Built on the cliff, next to Fortaleza da Arrifana, in Aljezur, the O Paulo restaurant seems suspended between the sea and the sky. From there, the gaze reaches the little gate of Calheta and Pedra da Agulha, a natural icon that stands as a sentinel over the beach. The view is unforgettable, but those who sit there don’t just come for the landscape. Come for the flavor.
According to the restaurant’s website, the menu is built on a simple principle: freshness and quality. The fish is brought daily from the region’s fish markets, the seafood remains alive until it is cooked and the meat is chosen from the best cuts available. The cuisine prioritizes authenticity, served with a careful presentation that highlights the essential thing: the product.
Cataplanas and rice dishes with a sea flavor
Among the most sought after proposals are cataplanas. The coastal fish cataplana, which combines monkfish, shrimp, mussels and razor clams, is served for two people and costs 54.50 euros. The seafood cataplana, also designed for two, costs 68.50 euros. Both are freshly prepared and follow the Algarve tradition of slow cooking, with the sea just a few meters away.
In terms of rice, the highlight is the monkfish rice with shrimp and mussels, equally for two people, costing 52.50 euros. Seafood rice costs 54.50 euros. The website says that these dishes are made to order, guaranteeing freshness and balance of flavors.
Seafood that tells stories of the house
For those who prefer the sea in a more direct version, there are several seafood restaurants. The royal seafood, with lobster, crayfish, giant prawns, prawns and crab, costs 225 euros and is one of the restaurant’s most complete experiences. The publication adds that the Arrifana seafood, made up of mussels, oysters, clams and razor clams, is served for 95 euros, while the Paulo seafood, which includes barnacles and lobster, costs 125 euros.
According to the same source, the seafood menu varies depending on availability on the day, respecting seasonality and local capture. The offer reflects the spirit of Arrifana: an old fishing community that knew how to maintain its connection to the sea, even with the arrival of tourism.
A restaurant with history
Paulo Silva, founder and manager of the restaurant, lived for several years in the Netherlands and worked in different countries before returning to the Algarve. The restaurant manager at O Paulo explains that this experience shaped the way he manages the restaurant, combining the rigor learned abroad with the tradition he found at the seaside. The focus on fresh products and attentive service have been, since the beginning, its success formula.
The location in the Natural Park of Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina offers more than a meal: a setting where the sea and the table meet. From the terrace it is possible to see the cliffs that extend to Cabo Sardão and, on clear days, Pontal da Carrapateira. According to the same source, this view is one of the most sought after on the entire coast.
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