35 Best Restaurants in Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal

Set back from a lively town square overlooking the ocean, Café Filipe entices seafood lovers with its glass displays of enormous fish and colorful crustaceans. Take a seat in the bright dining room or out on the terrace to make the best of those sea views.

Raise a glass to life's simple pleasures as you nibble on freshly caught shellfish at this feet-in-the-sand bar and restaurant. There are grilled slabs of meat and fish on the menu, alongside a lengthy cocktail list.

A standout on the pedestrianized Rua Amarela strip, Cantina Clandestina serves delicious tapas, light meals, and cocktails (try the Clandestino, which combines gin with lemon, basil, and ginger beer) to a relaxed crowd. You can take a seat in the cozy confines of Cantina Clandestina itself, at sister restaurant-bar Taberna Clandestina across the road, or arrive early to grab one of the much-coveted tables on the famous yellow-painted street itself.

This bakery in Sintra’s old town has been dishing out regional pastries to visitors since 1862. It is known for its travesseiros, a pillow-shaped puff pastry filled with almond and egg custard and dusted with sugar. It’s become so popular that they opened another place around the corner called Piriquita II.

Enjoy colorful salads, seafood, and other light meals with a view over Cascais Bay at this laid-back restaurant-bar in the center of town. Sharing plates and a lively musical backdrop make for a sociable atmosphere, and the sea breezes blowing through the open windows keep things fresh on hot days. For the best views, book a table on the terrace.

Not far from the town's main train station, this restaurant's location on one of Sintra's major thoroughfares means that it is always busy. The dining room is elegantly lighted with crisp linens on the tables, but the favorite seats are on the street. While the à la carte options are reasonably priced, the lunch deal with a drink is the best value during the week.

In the middle of gorgeous gardens, this unusual restaurant occupies a lovingly restored traditional windmill perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The outdoor seating area has different seating areas tumbling down the cliff and shaded by pines and flowering cacti. The food has Mexican and Middle Eastern accents, with excellent vegetarian options along with the fresh fish synonymous with the Portuguese coast.

Superior seafood and steaks come with equally impressive sea views at this highly regarded restaurant that attracts everyone from rock stars to heads of state.

Fresh fish and seafood fill the menu at this relaxed restaurant filled with lobster traps, fishing nets, and other maritime-related artifacts. The bacalhau assado (baked salt cod) is one of the specialties of the house, but there are usually also one or two vegetarian options, such as a pasta with tofu and mushrooms.

This family-run pastry shop is said to be the birthplace of the tortas de Azeitão, sweet sponge cake rolls filled with an egg-and-cinnamon custard, but there are many more to sample, including the moscatel-based doce de moscatel.

Though not right on the ocean, this is an excellent option for for seafood lovers. The extensive menu offers a wide variety of mixed shellfish or grilled fish platters to share, including regional favorites like sapateira recheada (whole stuffed stone crab) and lagosta (spiny lobster).

Popular though it may be, this longtime favorite remains an unpretentious and inexpensive option for its spectacular food and friendly service. Including much more than the seafood found in most local eateries, the menu features dishes from every region in Portugal.

In the heart of old-town Cascais, Santini Cascais has what many people consider to be the country's best Italian-style gelato.

Offering a vegan alternative to Sesimbra's many fish and seafood restaurants, Aloha Café serves delicious plant-based breakfasts, brunches, and light meals. Expect an abundance of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables alongside vegan versions of classic desserts like cheesecake and pudim (a sweet flan usually made with egg). More substantial dishes include a different set meal every day, and a delicious vegan burger made with portobello mushrooms and smoked tofu. The cozy interior is pure rustic-chic, but on sunny days you'll want to take a seat on the terrace to enjoy the unobstructed ocean views.

There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants on the esplanade between Cascais and Estoril, but this one at Monte Estoril, a 10-minute walk from either town, is the pick of the bunch. Right by a small sandy beach called Praia das Moitas, the vibe is peaceful and there's a broad menu ranging from snacks, hamburgers, toasted sandwiches, and salads to seafood and fish.

