7 restaurants to experience fine Portuguese gastronomy

In Cascais, there is no shortage of good recommendations for restaurants where you can try the best that the sea has to offer. Although fish and shellfish are the kings of fine gastronomy, there are more typically Portuguese delicacies to try. From fresh vegetables to snacks for sharing, you'll probably want to come back to Cascais just to repeat the experience. 

Porto Santa Maria

With over 70 years of history, it is in this restaurant off Estrada do Guincho (Guincho Coastal Road) that you can try some of the dishes that make Portugal one of the world's gastronomic references. There is no shortage of mussel stew or grilled fish, honouring the best fishing tradition of Cascais, but there are also bolder options such as Vitale tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and white truffle oil. Don't forget to ask for some slices of Mafra bread to go with your meal.

Mar do Inferno

Run for more than three decades by Maria de Lourdes Tirano and her two sons, Mar do Inferno is located right next to Boca do Inferno and has a stunning sea view. Our advice: book a table by the window to enjoy the view. As for dishes, from the carabineiros prawns to the perceves (goose barnacles) from Roca or the boiled spider crab of Cascais, there's plenty to choose from when it comes to seafood. You can also ask for sea bream, sea bass or snapper, which can be grilled on the spot.

Marisco na Praça

The name doesn't deceive you and at Marisco na Praça (Seafood at the market) you will always find the best seafood. Whether in Mercado da Vila or in the Marina of Cascais, the seafood is always waiting for you, with prices that invite you to keep on ordering, without worrying about the bill. Whelk bean stew, prawn curry, Azorean barnacles, carabineiro prawns or limpets, there's plenty to choose from. There is also, of course, the traditional Bulhão Pato clams and octopus’ salad. At the end, and according to tradition, ask for a "prego no pão" (steak sandwich). 

Monte Mar

With Guincho as the background, it is at Monte Mar that you can savour some of the best fish and seafood you can find in Portugal. Start with the oysters, move on to the hake fillets with cockle rice or share a cataplana seafood stew. If you prefer, you can always go for the iscas à portuguesa (Portuguese-style pork liver) or the lobster crêpes. 

Isakaya

The space is small, but full of style. A counter for less than 20 people, lit up by red neon lights. The atmosphere is frenetic: the music is loud and it’s hard to keep up with the fast (but not unruled) pace inside the kitchen in front of us, where everything happens. This is Izakaya, the restaurant by Tiago Penão, the chef at Kappo, just a few meters away. The izakayas, in Japan, are places where food is served to go with the drink. “It’s kind of like a Japanese tavern, or a Japanese pub. A place where the Japanese go after work”, explains the chef. There is a lot to choose from, small and various portions, perfect for sharing.

Taberna da Praça

Inspired by 19th-century social meetings, at this restaurant, in the heart of Cascais Citadel, the main protagonists are the traditional Portuguese snacks. You can choose one of its five rooms, spread over two floors, not forgetting the terrace, to enjoy all sorts of dishes from octopus’ salad, scrambled eggs with farinheira sausage to cheeses and sausages. 

Eduardo das Conquilhas

It's always a good idea to go to Eduardo das Conquilhas. This typically Portuguese place, that opened its doors half a century ago and still promises the freshest seafood, straight from the fish farms. A few kilometers from Cascais, this is one of the most classic establishments in Parede. Perfect for any time of the day, but especially after a sunny beach day, it also offers take-away and delivery services.