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A great late-night bar with a loyal following.Oficina means garage, relating to the décor, not the music. Cocktail shots must be downed in one!

The blue and white façade of the building is unmistakable, and the pottery produced here is equally striking. Rows of women gossip merrily amongst themselves while deftly applying a final lick of paint to the latest batch of crockery.

One of the liveliest fishing ports in the Algarve has some fine seafood restaurants to match. The whole town revolves around fishing, a fact exemplified by the 17th-century parish church, built with donations from the local fishermen. At the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos, women pray for the safe return of their menfolk during bad weather. The style of the town’s cube-shaped houses, with flat roof terraces and external staircases, reflects the close trade links once enjoyed with North Africa.

Situated right on the esplanade overlooking the lagoons, this is a fantastic place to shop for fresh fish, fruit and vegetables and flowers. A riot of noise and colour takes place daily under two purpose-built pavilions. On Saturdays it is enlivened by extra stalls selling anything from basketware and smoked sausage to honey and lace.

Here’s a chance to meet some of the world’s rarest and endangered animals up close and personal. Sifakas, barbary sheep, cheetahs, a host of monkeys and lemurs and a cute pair of hippos are just some of the permanent residents at this unique wildlife sanctuary.

A large, cavernous seafood restaurant on the town’s riverfront.

Set in verdant, shady gardens, with a daily-changing menu erring towards earthy Alentejan fare. An outside terrace has coffee and snacks.

Soft white that shows a spicy aroma of tropical fruits. Made from the roupeiro, arinto and antão vaz grape varieties. Ideal chilled as an aperitif.

Early in the 17th century the entire population of Paderne moved from the shadows of the nearby castle to the environs of a newly consecrated church. That village is now a sleepy place of faded charm and modest means, but therein lies its beauty. The architecture retains a certain grandeur, while the Moorish castle stands close by, still wondering where all the people went.