Ciao Baby Alvor – Italian food, family recipes and live music

Alvor is really lovely in the evening during the summer months. The streets get filled with people and, as my four-year-old son said while we were walking through the centre, “all of Portugal is here”. Of course, it is actually a mix of nationalities, which is one of the things I like about Alvor in summer. You hear different languages everywhere, and there is always something going on.

I spoke with Bella, who owns Ciao Baby together with her son Renato, before our visit, and she recommended booking a table as the restaurant tends to get busy. We arrived at around 7.30pm, and there were still a few empty tables, but within half an hour almost every table was taken. There was a real mix of people – couples, families with children and larger groups of friends. I also noticed that some were clearly regular customers, stopping to chat with the owners as they arrived.

Italian authenticity

The interior immediately caught our attention, with large images showing different parts of Italy. We have travelled around Italy many times, so it was lovely to recognise some of these places and see them again, even if only in pictures. Venice, my favourite place ever, is there too, complete with its traditional gondolas. It made me want to book another trip right away! But let’s get back to the restaurant.

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The menu is extensive and full of my favourites, which made choosing quite difficult because I didn’t want to order too much. I love portobello mushrooms, and there are two options on the menu. Following Bella’s recommendation, we chose the portobello with mozzarella and strips of bacon. My husband picked our other starter – bruschetta with mozzarella and tomato, a simple Italian classic and always a good choice.

For the main course, my husband knew immediately what he wanted. He loves seafood, and Ciao Baby has a signature dish called Pasta Mare Crosta. It combines seafood and spaghetti, all covered with pizza dough. I had never seen anything quite like it before. If you love both seafood and Italian cuisine, this is basically the two brought together in one dish.

The Pasta Mare Crosta is made for two people, but there is also a single-portion alternative called spaghetti al cartoccio, where spaghetti and seafood are cooked together in aluminium foil. My husband chose this one and loved it.

I went for pasta Alfredo with mushrooms, ham and cream, while my son, without needing much time to think about it, chose his favourite – pasta Bolognese. Both pasta dishes tasted really authentic, bringing a little bit of Italy to our evening in Alvor.

There is plenty more on the menu, including meat and fish dishes and a long selection of pizzas and pastas. There is also a children’s menu with familiar options such as children’s pizza, fish fingers and nuggets. A great piece of information for all the parents is that children don’t necessarily have to choose from the kids’ section. If they want something from the main menu, the kitchen can prepare a smaller portion. As a mum, I really appreciate this, especially when children often enjoy dishes from the regular menu.

Seasonal entertainment

While we were busy choosing and enjoying our food, Bella’s brother Giovanni started singing. During the main season, he performs at the restaurant every Wednesday, with the evening naturally featuring plenty of well-known Italian songs. It fits the atmosphere perfectly and makes the experience feel even more Italian.

At one point, I asked Giovanni if he could sing “Felicità”, one of my favourites, and he happily added it to his repertoire for the evening. Hearing a song I love, surrounded by Italian food and a busy Alvor atmosphere, was definitely one of my favourite moments of the night.

After trying the food, I really wanted to see what the desserts were like, despite already being very full. My son had no such dilemma and immediately wanted a pancake with ice cream. I couldn’t resist the tiramisu.

Even the presentation had a personal touch, with “Ciao Baby” written in chocolate on the plates. The tiramisu was exactly the kind of dessert I had hoped to finish the evening with.

Family atmosphere

What stood out to me throughout the evening was the family atmosphere. From Bella welcoming guests to Giovanni singing and regular customers chatting with the owners, you can feel that Ciao Baby isn’t just another restaurant in a busy tourist town.

For me, that is part of its charm. You come for Italian food, but you also get the feeling of being welcomed into a family-run place where the people behind the restaurant are actually there, talking to guests and making sure everyone is enjoying their evening.

If you’re looking for great Italian food, friendly service and a family-run local restaurant in Alvor, Ciao Baby is well worth a visit. And if you enjoy Italian music as much as I do, I would definitely choose a Wednesday evening.