O Farol in Croydon

Nowaday it's sometimes difficult to find a place that serve you homecooked, tasty and plentiful meals, but - blimey - this little gem certainly does. It made my food-happy heart skip a beat when my food was served. Do yourself a favour and get down her to try for yourself. Top marks! Staff there are everything you could ask for. Very friendly and helpful and they make you feel very welcome. You can tell its personal to them 😁.

Very cozy restaurant, nice atmosphere, very good prices, excellent staff.

Me and my friend have been for dinner here a few times and we will definitely be coming again. The food never disappoints and the staff are so friendly. This is a very lovely and authentic Portuguese restaurant which I highly recommend!!

Amazing restaurant. Live music and incredible atmosphere. Amazing food. Spectacular service. Thank you very much!

I went with my friends at around 3 pm midweek. We pre-booked a table, but we probably didn't need to as there was plenty of seating at the rear. A lovely, bright, and cosy ambience feeling. I ordered the garlic prawn salad. It came with good-sized prawns, and the portion altogether was generous. They don't have a dessert menu, but they will let you know what specials they have available on the day. The choice is so good you will want them to repeat it so you can decide. You can park at Sainsburys across the road for free. There are also paying parking nearby, and it's just a few mins walk from Purley station. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming. I will definitely visit again!! Maybe work my way through the whole menu. So much lovely choices 😍

Welcoming cafe/restaurant that does Port, Madeira and Moscatel wine, when available by the glass. The cakes are heavenly especially the red velvet one, and the decaf mocha is really good.

The food in this restaurant isn’t as good as it used to be. Last 2 visits poached eggs are cold even though I have mentioned this, but nothing done or improved upon. Spinach on egg florentine is not wilted, muffins very hard and stale. Toast so hard you can’t cut it. As for the breakfast side dishes, £3.95 for 2 mushrooms! £3.95 for half an avocado not mashed or dressed with anything, tiny portion of Spinach. The toast came without anything so had to ask for jam etc again £3.95 for plain toast! Service not that great either waiting to order and food takes a long time to arrive if it was good I wouldn’t mind so much.

Friendly service, clean & lovely environment. Slightly let down by the pork belly bites - felt they were under the heat lamp too long but all the other tapas were delicious, rich with flavour and morish. Enjoyable experience.

I really liked. The taste was excellent and so was the service. They even speak Portuguese.

Great meal of Tapas including Grilled sardines and tacos.

What a little gem! We were looking for somewhere new to have breakfast and the lobster benedict caught our eye, the place is modern with obvious sentimental touches of Madeira and Portugal which gives the restaurant a very homely authentic vibe. We were greeted warmly and although we hadn't booked in advance they were happy to seat us. The service was great and the food even better! They had unfortunately run out of lobster claw for the benedict but staff were able to offer another part of the lobster to substitute which was thoughtful and much appreciated. We plan to come back for dinner!

Very good food and the environment was lovely. Would definitely recommend

Food was amazing and all the staff are very friendly

Nice tapas lunch, good size plates. We had BBQ chicken wings, pork belly bites, pork ribs and cod croquettas. Food was tasty and moorish. The croquettas were amazing. Nice range of food and difficult to choose. Lots of mains are available too. The staff were friendly and helpful. Food not cheap, but drinks are. I had a couple of bottles of Sagres at £3.50 each! Recommended 👍🏻

I took my friend for a birthday lunch and it was wonderful

Great little local place. I always pop in when I'm back in town.

Staff Friendly and polite, good atmosphere, good range of drinks and good quality food. Shame when we leave we go back to Purley, not portugal. If you are in Purley, want coffee, cake, Portuguese beer and some nice food this bistro and restaurant will not disappoint. Nice place to take you away from Croydon and Purley. Visit once and most people return. Very good bistro and restaurants.

Very friendly staff, Tara could not have been mire

Not bad but nothing outstanding, seems highly priced in my view compared to my favourite eating places in both the Croydon & Surrey areas.

Nice place. Really liked the food. Wonderful and friendly service! Will visit again.

Went for breakfast with my daughter and it was delicious and Tara was great

Just paid £2.50 for a croissant that is so dense and as hard as a hockey puck…

Purley's little gem (well, there's actually more seating than it seems!). Great for any time of the day 😊

Very tasty tapas - the tiger prawns were my favourite! The place was pretty quiet however with only one other table being occupied. Would recommend

Best restaurant in Purley. Food WAS FANTASTIC, drink selection is Top. The dinner was so delicious that as I was in the area went back for lunch. The lunch menu is just perfect. Food can lift your day.O Farol certainly lifted mine. I would go back to O Farol in a heartbeat, and will. Thank you to all the kind staff. See you soon.

