Digital menus for restaurants in the Algarve
A digital menu for an Algarve restaurant is your menu published as a web page that guests open by scanning the QR code on the table or terrace. In the Algarve the English menu is not an extra for tourists: for much of the year it is the main menu.
Updated October 2026
The region where English rules
In 2024, 75.8% of nights in the Algarve were spent by non-residents, according to Statistics Portugal (INE), and the Algarve took 28.4% of all foreign nights in Portugal — more than any other region. It was also the region most dependent on a single market: the United Kingdom accounted for 35.1% of foreign nights, and the top three markets together for 57.4%.
The Algarve received 57.6% of all British nights in Portugal and 75.2% of Irish nights, plus 28.9% of German and 15.5% of Spanish nights. Dependence on foreign guests peaks outside high summer: in October, 87.1% of nights were spent by non-residents.
Which languages an Algarve menu needs
English and Portuguese are the base. Spanish and French come next, depending on the area: the eastern Sotavento, near the border, sees more Spanish visitors. With Platerio the menu can be in up to 30 languages, including German — the Algarve’s third market — and Dutch, and it opens in the language of the guest’s phone when you offer it.
Fish, seafood and changing prices
The Algarve menu lives off the sea: cataplana, seafood rice, polvo à lagareiro, grilled sardines and fish grilled by the kilo. That creates two problems a paper menu handles badly: prices that follow the fish market, and dishes that run out mid-service.
On a digital menu the catch of the day comes and goes without reprinting, and the price per kilo can be updated before each service. See how to set up a seafood restaurant, including prices per kilo and crustacean and mollusc allergens.
Terraces, beaches and seasons
Many Algarve restaurants double their tables in summer with a terrace and trim the menu in winter. With a QR code on each table (one code for all) and the menu on the phone, nobody has to keep dozens of laminated menus out in the sun. For beach bars, cocktails and petiscos can have their own section.
Allergens deserve extra care here: fish, crustaceans and molluscs are all mandatory allergens, and many British and Irish guests ask about them. You can start with the free allergen chart.
Frequently asked questions
Which languages should an Algarve restaurant menu have?
English and Portuguese at least, then German, Spanish and French. The United Kingdom was the Algarve’s main foreign market in 2024, with 35.1% of non-resident nights (INE).
Does Platerio offer menus in German?
Yes. German is one of the 30 languages a menu can be published in, translated automatically from your original menu and reviewed by you.
How do I show fish priced by the kilo?
Put the price per kilo in the dish name or description (for example “Grilled sea bass — €65/kg”) and update it when it changes. See the page on seafood restaurants.
Can guests see the menu before they arrive?
Yes. The menu has its own link you can add to Google, Instagram or your website, as well as the QR code on the tables.