3 min read Groceries & Markets

Algarve | Is Apolonia Supermercados Portugal's Erewhon? (with grocery haul video)

Algarve | Is Apolonia Supermercados Portugal's Erewhon? (with grocery haul video)
Photo by nrd / Unsplash

Ready to experience a grocery store like no other? 

Apolónia Supermercados is our favourite supermarket in the world.

I have been to Wholefoods in New York, Marks & Spencer Food in the United Kingdom, Stockmann in Helsinki, El Corte Inglés in Spain and Portugal, Woolworths in South Africa but Apolónia in Lagoa remains absolutely unbeatable. It is considered the Erewhon of Portugal and it's where my husband and I head to first as soon as we land in the Algarve!

As we rave about it often, people ask us “but what is so special about it?” all the time.

Well, where can we start... First, it's a successful family-run local business that started in Almancil, Algarve in 1983.

Their motto? They say it best:

Apolónia has built this reputation on placing customer needs first, irrespective of nationality, stocking a broad range of local and international favourites, from staple goods to gourmet specialities, while at the same time anticipating market potential and trends and specialising in new products from home and abroad

And one can feel it in our customer experience. The wide corridors and counters, the superbly curated range of international and national products, the calmness, how everything is exquisitely tidy, clean, aesthetically pleasing, the first-class service, always with a smile and filled with attentiveness... 

Also, can we confess we love their green branding? It might have been an inspiration for this website's branding, who knows... wink wink!

Our favourites: gluten free products, best fish counter, international brands such as Andros, Fever Tree, Fage, Garofalo, Blue Dragon...

We always recommend it to friends and family coming to the Algarve and we go there ourselves pretty often. 

Also check everything we had on our Apolonia shopping list to have the most stunning Raclette & Fondue & Wine Tasting Party at home:

Food | A Raclette meets Fondue meets Wine Tasting Party to Remember
This is how we bring a slice of the French Alps into our home. Whether you’re planning a dreamy night for two or a gathering with friends, here’s how we turned a simple raclette dinner into a French-inspired experience.
The von HaffsJess

Other than food, we also recommend, within the Apolónia family: their pharma stores (great beauty products and OTC selection) and the cafés.

A few of the brands you can find at Apolonia's Drugstores: Isdin (samples kindly offered to my by Patricia! Thank you!), Essie, Uriage, Avène... this is a little haul I did in March 2025 (except for the Sol de Janeiro product)

Do check their stores when in Algarve (our favourite is Lagoa's).

Have you been to Apolonia? If not, you gotta try it. Share your experience in the comments!

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