With 40 miles of breathtakingly beautiful undeveloped Atlantic beaches, the Comporta region in Portugal has drawn comparisons to Montauk in the 90s or Saint Tropez in the 70s—a slice of paradise that has not yet been chopped up and commercialized. Which means the time to see this wonderland is now, before foreign investors potentially transform the unimaginable vistas and start to put the squeeze on the wonderful locals. And there’s no better place to get a true taste of the hospitality of the region than 5entidos, in the town of Comporta. During the summer it’s that perfect beach town restaurant—it’s always cooking something you want (prawns as big as your hand; slow roasted Iberian pig; octopus; risotto) and it always feels as easy as an evening at a friend’s home. It’s the kind of place where on your second visit you’re already greeted like you are a local. —Michael Hainey

Michael Hainey is a Writer at Large at AIR MAIL. You can read his dispatch from Comporta here