The Alvor Lagoon: Home to Some of the Algarve’s Best Oysters
Oyster farming in the Alvor Lagoon: the tasty trend that has become a vital part of the local economy and culinary scene of the western Algarve in recent years. A class-A, pollution-free lagoon that benefits from rich biodiversity and favourable weather conditions, the Vale da Lama (Mud Valley) in the Alvor Lagoon is an ideal environment for oyster cultivation. Home to a limited number of oyster producers, this western Algarve habitat, only 20 minutes from LUX MARE, provides molluscs with a specific flavour that is certainly worth sampling during your stay.
Read on to find out more about these oysters, the place where they’re harvested, and where to sample the best ones!
What makes Alvor Lagoon Oysters Unique
A practice that has grown slowly and in a very controlled manner, oyster farming in the Alvor Lagoon nurtures the molluscs in a way that prioritises their quality and the health of the lagoon’s ecosystem. A focus on sustainability, ensuring that the oysters are grown in harmony with their environment, ensures the highest quality produce with a particular flavour thanks to the lagoon’s mix of salt and freshwater. In fact, the constant water renewal of the lagoon provides the perfect conditions for the rich phytoplankton necessary for healthy oyster production.
Grown on raised beds, oysters in the Alvor lagoon take an average of two and a half years to reach adult size thanks to the Algarve’s warm winters, which provide the perfect conditions for uniform growth throughout the year – contrasting with colder climates where oysters go into dormancy in winter. A focus on keeping the molluscs out of the water for as little time as possible throughout the process, especially during the summer months, when they are more sensitive, ensures their quality is maintained.
Like all bivalve molluscs, oysters are filter-feeding animals that feed on suspended algae and, as such, purify the water. As a result, they often need to be purified, an operation that aims to eliminate possible heavy minerals and other pollutants. However, as the Alvor Lagoon is a class-A location, which means it is free from pollution. As such, the oysters harvested here don’t need purifying, which is what makes them so appetising. The only processing they undergo is being pressure-washed with water from the lagoon to remove the mud before being transported to restaurants.
Where to Eat Alvor Lagoon Oysters
Though the last ten years have seen many changes in the oyster farming industry in Alvor, recent years have seen growth, investment, and the area making a name for itself thanks to its high-quality produce. Luckily for us oyster enthusiasts, this has also led to a lower percentage of the molluscs being exported and almost all of those harvested now being served locally.
Sample Alvor lagoon Oysters out and about
If you want to immerse yourself in the charm of a local eatery as you sample fresh oysters, top picks serving oysters directly from the lagoon to the plate, offering diners an incredibly fresh and authentic seafood experience, include:
- Only a 5-minute drive from LUX MARE, the oyster bar at Camilo Restaurant
- Close-by Pearl Food Trailer in Lagos Marina
- Ostraria D’Alvor in Alvor
Go on an immersive tasting experience
For an immersive tasting experience, join Michelin-star chef João Oliveira as he harvests oysters in the Alvor lagoon and taste them on the spot, accompanied with champagne. An equally memorable dinner then follows the lagoon tour, with a personalised menu created by the Chef and paired with exceptional wine on his ‘The Art of Tasting’ tour.
Have Oysters brought to you
Our concierge service at LUX MARE means your every want and need is only a phone call away, so if you fancy fresh oysters being brought to you, all you have to do is let us know. Whether this involves a private chef preparing them, simply a delivery, or an entire event being catered, we have it covered. If it’s the latter you’re after, we may book Oysters Experience – run by oyster producer OstraSelect and catering events big and small with freshly harvested oysters – who serve oysters out of a roulotte, bar or off a bike.
However you choose to sample the Alvor Lagoon’s most prized delicacy, ensure you get a taste while you’re here for a local experience you’re sure to want to write home about.
