It’s all about finding the hidden gems when you go on holiday. You know the kind, the ones you stumble upon when you’re going for a walk and almost get lost or chased by dogs (just me?). The ones that don’t look like they’ll be anything much from them outside but you step inside and are met with friendly locals and served up delicious food.
When I was visiting Portugal with L we discovered Jophil. It was the only place close to our villa which opened early. We were staying at Colina da Lapa and Jophil was just a 10 minute walk away.
We’d decided not to do any cooking at our villa. Instead we stocked up on the essentials; coffee, gin, crips and pastel de nata and decided to find somewhere local for breakfast. We weren’t looking for anything fancy or hipster, just a simple spot for good coffee and breakfast to kick-start our day.
Jophil was the perfect find.
As I said, it’s a cheap and cheerful little cafe/bar but as soon as you step inside you’re met by the lovely owners who’re quick to bring a fresh coffee to your table. We opted for their standard egg and bacon sandwiches to start our day. They were served up in a delicious bread bun and the prices were very reasonable.
They also do lunch and evening meals with cheap beers. Unfortunately we didn’t have the chance to go back and try their lunch menu but they had a mix of traditional Portuguese and European dishes to pick from.
If you’re looking for good service, tasty food and a quiet morning spot for breakfast then you’ll enjoy this place. If you’re looking for something a little more hipster and trendy then you’d be better off heading into the town. Trust me though, the coffee and breakfast sandwich are excellent.
If I find myself in Carvoeiro again I’ll be sure togo back to Jophil.
Location – Sesmarias, Albufeira 8400-561, Portugal