Decent attempt at an English breakfast by a Portuguese cafe. Overcooked bacon, burnt eggs. Well overpriced.

What a lovely cozy cafe! I’ve been there 3 times already and the food, staff and atmosphere is amazing! I’ve had lobster egg Benedict twice and I highly recommend that if you’re into seafood. Very welcoming and I’ll definitely be coming back for more.

My experience at O'Farol is always fantastic. The ambience is just sublime. The staff are always so welcoming and attentive, warm, charismatic and so friendly. My favourite staff members are Bernadette and Tara, the absolute epitome of exemplary and exceptional customer service and a great asset to your organisation.

I had the most amazing experience in O Farol! We started the evening with jugs of Sangria and wine bottles which were just amazing, along with several platters of meat, potatoes, polenta, rice and veg. Honestly, incredible. We were then offered Poncha (traditional Portuguese cocktail). Lastly, the desserts were also amazing. I would highly recommend their Rib of Beef, simply amazing. Shout out to Susana and Nuno for this amazing little restaurant in the heart of Purley!!!

Nuno is a great chef. Very pleasant experience all round. If you are reading this and want to have great food in a cosy restaurant to a share a good time? O Farol is the place to be.

Amazing food, staff were welcoming and friendly with an overall good atmosphere! Would recommend to anyone in the area.

The food was so good. The palenta was amazing and i recommend this place to anyone in the area. The owners are very sweet and the service was extremely quick. they catered to all our needs. Thank you for the experience.

O Farol is an incredible restaurant with delicious food and a great atmosphere! I’ve had multiple great experiences here and would highly recommend to anyone coming to Purley. Suzanna and Nuno are so welcoming and helpful, they helped us pick out different dishes and wines to go with our food. The rib of beef is a must have!! The selection of fresh pastries are always delicious and are lovely to have with a coffee. Thank you for such great experiences, can’t wait to come back!

I rated it a 5/5 the food was amazing the people were generous and kind they even took into account my allergies and amazing service.

Amazing food and amazing service. A dish for everyone and amazing steak. Would highly recommend! Will definitely be visiting again.

A gem of a place! Have visited a few times and always met with a fantastic welcome. Nothing is too much trouble and always a fun atmosphere. Their live music nights are a great night out that gets everyone up and having a fun time! Don't miss out and pop in for some great Portuguese food and drink.

Amazing service and even better food. The best Portuguese restaurant in London, it has so much character and feels very welcoming. Will definitely be visiting again.

I had the most amazing experience at O Farol! Amazing staff who helped recommend food and wine for us. The rib of beef was incredible - melt in the mouth! The atmosphere of the restaurant and cafe is so warm and welcoming. Highly recommend a coming for dinner or even just a coffee if you’re in Purley, Croydon.

Place was incredibly rude. Smells like racism. I didn’t even eat in the end and just walked out due to the treatment. Was sat down at a table for two and a highchair the table was too wide to have the highchair on the other side of the table and as most parents would have it next to them. Later My wife came in to say hi and give me a key she was not staying, and was met with hostility saying there was no room for her when she sat down one of the waitresses got rude and aggressive with myself saying I should have stated, not sure why this was an issue if I was seated at a table for two. We just got up and left.

Booked table for three via web site for Monday 12th February… which was confirmed by e-mail. When we arrive cafe closed with a notice saying closed on Mondays … I received NO e-mail saying this was the case. We were very annoyed this happened and had to find somewhere else to have lunch. While we were there a some other people arrived because they never received notice 😡

O FAROL Restaurant My friends and I had a wonderful lunch in O Farol's restaurant. The menu was delightful and the waitress Pra was so lovely. She was funny and very efficient and made everyone feel at home. Lots of laughter, and good tasty food. Excellent all round.

I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for fussy eaters and I won't be going back.First and last time.

Food wasn't all that, and i waited a very long time for my food, i would not recommend this restaurant, and they could be more polite.

Had the bifana, it was like being back in Portugal

Lovely place to spend some time

Wonderful meal, wine and service. Highly recommend.

When I travel, I always look for a Portuguese Meal & Wow, I must say, 1 of my best Portuguese restaurants I’ve been too in the UK, Really good All round detailed decor, ambience, service, & especially the food, presentation , quality & taste & very fair price. Congratulation 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great ambiance and service, excellent menu options, tasty food and good value.

Excellent breakfast at a leisurely pace

Excellent food delivered today by Just Eat, our first time from here. The food was delicious and fast delivery. Will be back Updated - late breakfast today, lovely and good portion. Good decaffeinated coffee.

I really like this place but twice now I have come there, driving 20 mins as we are not that local and it has been closed with a note on the door. This tends to be on weekends.

