway station to our hotel in Lagos. One of those stops was Tavira, where we ended up having lunch at Mira Tapas & Wine. 

I don’t usually plan which restaurants to eat at while I am on vacation, so Mira Tapas & Wine was a restaurant my husband and I picked due to their specials – an entrée and a bottle of Super Bock (Portuguese beer) for 11 euros. My husband got one of their specials, specifically the Baked Chicken. For me, since so much of Portugal is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, I was on a bit of a seafood kick when we were there and ordered the Fried Octopus with Sweet Potato.

The fried octopus was tender and flavourful, with hints of garlic and doused with olive oil. It was the best octopus I had in Portugal (or maybe ever?). They did not skimp on the octopus, and it was served with crispy, tasty sweet potato chips as well. My husband said his baked chicken was the best chicken he has had since he was a child. The chicken was so tender that it fell apart easily, and the skin was rendered down completely. It had a depth of flavours, which included rosemary, and was served with French fries.

Mira Tapas & Wine was such a great, spontaneous find. We enjoyed the food there a lot, and the owner (Mira?) was friendly. She seemed to take pride in her food, and I felt like I was visiting a Portuguese grandmother’s house to eat. I don’t have a Portuguese grandmother, but that’s what I would imagine it would be like if I did. Does anyone have one they are willing to share with me?

The Algarve

For those of you who are planning on going to the Algarve, here are some tips:

• You are no longer allowed to step onto the beach in Benagil Cave, but taking a kayak tour gets you pretty close to the shore. We took a sunrise kayak tour, so there were fewer people when we paddled through Benagil Cave and other nearby caves, and it was a wonderful experience.

• Renting a car in the Algarve made it easy for us to get around, even though taking a Bolt would have been pretty cheap as well. If you can fit your group and luggage into one, I would suggest renting a small car, though, because the streets are narrow and there are a lot of pedestrians the closer you get to the heart of a town. The streets are also very hilly, so driving a manual transmission car got difficult at times. 
• The towns in the Algarve all had a different look and vibe, and even though I enjoyed them all, I liked Lagos the most. The prices were affordable, and there was a lot to do there, including wandering the cobblestone streets of the Old Town and going to their many beautiful beaches. Praia dos Estudantes, which has a Roman-style bridge connecting two cliffs, was stunning. You can also walk under the bridge at low tide. If I could have a redo, I would stay a lot longer than just three full days in the Algarve.