One of several well-established seafood restaurants in town, Beira Mar has won a string of awards for its fish and seafood. An impressive glass display shows off the best of the day's catch. The just-caught local fish cooked on a charcoal grill is always a crowd-pleaser.

This vegetarian and vegan café has a wide-ranging menu that includes snacks and sharing plates, as well as a hot and cold meze-style buffet. Smoothies, juices, teas, coffee, sangria, and beers are available.

With an enviable location near the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, this elegant bistro has been attracting a well-heeled crowd since the 1920s. There's a covered area for outdoor dining, while the mirrored walls, ceiling frescoes, and crystal chandeliers of the interior are in keeping with the sense of opulence.

There are plenty of other pizza joints in Cascais, but locals will tell you Caffe Itália is the best of the bunch. In its indoor dining rooms or on its sunny terrace you can choose from a range of authentic thin-crust pizzas and fresh house-made pasta dishes.

Inside white stucco walls beneath a barrel-tile roof, this tavern is said to be one of the oldest in Portugal. The interior has exposed brick walls, expansive windows, and a huge fireplace that keeps the place cozy in cooler weather. The menu is Portuguese with a French accent, and the fair prices ensure a steady flow of locals alongside the daytrippers.

In an eye-catching blue-and-white building that also houses the tourist information center and a small museum, the Casa da Baía serves cakes and pastries from around the region. You place your order at a small deli (well stocked with Moscatel and Península de Setúbal wines) and then take a seat in the dining room or head out to a vast terrace complete with comfy deck chairs.

"House of the Endless Sea" serves deliciously fresh seafood, burgers, and light meals accompanied by excellent craft beers and an amiable clientele. The informal restaurant is popular with local trail runners and cyclists, who stop here to refuel after a hard day's endorphin-boosting exercise.

Casa Santiago founder Virgilio Santiago declared himself Rei do Choco Frito ("King of Fried Cuttlefish") when he opened his restaurant doors in 1974. It’s a bold claim in a city which prides itself on the dish, but Setúbal locals back it up. Queues snake out the door at lunchtime: reservations aren't accepted, so get here early if you don’t want to stand in line in the hot sun.

In a half-timbered building, this family-run restaurant features baronial surroundings of burnished wood, heavy drapes, and oak beams that have played host to royalty, high-ranking politicians, and celebrated authors. The menu spans continents, with everything from French to Indian and Portuguese selections.

Dine with a view of the Palácio Nacional de Sintra at this contemporary restaurant inside the Moon Hill Hostel. The menu combines traditional Portuguese flavors with touches of Italian and French cuisine. There are plenty of codfish dishes, as well as meat options like the aged entrecôte with truffled mashed potato (a house favorite).

This pastelaria has been serving delicious cakes, pastries, and other goodies since 1934, and is more popular now than ever. It serves full meals at lunch, but the real pleasure comes in taking your pick from the glass display cases of custard tarts and other confections before sitting down to devour them alongside an espresso, fresh juice, or a glass of Portuguese wine.

One of the city's first wine shops, Loja do Vinho has a cozy cellar lined with hundreds of bottles from all over the world. Plates of cured meats, boards of local cheeses, and bowls overflowing with olives make good companions to the many varieties of wine on offer here or on the tiny outdoor terrace. If you enjoy the bottle you had with your meal, you can buy another to take home.

One of the best oceanside restaurants in nearby Praia das Maçãs, here sandy-footed diners can feast on freshly grilled fish caught just hours before. Try the octopus ceviche and the seafood rice with shrimp.

Tucked away in the valley of Serra de Louro, down the road from Palmela, o Gaiteiro is a picturesque place to relax with a drink. There are two distinctly different cafés on the property: a winter one on the lower end among the pines with cozy seating, and a summer one perched on a small cliff with glassed-in walls and a balcony that faces the forested hills. There's a large and enticing pool with a glorious backdrop, surrounded by sun loungers which can be rented for the afternoon during the summer months.