The City of Moura - Where and what to eat


This region is most famous for it's olive oil, cheeses, wines, bread, various kinds of meat. fruits and several different pastries. There are generally vegetarian alternatives but a bit hard to find completely vegan friendly food all over Portugal. We love our cheeses, fish and meat too much alas... but that is because it really is among the best you can eat, you just need to know the area and/or restaurant you are in and go for the really local ingredients. If you are inland, obviously the fish won't be as fresh, if you are in Algarve, the climate is too warm and dry to keep grass fed cows all year round.

In Moura, the cows, pigs, sheep etc have been grass feed just around the corner. They roam freely all year round and you can taste that in the meat. Especially the pork is a real treat in this part of the world thanks to the acorns that they eat. You also have various fish from the Guadiana river and Alqueva water dam.

We tried some different restaurants and cafés in Moura.

O Trilho: Quite a big restaurant in the middle of old town. Nice place and kind staff. We had some bitoque (piece of marinated meat with a fried egg on top, home made pommes frites, salad and rice) made of pork. Tasty and worth the price worthy.

Don Paco: If you want to have some fast food, try a bifana or a completo cachorro (hot dog) at this place, you can ask for something more simple or with lot's of sides/sauces etc.

La Pizza: If you feel the need for some some pasta, pizza or kebab, this is the place for you. We had some pizza with really nice cured ham (presunto), parmesan cheese and ruccola. Also available for takeaway if you just want to eat something on a park bench in the city.

Pastelaria A Maria: A really cute and cosy modern café where the specialty is chocolate cake. The smell lures you already from the street several meters away. You just have to know what it is and where it comes from! And then you go in and see a huge chocolate cake where every ingredient and the filling is home made. Have one or have two huge pieces if you feel for it. Nobody should leave this city without trying Marias chocolate cake. Add a cup of espresso and you are in heaven.

CAMB: Not strictly speaking a place to eat but a place to buy one of the best olive oils you've ever tasted. This is a cooperative called CAMB - Cooperativa Agrícola Moura Barrancos. You can find their enormous olive oil factory and buy from their shop directly mid town. The smell of olives being pressed is such huge quantities is unlike anything you've ever smelt before, hard to describe. If you have any questions concerning production or such do find some of their staff which can enlighten you. For 22,90 euro we bought 3 different olive oils from this cooperative, a bargain price which helps support these local olive tree farmers and industry. They win international awards every year for their products. Each year they produce around 7 million kilos of extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed from ca 35 000 tons of olives from this region.

Taberna do Liberato: The combination of great wines, good food and getting to know the locals is awesome! This small and cosy tavern  lies close to the old castle in the Mouraria neighbourhood. The owner is a really pleasant fellow who can offer you advice on what to eat, drink and see around this place. Have some tapas, try all the different charcuteries, cheeses, salads and wines for sure! Do end the meal with some port or liqueurs and the owner's wife's chocolate mousse. C'est parfait! Our favourite place to eat in this city.






Location: Moura, Portugal

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