Very cool place with delish food!

I'm extremely pleased with the service Nuno provided for my daughter's birthday cake. Professional, friendly and attentive to detail. In the picture the cake had already been cut by us.

Have been looking for a new place for breakfast having gone to all the more obvious locations like Priory Farm. O Farol is definitely now on our rotation list. Great selection of food and drinks for the whole day. Had the poached eggs and chorizo which was amazing and the full English was also top notch. Free babycinos were also a highlight for my children! We will be back in the near future and with extra family reinforcements!

A really cute place with great Portuguese food. How have I not seen this place before. I will definitely come back and have already told a few people.

Very relaxing birthday lunch with a friend

I think a first impression when you enter a restaurant is important. Now the waitresses in here are fantastic they look after your every need are polite and have a little chat with you. The food is great and plentyful. However, there is never a smile or a warm welcome when you enter the place from behind the counter it all seems like too much effort with a warm welcome and a smile waily a 5 star place to go.

Went for lunch with my son. Really good service and great choice of food. It's a great spot in Purley!

DISSAPOINTING!!! we waited 20 min for the food , 2 english breakfast ,i ordered extra toast as i still had breakfast to eat( sausage egg and beans) they didn't bring for quite a while so we had to leave. 36 £ for 2 english breakfast regular and 2 cappuccino it's a bit too much for a zone 6 bar. Nothing extra special about this location. It wasn't even busy at the time we went just 3 tables occupied. Will never comeback..

We arrived at 8.40pm to be told the kitchen was closing so we could not have a meal. We walked to the Turkish restaurant where we were welcomed. No wonder Purley is dying.

The lady that works behind the counter is so so rude. And the kitchen no longer opens before 0930 so you can't get breakfast

Having been a regular at O’Farol I was excited a while back when they first announced a refurbishment. However it seems to have been the catalyst for its deterioration. What was a friendly happy place with great food no longer feels welcoming - especially if you have children & a buggy. The staff seem harassed and more interested in getting you out the door than welcoming you in. The times advertised on google and even printed on the front door are completely incorrect. It is a lottery when you turn up if they will actually be open or not. Ultimately it is a great shame as what was once our favourite breakfast spot in Purley now leaves us second guessing whether to give them another try, or going to the costa chain opposite because at least you know what you’re going to get.

Delicious brunch Loads of choice for breakfast/brunch I had the tasty omelette and friend had lobster and poached eggs and spinach. Best he'd ever tasted! Lovely staff and a great local venue

Lovely little gem in Croydon. From the front, not clear that there is restaurant sitting in the back. Food was really well cooked and tasty. Had the steak and cheese tacos and sardines as a mains instead of starters. Only negatives for my dish is that even tho the beef taco was delicious there was hardly any beef in there. Seemed like half a steak between both tacos. Mainly bread and salad. The sardines was perfectly cooked but guts not cleaned. My aunt had penne carbonara with very interesting mushrooms that I really enjoyed when I tasted my aunts dish. Very large portions and really tasty. There was a special occasion there so was quite noisy. But fantastic customer service and food was delish. Would definitely go back again.

Food good but disappointed that they don't have decaf tea, only decaf coffee. Every cafe/restaurant that I have been to have it. Shame!

Whenever I've walked past here it's been too busy to get a seat and now I know why! So glad I got to go today. The staff are lovely and really accommodating. I ordered the BLT and didn't realise it came with chips and salad. An absolutely HUGE portion - was very surprised. I had to wrap half of the sandwich up to take home! If you're hungry, you'll do well here. Very fresh ingredients and delicious coffee. I'll definitely be back when I'm next in Purley. Thank you.

We had a lovely breakfast with friends. There were plenty of options on the menu including vegetarian and vegan. Delicious food and smoothies, great atmosphere, family friendly and air conditioned! What more could you ask for. They even have lobster on the breakfast menu!! Well definitely be back.

The best club sandwich I’ve ever had in my life. The cafe is beautifully decorated and makes you feel like you have stepped into a Portuguese eatery. They have an extensive menu, and serve wonderful wines, cocktails and smoothies! Will be back again - thank you for your wonderful service x

A fabulous gem for brunch or a spot of lunch - can’t beat it! Food is so good! Had the veggie tacos and superfood salad this time and wow it was perfect for a hot summery day! Presentation, quantity and quality all first class. And the owners and staff are lovely. Great to have such an amazing independent cafe/ restaurant in Purley!! Definitely worth a. Visit!

Yummy!! Absolutely, delicious Tapas. Only had a few dishes but they were amazing. Nice decor. Not the cheapest but good food.

Sweet little cafe where you can get a glimpse of Portugal. Fresh dishes and friendly staff.

