Casa do Polvo

We had a wonderful evening at this restaurant. The octopus was truly delicious and tender—if you're looking for perfectly cooked octopus, this is the place. The service was friendly, and the interior felt very cozy. Obviously, the meat in a seafood-oriented restaurant won't quite compare to a steakhouse, but we didn’t have any major complaints about it

Santa-Luzia proudly calls itself the Capital of Octopus, and at Casa do Polvo Tasquinha you quickly understand why. Along an ocean-front street where many restaurants proclaim to serve the best polvo, this understated spot discreetly delivers absolutely the best octopus we have ever tasted.

True to its name, this tasquinha — a small, traditional Portuguese eatery — offers an intimate, unpretentious atmosphere where the focus is squarely on the food. The décor is cosy and tasteful: one wall covered in traditional azulejo tiles depicting schools of sardines, another lined with framed black-and-white photographs. Given the generous use of olive oil in Portuguese cooking, the tables are set with elegant paper coverings — practical, charming, and entirely appropriate.

According to their website, Casa do Polvo consumes approximately 26 tons of octopus per year. To ensure consistency and tenderness, they operate their own processing facility where the octopus is deep-frozen to –40 °C. This technique breaks down the muscle fibers, resulting in remarkable tenderness.

We began with octopus fritters, while Danielle enjoyed the garlic prawns and I ordered one of Portugal’s great classics: Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato — fresh clams simmered in olive oil, garlic, white wine and coriander. Served in a covered pan with a generous spoon for sharing, the broth was deeply aromatic and made for irresistible bread dipping. This dish perfectly reflects the simplicity and coastal heritage of Algarve cooking, where freshness and olive oil do all the work. A basket of fresh bread and herb-marinated olives completed the starters beautifully.

For the main course, we both chose the grilled octopus, a generous portion served with potatoes and local vegetables. From the first bite, we knew we were somewhere special. The octopus quite literally melted in the mouth — perfectly grilled, deeply flavorful, and without even a hint of dryness.

We paired the meal with an excellent Alvarinho white wine, which complemented the dish flawlessly.

I’ve read a few reviews that seemed unfairly critical of the owner and her team. In our experience, this former Michelin Guide-listed restaurant is absolutely deserving of FIVE STARS — for its food, its authenticity, and its execution.

A great space! Although it felt that if you were not local you were not so welcomed when the rush hour hit. I must say the carpaccio was very good, but the polvo a la bras… something new as I only knew the bacalao. This was superb!! And a very taste choco mouse for dessert.

In the Octopus capital, one has to have this! The Polvo Royale is well worth it's title. Very busy, so one has to reserve well in advance. The staff are extremely kind and make up for any shortfalls. The wines are a bit pricey. Overall worth having a meal there!

We had dinner here today and went all-in on octopus – grilled, oven-cooked, and carpaccio. Every dish was absolutely exceptional. This is hands down one of the top places to experience octopus at its best. We loved every bite!

The only downside was sitting at an outdoor table in April, when the weather was a bit chilly. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn’t offer any blankets or heaters, which would’ve made dining outside more comfortable.

Still, the quality of the food and overall experience made it well worth it. Highly recommended for seafood lovers!