Ákua

Ákua is a compact seafood restaurant at Rua dos Murças 6 in the Sé area of Funchal, on the island of Madeira, Portugal. It is run by chef Júlio Pereira, who also operates the nearby grill restaurant Kampo, and it works from a short menu that follows the day's catch from the island's boats. The kitchen's philosophy is to cook fish simply, in some cases over fire, so that the quality of the Atlantic produce stays at the centre of the plate. The fish of the day is the signature order, and the available catch is listed at the counter, so the menu changes with what the boats bring in rather than following a fixed list. The room is small and informal in feel, and it fills quickly at lunch with a mix of local diners and visitors, which makes the noise level lively rather than hushed. There is no formal dress code. Pricing sits in the upper-middle bracket for Funchal, and the restaurant is rated highly by diners, at about 4.7 out of 5. Opening hours are daily, with lunch from 12:30PM to 3:00PM and dinner from 6:30PM to 10:00PM. Because of the limited number of tables, reservations are recommended, and booking well in advance is advised in high season. Reservations can be arranged by phone on +351 938 034 758, and the restaurant's website is akuafunchal.pt. The location in the old quarter makes it easy to combine a meal with a walk through the Zona Velha, the cathedral, and the Mercado dos Lavradores, where much of the island's fresh fish is sold. Visitors who prefer meat rather than fish can look to Kampo, the chef's sister restaurant on Rua da Alfândega, which centres on matured beef for sharing.