The Verdict
Henrique Leis is the long-running fine-dining restaurant of its Brazilian-born chef-owner, set in a Swiss-chalet building among the hills near Almancil, the gastronomic heart of the central Algarve. The kitchen marries classical French technique with flavours from Leis's South American roots.
It held one Michelin star for nineteen consecutive years, from 2000 to 2019, when Leis became the first chef in Portugal to voluntarily hand his star back, saying he wanted freedom in the kitchen for his family and team. The restaurant stays open and ambitious, with an eight-course tasting menu at 110 euros.
The Kitchen
Chef-owner Henrique Leis, born in Brazil, cooks French cuisine lifted by the flavours of his homeland, and he has run this kitchen near Almancil for decades. The seasonal menus include dishes such as veal loin with sweet-milk sabayon, two mustards and honey, and rack of Iberian pork with chestnuts and carob. The eight-course tasting menu is 110 euros, with a vegan version available on prior request. The restaurant held one Michelin star from 2000 to 2019, a nineteen-year run, until Leis chose to return it, the first Portuguese chef to do so, while keeping the same cooking and service standards.
The Room
The restaurant occupies a distinctive Swiss-chalet-style building in the hills at Vale Formoso, near Almancil and the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo resorts. The dining room mixes sophisticated polish with rustic, woody warmth, and there is a terrace for warmer evenings. It is an intimate, grown-up room rather than a scene, suited to a slow dinner over the tasting menu and a serious wine list.
Best for a Proposal
Book Henrique Leis for a proposal or a landmark dinner because the chalet setting, the long tasting menu and the quiet hillside location give the evening real occasion. It draws couples and residents from the nearby luxury resorts who want serious cooking without a hotel-restaurant feel. Reserve the terrace in summer and let the kitchen guide the menu.
Not For
Not for a quick or casual meal, or for diners chasing a current Michelin star, since Leis returned his in 2019. The format is a long, formal tasting dinner at resort-level prices, so it is the wrong pick for a relaxed family lunch or a tight budget.
Reservations
Henrique Leis takes reservations by phone and online, and booking ahead is wise in the Algarve high season. The eight-course tasting menu is 110 euros, with a vegan version on request and a la carte also available; wine adds significantly given the cellar. It sits a short drive from Almancil, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. Dress is smart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Henrique Leis still have a Michelin star?
No. Henrique Leis held one Michelin star from 2000 to 2019, nineteen years in a row, before chef-owner Henrique Leis voluntarily returned it, becoming the first chef in Portugal to hand a star back. The restaurant remains open near Almancil and keeps the same French-Brazilian cooking and standards, just without the star.
What is Henrique Leis known for?
Henrique Leis is known for French cuisine accented by the chef's Brazilian background, served in a Swiss-chalet building near Almancil. Signature plates include veal loin with sweet-milk sabayon, two mustards and honey, and rack of Iberian pork with chestnuts and carob, built into an eight-course tasting menu at 110 euros.
How much is dinner at Henrique Leis?
The eight-course tasting menu at Henrique Leis is 110 euros per person, with a vegan version available if reserved in advance and an a la carte option as well. Wine adds meaningfully given the depth of the list. That places it among the central Algarve's serious fine-dining rooms rather than a casual choice.
Where is Henrique Leis?
Henrique Leis is on Estrada Vale Formoso in the hills near Almancil, in the Loule municipality of the central Algarve. It is a short drive from the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo luxury resorts, which is why it draws both visitors and residents looking for ambitious cooking away from the beach.
Also in Algarve
Explore the full Algarve dining guide, or compare it with Vila Joya and Gusto by Heinz Beck. See our fine dining guide and the best restaurants for a proposal.