La Bella Pizza, São Brás de Alportel

The welcome is very friendly and the staff has time for clients who come up with extravagant suggestions when it comes to toppings. That in itself is a good reason for choosing this place.

It is easy to find too, in the town’s main avenue. The regular menu offers 32 different varieties of pizza (with prices ranging from €6.90 to €8) – but as we’ve already explained, that doesn’t stop people from being able to invent their own special mixes.

It’s not a large restaurant – with seating for around 60 people inside and on the terrace, where there are wooden tables set end to end (perfect for summer nights).

This a favourite haunt of young people and families (the “Smarties” pizza being the most popular among this latter group!) – and, as such, it’s not surprising that the place is often full.

Ah, the house speciality is the “rodizio” of savoury and sweet pizzas and homemade pastas, costing €10 per person, with drinks paid separately.

As we weren’t quite hungry enough for this dough-filled extravaganza, we chose a garlic bread starter (€3.80), followed by a beautifully topped bella pizza, with bacon, olives, mozzarella and egg.

The wine list offers various labels from the main Portuguese wine-producing regions, but sadly none from the Algarve. It’s best here to leave a little space for dessert: you can choose from half a sweet pizza - for example fresh strawberries and black chocolate (€3.40) - and there are all sorts of other varieties that you don’t find immediately on the menu.

Hands up who has tried the rice pudding pizza?!

Specialities: homemade pastas & pizzas; Hours: open everyday from 11am to midnight; Bank cards: Multibanco & Visa; Bill: €19.30 for 2; Owner: Natália Raposo Nunes; NIF 206 002 475.