This is the most coveted table at Boneca restaurant, which nestles within the Algar Seco rock formations in Carvoeiro.
It is by no means a luxurious or fine dining establishment, but rather a place where good simple food is served, with a surprisingly good selection of wines.
As we sat down for dinner last Wednesday evening (June 17), a local fisherman perched himself on the cliff top to the top left of the photo and proceeded to entertain us by catching his own dinner.
Soft jazz and funk music played on the stereo system and we enjoyed a tasty fish soup, followed by fresh swordfish steaks simply grilled over charcoal.
A house speciality is fresh fish steamed in a tinfoil parcel.
This is one of those places that takes us back to the Algarve as it used to be, before most beach bars lost their rustic charm in the face of EU regulations.
The x-factor here is the fabulous rock, A Boneca, that gives the restaurant its name (not appearing in this photo), and which is shaped like the head of an old man, complete with an ear hole, nose, chin and even a clump of bush on top as hair.
The more wine you have, the more convincing this natural wonder becomes.
And inside the rock, a tunnel leads to a viewing gallery providing one of the most spectacular coastal views in the whole Algarve.
Boneca is open daily for lunch and dinner.
+351 282 358 391
