Cascais is a gorgeous coastal town located on the central western coast of Portugal, only 19 miles away from Lisbon. Steeped in history, the area is brimming with breathtaking architecture, beautiful nature, and plenty of adventures, including great culinary haunts. Due to its location, there is fresh seafood aplenty, however, you’ll also find other delicious options, so read on to discover some of the best restaurants, cafes and more in Cascais.
Located off the beaten track away from the busy streets, 5 Sentidos Casa do Largo is a gem of a restaurant offering traditional Portuguese cuisine with a modern spin. Its name means ‘five senses,’ and 5 Sentidos is sure to provide you with an all-around sensory experience you won’t soon forget. For a full culinary experience, begin your meal with some olives, followed by an appetizer of hot goat’s cheese with honey-herb sauce and a main dish of curry risotto with grilled shrimp or steak with Oporto wine sauce. Relax a bit after the main meal before indulging in a dessert such as hazelnut mousse or apple crumble. Open every day except for Tuesday, 5 Sentidos also features an impressive wine list.
Specializing in fresh and flavorful vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine, Cafe Galeria House of Wonders is a laid-back, unique venue that will appeal to meat eaters and vegetarians alike, along with art lovers. Comprised of four floors, the building that houses this delightful place features a cafe, an art gallery, a restaurant, plus a rooftop space with picturesque views, where you can eat enjoying the scenery. Featuring mezze buffets, the spread is impressive with a variety of colorful dishes bursting with the freshest of flavors, making you want to return again and again. They are open daily from 10 AM.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Conceito Food Store is a gorgeous restaurant offering guests a sleek, modern environment decorated with white chairs and walls. The interior is the perfect backdrop in which to feast upon contemporary Portuguese cuisine, made with nothing but the best and freshest ingredients sourced locally. Sit back, relax, and watch the culinary team create delicious dishes in the open kitchen. Conceito offers lunch and dinner tasting menus Tuesday through Saturday, with delectable highlights constantly changing in order to reflect the seasonal ingredients, plus they offer brunch once a month with croissants, eggs, burgers, risotto, pastries, and much more. Be sure to visit their gourmet store to take some deliciousness home with you.
Fortaleza Do Guincho | Courtesy of Fortaleza Do Guincho/Hotels.com
Fortaleza Do Guincho
Earning its first Michelin star in 2001, Fortaleza Do Guincho is a must-visit for anyone with a refined palate looking to savor some of the best cuisine in the city. A recipient of many other awards, including an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, this restaurant and bar, located inside the hotel of the same name, is an experience like no other, complete with incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and Cabo da Roca. The menu often changes to reflect the freshest ingredients, which includes succulent seafood such as crab served with fermented cabbage and beetroot and monkfish with green peas, traditional sausages and ‘Cozido’ sauce. Be sure to visit Fortaleza Do Guincho for lunch or dinner any day of the week.
Another restaurant with breathtakingly beautiful views of the Marina, Hemingway is a restaurant, cocktail bar and tea house all rolled into one, and the relaxing atmosphere makes it a lovely spot to sit back in while enjoying delicious eats, drinks, and the stunning surroundings. Originally just a tea and juice bar when it opened in 2003, the space is now a full-fledged restaurant serving local, contemporary eats. Serving dinner nightly except for Wednesday and staying open until the early morning hours, Hemingway is the perfect spot to take your loved one for a long and relaxing night out.
Run by Maria de Lourdes Tirano and her sons for over 30 years, Restaurante Mar do Inferno is a family affair, providing an inviting atmosphere brimming with warm hospitality. Set along the coastline, this charming restaurant offers up incredible, fresh seafood, fish, as well as some meat options for the carnivores in your group. Pair a fresh mixed salad, with or without tuna, with a main dish like prawn curry or the grilled sea bass, or if seafood doesn’t strike your fancy, try the sirloin steak with pepper. For a well-rounded meal, be sure to order something from their wine list, which features Portuguese wine among international favourites. Mar do Inferno is open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Tuesday.
If you’re craving the exotic flavors of India, then be sure to give Masala a try when visiting Cascais. Located in the heart of the city on a pedestrian street, this restaurant, complete with a friendly staff that is always more than happy to help, features a lovely interior decked out in warm colors, enhancing the overall inviting ambiance. Pair an order of vegetable pakora with a fragrant main dish such as the mushroom and pea curry or the chicken curry with vegetables, two dishes that will go well with some garlic naan and fried rice with saffron. Masala serves lunch and dinner seven days a week.
If you need a break from all the seafood and fish you’ll find in Cascais, then be sure to try Os Bordallos where you can feast on a variety of big, juicy burgers. With over a dozen varieties of burgers on the menu, including meat, vegetarian and fish varieties, everyone in the family is sure to find something to whet their appetite. Meat lovers should try the O Portugués with a beef patty, garlic, Serrano ham, fried egg, parsley and Portuguese sauce, while the vegetarians will be happy with the A Paródia, a patty made with green beans, corn, carrots and zucchini with lime mayonnaise. Os Bordallos is open Tuesday through Sunday.
Restaurante Armazém 22 is the perfect place to go for a succulent steak. The cozy interior adorned with dark wood and warm, deep colors makes it an excellent choice whether you’re looking to splurge a bit with family and friends or to enjoy a romantic night out with a loved one. Begin your meal with an appetizer such as fried squid with tomato sauce or a fresh Caprese salad, followed by the main event, with something like the prime rib or the Angus aged rib eye steak, both of which are served with a green salad and French fries. If you have room left over for something sweet, be sure to try the papaya with vanilla ice cream and cassis liqueur. This fine-dining gem is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner.
Sometimes you just need to cool off, especially after walking around all day seeing the sights that beautiful Cascais has to offer. Santini offers the perfect little retreat with its heavenly ice cream. Over 60 years ago, Attilio Santini opened the eponymous Santini to offer visitors creamy and delicious ice cream. Today, this growing regional chain features sleek white and red interiors where guests can relax while sampling tasty options such as abacaxi com hortelã, or pineapple sorbet with fresh mint, acai with banana, hazelnut, and fig, to name but a few. You’ll also find drinks, including those with alcohol, and candies. Open daily from 11 AM, this spot is a sweet lover’s paradise.
