Play Albufeira

Play Albufeira is a soft play centre combined with a family restaurant and snack bar on Rua Almeida Garrett in Albufeira's new town. The idea is simple: children burn off energy in the play areas while parents sit nearby with a coffee, a drink or a meal, keeping their kids in view the whole time.

Play areas

The centre has a main soft play area, a separate soft play zone for babies and toddlers, and role play toys. Visitors have also mentioned a dressing-up corner, a Lego wall, colouring, books (many in English) and retro video games. The play equipment has been independently inspected for safety, and the owners say a garden play space with more games and a trampoline is being added at the back. It works well as a rainy-day option and as a place for children to meet and play with others.

Food and drink

An on-site kitchen prepares meals, snacks and refreshments, from lunch and dinner to coffee and smoothies. Parents can choose between a sunny garden and an air-conditioned indoor restaurant, both with sight of the play areas. Families who come to eat can let their children keep playing for as long as they like.

Parties and events

Birthday parties are a big part of what they do. There are set party menus with sandwiches, savoury snacks, pizza, mini burgers, hot dogs, sweet and fruit platters and drinks for the adults, and larger groups can have a fully private space. Smaller parties are welcome too, and the venue can be rented without food. Optional extras include a bouncy castle, face painting and balloon animals, and a PADI Bubblemaker scuba experience for children aged eight and over. Kids' workshops and other events are also held, and the space can be hired. Enquiries for parties, workshops and space rental are made by email or through the website form.

The owners

The centre is run by Jo and Steve, an English couple who have lived in the Algarve for more than 20 years. They have a background in building soft play units, are qualified scuba diving and emergency first aid instructors, and speak Portuguese and German as well as English. They are happy to suggest other family days out in the region. Card payments are accepted.