The Amura restaurant, opened a month and a half ago, brings together three spaces in the same location and a 360° view of the Faro Marina and the Ria Formosa.
It is perhaps one of the spaces with the best view of the city, according to the owner, and opened doors at the top of the Ginásio Clube Naval de Faro building (GCNF), next to the Recreation Dock.
O Amuraa nautical term that represents the side where the wind enters, was born precisely with the aim of being «a boat on the Ria Formosa», where the tradition of dishes «is reinvented in a compromise between heritage and modernity», with the best from Ria to the table.
This is the premise of the new restaurant, which opened on the 1st of September, at the hands of a gym manager who had been looking for a space like this for a long time.
“As a customer, I really enjoy visiting new places and I travel a lot. I already had a restaurant in the Sé area, but now I was looking for something different. I imagined a place where I felt almost in the water, but in the heart of the city. When the GCNF competition came about, in a space with this location and with this view, I knew I wanted to go ahead. I took the opportunity because it was exactly what I imagined”, recalls Cláudio Mocho, 40 years old, owner of Amura, from the west side.
The name and concept were also inspired by the view from the esplanade. «It had to be something nautical with lots of fish and local products, in a space with modern furniture, with a beach feel, with good background music, and where you could enjoy the experience and not a quick meal», he says.
This was also one of the reasons that led Cláudio Mocho to opt for a concept that, according to him, is not easily found in Faro.
«It is a space that is always open, from Monday to Monday, between 12:00 and 00:00, with the menu always available. We want Amura to be an experience at any time, to enjoy the sunset and the view, to also be a choice for those who work nearby and want to come to lunch, have a snack with friends in the middle of the afternoon, or even for a birthday dinner. The only day we still don’t know if we’ll be open is at Christmas», assures the official.
On the menu, in addition to starters, salads and some meat dishes, ideal to complement a seafood-based meal, the house specialties stand out: succulent octopus tentacles with thyme and sweet potato puree with coconut; razor clam rice from the Ria with saffron and coriander; fish dough with shrimp; Algarve cataplana.
In desserts, the one that draws the most attention is the Olhão folar with lemon and mint ice cream. Especially because, «I don’t think anyone ever thought of putting it on a restaurant’s dessert list», justifies the owner.
«Almost all our suppliers are from the Algarve, vegetables, fruits, fresh cheese, bread and even ham», says Cláudio Mocho, who adds that in terms of quantities, these «are generous, with a wilder presentation, to escape a little from the classic hotel industry.
At lunch, there is also a dish of the day available, and the wine list includes reds, greens and whites, with references from various parts of the country, including the Algarve, as well as sangria, rosés and champagnes, the latter two with the Laurent Perrier.
At the Amura, with a capacity for 90 seats, the ex-libris is on the terrace, with an unobstructed view of the Ria Formosa, prepared to be available in the summer, with the windows open, and in the winter, with a roof and heaters.
For more exclusive moments, such as marriage proposals, birthdays, or corporate meetings, with a maximum capacity of eight people, the Amura also has a private room, the 360° room, only available by appointment.
«It is our best view, ideal for moments with more privacy, such as New Year’s Eve, where you will have full visibility for the fireworks», in the words of the official.
But Amura does not want to stop here, in a month the opening of the Salty Lounge is ready, the bar adjacent to the restaurant’s terrace, facing the Ria Formosa and with independent access.
“There will be six dishes available, more based on tapas, such as seafood, prego and clams, but also a good cocktail menu. There will be a snack area, lounge area and private areas, with capacity for 60 people, and good background music. We will also have, more in the summer, live music. During low season, the bar will be open from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm, from Thursday to Sunday, but in high season it will be open from 5:00 pm to 2:00 am daily. It is the ideal space for people who want to end the afternoon in a relaxed place with a good atmosphere, but who later have the possibility of having dinner in the restaurant. Or, for those who want to have a drink after dinner», points out Cláudio Mocho.
And despite being in operation for a few days, the feedback is already quite positive.
«At lunches we always have at least 50% of capacity. Dinners from Wednesday to Saturday are always composed. The interesting thing about this space is that we can have, as we have had several times, a person alone eating soup and a nail, next to a couple eating seafood with a bottle of wine. Then, as we have the maritime-tourist companies nearby, we often receive people who choose to come here for lunch and dinner, after the tours, mainly English, Spanish and French.
As for the future, special menus are planned for various festivities such as New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, among others.
However, the initial focus is only one, according to the owner: «consolidate the brand in the next two years. I still have the bar to open and my goal is for people to come to Faro to come to Amura. If I can reach that quality, I’ve achieved victory. If this is really a success, maybe bet on summer spaces, because to replicate the Amura, it will have to be in places similar to this one, very close to the sea».
The Amura restaurant is located on the Abu Said IBN Harune Promenade, on the second floor of the GCNF and is open every day from 12:00 to 00:00.
A meal has an average price of 25 euros per person and the entire menu can be consulted here.
More information available at social networks and reservations can be made by phone (963 886 463), or here.