Very good atmosphere, service and delicious Portuguese style food. You can book a table in advance and you can even use as a quiet space for work. Free wi-fi. The price is reasonable. They have a choice of vegetarian and vegan option.

We've recently had our baby 1st anniversary party, great service, great food, nice cosy Portuguese restaurant, special thanks to Susana for the decorations. Definitely recommend.

We've recently had our baby 1st anniversary party, great service, great food, nice cosy Portuguese restaurant, definitely recommend.

We have been 4 times in the last 6 weeks Love this place

I have ordered from here online often and the food has been superb. A few months ago I popped in to see a beautiful array of desserts and patisseries which over the weeks following up to now me and my son’s have tried, they have all been delicious and not too sweet. I would definitely recommend as I have nothing bad to say, the food and coffee is very good quality.

Fantastic food, made with great ingredients. Seating area is very comfortable too. Friendly staff

Friendly family atmosphere, great Portuguese food with huge helpings! Our regular spot for a treat.

Lovely genuine food. Nice staff. Airy conservatory at the back.

As Portuguese myself I wouldn't call it a Portuguese restaurant. If you are looking for an authentic experience, look somewhere else. Restaurant is beautiful but very warm. If you don't tolerate warm environments, wear light clothes. Quality of food is average for the price. Restaurant staff are nice but service is very very slow.

Lovely family run Madeiran restaurant. I always go with my Madeiran boyfriend and family and we love it there!

Really excellent food. Chorizo crab and prawn linguine to die for (Proper crab not fishsticks. My friend had the lobster bun. Both full of flavour. Really nice staff too Only downside is its not suitable for disabled

Easter Saturday. Excellent food , service, ambience, value. Also, my fav coffee/tea cafe in Purley. Tryvit.

Incredible coffee. Incredible food. I was blown away. Don't let the lukewarm reception put you off. Go and sit down and eat. And drink amazing black coffee.

My partner and I went for dinner tonight and we had an amazing experience! Very friendly and accommodating staff and the food and cocktails was perfect. We went for tapas and everything we ordered was delicious, especially the tacos! Definitely the best restaurant in Purley...

An evening booking for six. If you want to experience Portugiese cuisine then go no further. This place makes you feel like you are on holiday in a local restaurant. We tried many different starters, calamari, Limpits, Tiger prawns & Brie. All excellent and unique...

Thank you so much for hosting our group of 10 hungry ladies this morning. Service and food were both perfect. Very generous portions and very impressed that meals arrived at the same time. We will be back soon.

Popped in for lunch. Good coffee and great tapas. Will definitely return.

This is a very friendly restaurant, with a wide variety of menu choices at every mealtime. We have been here for breakfast and dinner and the food was really good! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a visit. I know they were planning to close temporarily for refurbishment. Can't wait to see what they've done with it.

I remembered this cafe when it was called something else, I was working around the corner and thought it be nice to go and have breakfast here again, when I got here I saw it was called something else, but went inside and ordered a...

Seems the service has fallen off a cliff, have to ask numerous times and still get the drink slammed down in front of me - seems like they are running a private family club rather than for customers - will not return and warn others...

Good food, nice owners and lovely ambient. Cosy venue in Purley, which definitely deserves a visit. Don’t miss the octopus!

lovely food, lovely staff - i highly recommend :) the food was so so so good and it was such a sweet environment

Absolutely brilliant time the whole family loves it

Lovely Portuguese cafe. Nice decor and friendly staff. More seating at the rear. Large breakfast options but unfortunately none gluten free

Went for dinner - the food was excelent, aioli was exceptional and the service was friendly. Later edit - went for a Sunday dinner; the service was poor ( she could not answer our food related questions and did not offer to check with the chef; no attention was given to what we ordered so that we have all the needful on the table - she had to bring stuff after we started eating); 1 hour before close the waitress started to swipe the floor & clean the toilets while we were having our main; the food was too heavy and greasy for my taste.

This local spot is second to none. The quality of food, the service, the value for money! Whether it’s a coffee catch up, a brunch or an intimate birthday celebration the menu never disappoints. Always going the extra mile be it cooking something that’s not...

The worst chicken I ever had. Blant boiled like then slapped in the oven for a little colour, then a dash of peri peri sauce on top. Awful and undercooked. Also, the pork with clams, potatoes too big and also undercooked. I'm Portuguese and took my family for what I thought a nice tasty meal, unfortunately wasn't the experience I was expecting. The service was good but that was it.

I understood why everyone is talking so much about this place...Food is delicious and generous portions.The place looks really homely and the service is also OK...It's a really little, Portuguese gem 👍

The heart of Purley....all welcomed x