The Embalses del Guadalhorce are three reservoirs in a spectacular mountain setting about 4km from Ardales off A357. The waters of the reservoirs are used for fishing and swimming and the roads twisting around the sides attract walkers, cyclists and motorists alike. The road to the north of the reservoirs winds through picturesque woodlands while the road to the south skirts the precipitous El Chorro massif. There is a huge dam to the east which prevents waters pouring down the fearsome El Chorro Gorge. Le Camino del Rey, the King’s Walkway, is riveted to the mountainside about halfway down its height. Not a stroll for the faint hearted suspended as it is far above a rushing river which crashes through the high narrow rockscape. The walkway was built in 1921 as part of El Chorro hydro electric scheme and named after Alfonso XIII who became the first person to walk along it. One can only guess at his thoughts as he undertook this task, smiling regally all the way.

Not far from the dam a restaurant nestles into the mountain side, looking out across the reservoirs towards Teba. To give the place its full name it is Restaurante El Kiosko de Embalse Conde de Guadalhorce, but everyone calls it simply El Kiosko. There is plenty of parking opposite the restaurante (on the side of the reservoir) but drivers need to beware the difference between road level and parking area level.

On the ground floor there is a tapas bar, a dining area and a display cabinet with a good variety of locally baked biscuits. Postcards and guidebooks of the Ardales area are also on sale. Upstairs is a larger dining area and a balcony with tables overlooking the reservoir. This is blissful, apart from the noise made by the local motor bike fraternity who meet in the tapas bar below. However, sitting with a bottle of wine, a basket of home baked bread and a dish of olives, watching the sunbeams dance across the water, who cares about a few vroom-vrooms.

The a la carte menu is varied, both in price and content; catering for those on a budget, family lunches and special treat dinners. There are Spanish, English, French and German versions of the menu, although the translations are not always word perfect. It takes a minute to work out that English Board in red wine is in fact the local wild boar for which the area is renowned. There is also a ‘pijama de la casa’ (yes it does mean ‘pyjama of the house!’) which is a scrumptious dessert of flan, peaches, pineapple, cream and ice cream topped with Rich Tea biscuits. This is the most expensive dessert, priced at 6.50 euros, and it is intended for two people.

The menu offers a good broad range of dishes. There are thirty five choices of starters, ranging from tropical salads and traditional sopas at 2.50 euros to fried suckling pig at 12.50 euros and special cured ham at 14.50 euros. Other starters include cold meats, cheeses, fish, omelettes and salads. The basket of bread and dish of olives placed on the table before you order cost 1.20 euros.

For the main course there are nine fish dishes and twenty five meat dishes from which to order. Fish on offer include swordfish, squid, hake and sole and range from 6-12 euros. The meat ‘diches’ (as the Spanish have translated it) include pork, beef, chicken, rabbit and lamb, with or without sauces. The cheapest ‘diche’ is a pork chop at 5.50 euros; the most expensive is roast leg of lamb for two at 24.50 euros. Prices include vegetables and there is a god choice of ‘diches’ under 11 euros. If there is a criticism it is that not much attention is paid to vegetarian alternatives.

Desserts are light, sweet and cheap. There are a dozen, all priced at 2.50 euros which include flan, crème caramel, mousse, crème Catalana, arroz (spicy rice) and ice cream. For a treat there is the pijama de la casa (see above).

The wine list is also reasonably extensive with a good choice of tinto, rosado or blanco; and a decent number of them cost under 10 euros a bottle. The vin de la casa, the house wine, is 6.50 euros a bottle, or, if you are celebrating, choose the Faustino Reservas at 48 euros a bottle.

Our own meal there was a birthday dinner on the balcony. We shared a tropical salad with a basket of bread and a dish of olives. Our main courses were pork fillet in a cream and mushroom sauce and pork chuletas (chops) in Roquefort sauce. Both were accompanied by French fries and baked aubergines topped with cheese. For dessert we had pijama de la casa. This was all washed down with a bottle of Roado Rioja and followed by cafés sombres. The total bill was 46.20 euros. It was simply delightful and we would recommend this lakeside restaurant to anyone.