Old Tavern

Old Tavern is a small petiscos tavern at Rua Professor Norberto da Silva 11, beside the old town walls of Faro in Portugal's Algarve region. Petiscos are the Portuguese equivalent of tapas, small sharing plates that diners order in rounds with wine or beer, and the tavern's specialty is daytime petiscos in the old town. Unlike most Faro restaurants, which concentrate on evening service, Old Tavern is listed as open daily from 11:00 to 17:30, which makes it a convenient stop for a late breakfast, a long lunch or an afternoon snack between visits to the cathedral, the Municipal Museum and the Arco da Vila. Specific dishes are not named in the available sources, but the petiscos format typically includes items such as cheese and cured meats, fried fish, clams and salads, and visitors can ask the staff what is available. The price range is moderate. The location beside the town walls places it in the historic quarter of Vila Adentro, so the setting is atmospheric, with cobbled lanes, whitewashed buildings and views of the walls nearby. The tavern can be contacted by phone on +351 965 391 296, and its online presence is a Facebook page at facebook.com/oldtavern.faro, which is the most likely place to find updates on opening times and daily specials. Because the opening hours end at 17:30, visitors planning an evening meal will need another venue, and those who arrive late in the afternoon should aim to be seated well before closing. The dining space is small, so groups may want to phone ahead, particularly on summer weekends when old-town visitor numbers are highest. Since petiscos suit sharing, the format works well for couples and small groups who want to sample several dishes rather than commit to a single main course.