Our Opinion

The Jolly Boys visited Tavira at the end of October 2012.
We had visited Tavira before as a day trip from Faro and had vowed to return because we had enjoyed it so much.
Tavira is a small town (or city to be more accurate) and has history going back to Roman times. The Roman bridge and ancient castle are testament to this.
Nowadays the main business of Tavira is tourism and it is also a small fishing port.
Many pleasant strolls can be had around the town including, for the more strenuous, a climb to the castle where you can wander around the gardens with their collection of exotic trees from around the world and also take in panoramic views of the town.
Tavira has many cafes and bars, all of which we found to be welcoming and pleasant.
The town also appears to have become something of a haven for British and Irish ex-pat pensioners so some businesses have been established to cater for this market (British and Irish bars and Indian Restaurants for example). Our advice would be to avoid these places.
We also took a day trip along the coast to the border town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio which we found to be a charming place with a local market and marina. The only disappointment being the quality and service of lunch.

Further Details

Travel
Blackpool - Faro with Jet2
Excellent fight times with an early morning start from Blackpool and a late evening departure from Faro meant that we had four full days on this outing.
Captain Sandy ensured that the flights were uneventful and generally on time but the departure facilities at Faro and the arrivals "hall" at Blackpool both need attention. 

Accommodation
Hotel Porta Nova, Tavira
A modern hotel located just a few minutes walk from the centre of Tavira.
The hotel has good facilities and a rooftop bar where excellent views of Tavira and the surrounding area can be seen.
Service was excellent and prices extremely reasonable by hotel standards.
Porta Nova railway station is only a few minutes walk way from the hotel allowing easy access to Faro and other towns along the coast.

Recommendations
Restaurante Brisa do Rio
Located down a small alley it is easy to miss this place. We were so impressed that we paid two visits. The Portuguese-style steak is particularly recommended. Prices are extremely reasonable.
Restaurante Avenida
This restaurant is located on the main road from Tavira centre to the railway station. We had eaten here before on our previous visit and were not disappointed on our return. The food quality is excellent and the staff are friendly and attentive.
Snack Bar & Pastelaria Alagoa
Located in a small square behind the Roman bridge this cafe became our "local" during our trip. We found the service good and the quality of food and drink also excellent.