7 Must-Try Local Restaurants in Cascais
Publish date : October 12, 2022
One of the most important tips to bear in mind while you’re in Cascais is: do not fall for the ubiquitous tourist traps. Appearances can be deceiving and one bad experience can sometimes be enough to ruin the day or the entire trip altogether.
The good news is that you can have some of the most fulfilling gastronomic experiences in Cascais. Let me guide you through 7 local restaurants in the area that you must try.
1. Ataska n’Areia
Address: R. São Carlos 52, 2750-070 Cascais
Phone: +351 21 808 0567
Ataska n’Areia presents itself as a tasca or the tasca, as the name indicates, an authentic Portuguese bistro: warm atmosphere, tiles on the walls, low prices, Portuguese tapas. And boy, do they deliver on the tapas! You can go ahead and order half a dozen plates to share with your date. The Bulhão Pato clams, the salt cod fritters with bean rice, and the octopus salad are among customer favorites. A meal for two costs around €25.
2. Taberna Económica de Cascais
Address: R. Sebastião José Carvalho e Melo 25, 2750-482 Cascais
Phone: +351 919 128 828
Another small cozy place where you’ll feel at home. And this one is right in the center of Cascais! Open every day, Taberna serves fresh seafood (highlights: Lagareiro octopus and grilled fish) and meat (like alheira, a type of sausage) daily with the promise of low prices. Other than a portion of vegetables, which you can mostly get at any Portuguese restaurant, vegetarians or vegans can order a spaghetti dish: aglio e olio, with vegetables or with tomato sauce. You’ll spend about €35 for two people.
3. MAREA (old Prego Petiscos e Mariscos)
Address: R. da Areia 1406, 2750-053 Cascais
Phone: +351 932 513 898
Perhaps you’ll want to register this as a place to go eat when you’re in Guincho, very close to Ataska n’Areia. It’s a low-key nice restaurant where you can find a varied selection of seafood and a few meat options, including pregos (steaks). A vegetarian in the group? They can choose between the vegetable curry and a traditional dish with a veggie twist — Asparagus Brás (instead of the original Bacalhau à Brás, Brás-style cod). A meal for two will cost €40 on average.
4. Marisco na Praça
Address 1: Mercado da Vila, R. Padre Moisés da Silva 34, 2750 437 Cascais
Phone 1: +351 214 822 130
Address 2: Marina de Cascais, Piso 1
Phone 2: +351 214 022 444
At Marisco na Praça, both at Mercado da Vila and on the marina, they know what they’re doing, from the decoration and ambiance to the food presentation. You haven’t even sat at your table and you can already see the myriad of fresh seafood that can potentially end up on your plate: razor clams, urchins, prawns, scallops, gooseneck barnacles… You can actually make your order at the seafood stall, where they weigh everything for you and tell you how much it costs so there are no surprises. Like at so many other marisqueiras, the steaks, which you can end your meal with, are as delicious as the seafood. A meal for two rounds the €40 mark.
5. A Nova Estrela
Address: R. do Poço Novo 205 b, 2750-467 Cascais
Phone: +351 916 487 418
Forget the main streets! The tinier side streets are often rich in gems, and Rua do Poço Novo is proof. In the old town, a step away from the main tourist area, you’ll see this family-run restaurant that really puts love into their cooking and interior. After your meal, the cherry on top of the cake, you get a polaroid to remember this star of a place. Vegetarians will also find tasty options here.
6. O Cantinho da Belinha
Address: Av. Vasco da Gama 133, 2750-509 Cascais
Phone: +351 21 482 2504
O Cantinho da Belinha is enclosed in the Casa dos Pescadores building (“House of the Fishermen”), where a gate opens to a modest Portuguese atrium. On one of the walls, you see the restaurant’s name and a sardine above Cascais. Yes, this is yet another place for seafood lovers. You might want to book your table in advance so you don’t get hangry because of the usual waiting times, especially in the summer. The recommendations revolve around local fish — as fresh as it gets —, like fried mackerels, grilled sardines and grilled sea bream. As an alternative, you can always go for cozido à portuguesa, a meat and vegetable stew. The average price for a meal for 2 would be €35.
7. Boteco da Linha
Address: R. Sacadura Cabral 116, 2765-551 Estoril
Phone: +351 21 468 6125
Here’s another word for your growing Portuguese lexicon: boteco. A boteco in Brazil is a bar where people are sure to enjoy good tapas and cold drinks and socialize. Judging by Boteco da Linha’s popularity, it’s clear that they successfully imported that concept.
It may look like just another traditional restaurant from the outside, but when you step in and discover the beautifully artistic interior, you have no doubt it’s a place dedicated to rethinking tradition. If you’ve already tried traditional food and you’re ready to take the next step, this is it!
Looking for a cozy cafe with an unbeatable view in Cascais? Check out our 3 Superb Cafe Terraces Next to the Sea in Cascais article!
