Where summer never ends: A cosy restaurant serving up good vibes and good food with prime views, lighting up Praia da Luz for over a decade
– July 15, 2025 | Text Beatriz Maio
Lighting up Praia da Luz for over a decade now, Endless Summer is a cosy restaurant serving up good vibes and good food with prime views.
Located directly across from the ocean, the space exudes the relaxed spirit of a true beach bar, with a menu focused on seasonal, health-conscious options with an emphasis on sustainability.
“We feel we have a real platform because of the number of people who visit us throughout the year,” explains Rui Carnaxide, who co-founded the project with Inês Magalhães and David Saragoça.
“We decided to use that visibility to raise awareness around issues like climate change, single-use plastics, and how we can and do make better choices.”
There’s not a deep fryer in sight, and the preference for local produce shapes every dish.
But this ethos extends far beyond the kitchen. Recycled wooden tables fill the space inside and spill out onto the sun-drenched esplanade, and the interiors, softly decorated in natural tones and textures, reflect the same ecological commitment: grounded and eco-friendly.
Long before açai and smoothie bowls became trendy in Portugal, Endless Summer was introducing them to the village. It was also among the first to craft its own ice creams from scratch, made entirely from fruit and free from refined sugars.
Rui and Inês, who now run the business as a couple, bring complementary passions to the table. Rui has a background in hospitality, whilst Inês is trained in dentistry. Their paths first crossed on a holiday in Sagres moved by a passion for surfing and nature, and they eventually chose to make the Algarve their permanent home.
Today, they live just five minutes from Praia da Luz, in a cosy home where they’re raising their four children – all of them surfers, too.
A few years later, they joined forces with former partner David Saragoça to create Endless Summer in a bare building that once served as a shop selling beachwear.
“That winter before we opened, we had a very limited budget, so we built much of the bar’s original furniture ourselves,” Rui recalls. The result is a warm and personal space, where handmade alaia surfboards hang on the walls and fruit adds colour to every corner. “It’s all very simple and connected to the beach and the ocean,” he adds.
The menu evolves frequently, following the seasons and the tastes of the restaurant’s clientele and ideas from the team.
The pizzas are a house speciality, made fresh every day in-house. Garlic bread with cheese, rosemary and olives is an inviting way to start, as are the oven-baked prawns with garlic and tomato or the nachos with melted cheese, spicy Valentina sauce, sour cream and pico de Gallo.
The homemade focaccia is well worth trying, and for those not in the mood for pizza, the homemade lasagne is a reliable alternative.
Burgers are another highlight, with the Endless Summer special and the aptly named Big Kahuna built to satisfy even the strongest appetites.
For a lighter option, the salads are fresh and satisfying, perfect for warm days. Vegetarian options are plenty across the menu, from starters and bruschettas to pizzas, toasties, bowls and even a plant-based burger.
Desserts include a nod to tradition with a classic pastel de nata, alongside more decadent choices like Nutella pizza, a homemade brownie with vanilla ice cream, and an almond biscuit crafted in-house.
The drinks menu also carries the same thoughtful approach. Fresh juices, homemade lemonades infused with passionfruit or strawberry, smoothies, and 100% organic coffee make Endless Summer a great spot to pop in for a casual break regardless of the season. In fact, the restaurant’s name is no coincidence.
Rui wanted to capture the unique rhythm of Praia da Luz, where summer seems to never end.
For those in search of a sundowner, Endless Summer offers a selection of signature cocktails, many accompanied by a bowl of nachos. The classics are well represented – from Aperol Spritz, Limoncello and Gin & Tonic to Caipirinhas and Mojitos in both traditional and fruit-infused varieties.
Their own creations include the Ollie’s Point, a tropical blend of tequila, rum, passionfruit, triple sec and egg foam; the Endless Summer, with fresh orange juice, vodka and grenadine; a Salted Caramel Espresso Martini; and the Long Beach, a zesty combination of lemon, cream, Limoncello and Licor 43.
There’s also sangria, in several forms: white, red, rosé, passionfruit or Champagne.
Reflecting the Algarve’s multiculturalism, the nationality of both staff and guests spans the globe.
Over the years, the restaurant has employed team members from more than 10 countries, including Argentina and Nepal, and regularly welcomes English, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese visitors.
With a clear commitment to creativity, the message is simple, but sincere: Endless Summer is not just a restaurant.
“We want our guests to have a full experience, not just a meal,” says Rui. “That includes everything, from the atmosphere and the service to the food and drink.”
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