Princesa

Caparica, Portugal

Princesa is a beach restaurant filling a historical gap in the Lisbon / Cascais region: think inventive and flavourful dishes served in a cool, nature inspired setting, striking the right balance between relax and hip… Overlooking the expanse of the beautiful beaches of Caparica, Princesa reminds us of some of the nice places in Mykonos or Ibiza, without losing its cool and Portuguese heritage. That said, stick around as the sun sets and the places does become as happening as those other destinations…

Restaurant / Beach

Hífen

Cascais, Portugal

Hífen can be misleading from outside: what looks like a traditional and old fashioned Portuguese restaurant is actually one of the most interesting additions to the Cascais scene (can we already talk about a scene ?). The modern and surprising restaurant is split between a happening downstairs, with louder music and high tables, and a more quiet upstairs with one of the best views of the fishing port of Cascais. The food is delicious: based on sharing, it is inventive, mixing unexpected flavours together. Very successfully.

But one question remains: why do Portuguese restaurants, even those we prefer, need to have a TV ? Could certainly do without.

That said, Hífen is a great place for inventive food and good time.

Restaurant

Cavalarica

Comporta, Portugal

Combining traditional and modern, this restaurant set in an old and renovated horse stable serves inventive but delightful dishes. Focused on local and bio-diverse ingredients, the Cavalarica makes the most of its perfect location in the heart of Comporta.

Restaurant

O Picadeiro

Cascais, Portugal

The restaurant is quite simple, but serves good traditional Portuguese food. The real find here is where the O Picadeiro is located. In a horse riding heaven, surrounded by large expenses of woods, sand dunes, pines everywhere and traditional stables scattered around the domain. The place is taken care of by people who are passionate about horses, not business people trying to make a quick buck from tourists. Genuine, peaceful, authentic. The place reminds us of Argentina (even though we have never been to Argentina !). To top it of, the school for the kids is the right balance between teaching the right technical skills while providing a relaxing and fun environment. 15 minutes away from Cascais, the Centro Hipico Quinta da Marinha is a beautiful experience.

Restaurant / Equestrian Centre

Adega Dos Arcos

Sagres, Portugal

Not a place one goes for the location - right in a middle of a simple residential area with no stores, restaurants around. Not a place one goes for the design - unless you are into Portuguese football teams and Portuguese beer brands. But certainly a place one goes to to have great, simple fish. As fresh as one can find given that the restaurant is just by the seaport and only serves whatever was available that day from the sea. Best to reserve because the queue can quickly become significant. But don’t worry, the plastic chairs outside are quite comfortable for the wait.

Restaurant

Landeau Chocolate

Lisbon, Portugal

Talk about “pure play”. Landeau serve only 1 thing: a chocolate cake. They are not a chocolate cake specialist with a whole selection of cakes to chose from. They only have 1 recipe. Just 1 cake. But not any cake. This is one of most incredible chocolate cakes we have ever had. They have 2 locations in Lisbon but we recommend the one in LX Factory: the Meatpacking District / Shoreditch equivalent of Lisbon. Great vibe all around to enjoy your cocoa fix.

Restaurant / Cafe

Farol Hotel

Cascais, Portugal

Former private residence turned modern quirky hotel perched on a cliff. With 2 restaurants (with a preference for the Mediterranean one).

Hotel

LOVit

Cascais, Portgual

A small, simple restaurant on top of a cliff with breathtaking views. If you ignore the screen to follow the football (!?), LOVit serves unexpectedly good sushi, sashimi and ceviches. Fresh, original and creative. For great value as well. Very good surprise for such an un-assuming place.

Restaurant

A Cevicheria

Lisbon, Portugal

Very small, local and surprising restaurant in the heart of Lisbon. Fresh and incredibly creative raw fish of all sorts, form and colour served in a cool space. No reservation (they don’t even have a website !), so show up early and get ready to queue sipping a few “deadly” pisco sours.

Restaurant

Martinhal

Sagres, Portugal

Combining the beautiful design, location and restaurants that adults care about with incredible care and facilities for the kids: the Martinhal Sagres is a very well executed family beach hotel facing the ocean.

Hotel

Memmo Baleeria

Sagres, Portugal

Small boutique hotel on a cliff, at the end of the world (as we knew it before discovering America). Set in a natural reserve at the south-western end of Portugal, this modern hotel is surrounded by nature and what the ocean has to give. Great food and incredible beaches asking to be surfed. Great value and family friendly (even though maybe not best for toddlers).

Hotel