Dinner in Cascais is one of those experiences that reminds you why you traveled to Portugal. This little seaside town may be known for its beaches and coastal charm, but it’s also home to an impressive mix of restaurants that rival Lisbon.
What makes it even better is the setting. Many restaurants sit steps from the water, where you can watch the sunset while the city lights begin to glow. Others are tucked into winding mosaic-filled streets, offering intimate corners perfect for a long, relaxed meal.
No matter what you’re craving, Cascais delivers far more than you’d expect from a small coastal town, proving that great food and great views don’t just belong to the big cities.
How to Get to Cascais for Dinner from Lisbon
The quickest way to get to Cascais from Lisbon is by car. If you don’t have a rental, Uber or Bolt (Portugal’s version of Uber) are the easiest and most direct options. Even though Cascais is a small seaside town, you’ll find several convenient parking garages near the center.
But if you have a sunny afternoon to spare, the train from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré station is a beautiful ride along the coast. All of Lisbon’s metro lines connect to the Green Line, which is where the Cascais Line train departs.
Trains depart every 20 minutes and take around 40 minutes. If dinner runs late, don’t worry; the trains run daily until 1 a.m.
Once you arrive in Cascais, every restaurant below is within walking distance of the train station. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes; those beautiful mosaic-style stones can get slippery when wet.
Quick Tips for Dinner
Word to the wise: Cascais may have plenty of restaurants, but most are quite small. Dinner reservations are essential, especially on weekends or during the summer.
If you’re dining solo, be prepared for a bit more effort. A few places wouldn’t accept single-diner reservations online, only tables for two or more. In larger cities, you might head straight for the bar when dining alone, but in Cascais, many restaurants are so intimate there isn’t one. My hotel shared a great tip, though: stop by during lunch and ask for a reservation for dinner for one.
Where to Eat Dinner in Cascais
It’s hard to believe that a seaside town as small as Cascais has more than 800 restaurants, but that’s exactly what makes its dining scene so special. Whether you’re in the mood for fresh seafood, Mediterranean flavors, or perfectly blistered pizza, you’ll find it here — often with a view.
During my four-night stay, I realized dinner in Cascais isn’t something you rush. Meals unfold slowly, and glasses never seem to empty. And dessert will leave you wanting to return for more.
Restaurant Recommendations
🍕 Lisboncello – Tv. Navegantes 11, 2750-282 Cascais
🍜 Izakaya Cascais – Rua do Poço Novo 180, 2750-079 Cascais
🦪 Mar do Inferno – Boca do Inferno, Av. Rei Humberto II de Itália, 2750-800 Cascais
🍝 Corleone – R. Fernandes Thomás 1, 2750-474 Cascais
🦪 Moules & Gin – R. Nova da Alfarrobeira 14, 2750-452 Cascais
🍕 souldough – R. Nova da Alfarrobeira 5, 2750-444 Cascais
🍷 Enoteca Diciannove – Rua do Poço Novo 19, 2759-444 Cascais
🦐 Almina – Tv. da Ressurreição 4 Cascais, Cascais 2750-476
🫒 Taberna Clandestina Cascais – R. Afonso Sanches 36, 2750-281 Cascais
What to Order for Dinner in Cascais
souldough pizza
On our first night in Cascais, we wandered around and lucked into a table as walk-ins as souldough pizza.
We were lucky as it was the third place we tried to eat. We quickly learned that we needed to plan accordingly for the rest of our trip.
At souldough, there are no utensils; you eat everything with your hands, “slicing” your pizza with the provided scissors.
We ordered two appetizers: arancini, fried risotto balls with aioli, and a pizzetta fritta, a fried dough topped with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. While enjoying our appetizers, we noted the pizza size and chose to share one. We chose the La Romana pizza, a margherita pizza covered in pecorino cheese and black pepper.
The arancini had the perfect crunch and the insides were so creamy. The pizzette fritta was a little oily for my taste.
You know when you’re looking at a menu and you want one of everything, that’s souldough’s pizza menu. There were 17 pizza options (and 3 vegan) to choose from and the La Romana sounded like a cacio e pepe pizza, yum, right? It was delicious, but it was a bit much; the cheese was overpowering.
Enoteca Diciannove
During a tour, we passed Enoteca Diciannove, and our guide casually mentioned it had excellent food — I immediately snapped a picture to remind myself.
I dined here solo on my second-to-last night in Cascais and managed to snag a reservation online (thank goodness).
As I read my book and waited for dinner, several hopeful walk-ins were turned away.
I hadn’t eaten my weight in clams yet, so I chose the focaccia bread starter to enjoy with the spaghetti alle vongole. You really can’t go wrong with bread, and I nearly all of it, even though it’s obviously best shared.
The spaghetti alle vongole was light and fresh! And beautifully plated. I don’t know what the ratio of clams to spaghetti is supposed to be (if there is such a thing), but I would have loved to have more clams. A delightful dish nonetheless.
For dessert, I chose the dolce di pistacchio, a pistachio paste filled filo pastry with a side of ice cream and crumble. I nearly melted into the floor, it was so good; core memory for sure. I would have licked the plate clean if it wasn’t frowned upon.
Corleone
During our stay at Villa Cascais, we made dinner reservations at Corleone, the hotel’s restaurant. The view of the sea with the music from Festas do Mar made for an unforgettable evening.
We ordered the arancini, the bread basket, and a side salad. This was our second round of arancini in Cascais, and both restaurants had their own spin — Souldough’s with aioli, and Corleone’s with tomato, basil, and parmesan. Both were excellent.
For our mains, we shared plates of the cacio e pepe, a classic Italian pasta dish, and grilled branzino with roasted zucchini and marinara sauce. Fish with marinara sauce was an odd pairing (to me), which is why we wanted to try it. The crispy skin was flavorful and the zucchini in marinara were delightful.
For dessert, we chose profiteroles, a craquelin choux pastry filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce. There are zero words to describe these delicious mini pastries. The waiter pouring the chocolate sauce probably had his eyes rolling out of his head from our squeals.
Almina
I found Almina by Googling ‘clams in Cascais’. It was my final dinner, and I couldn’t leave without one last clam. I chose the Mercado da Vila salad, a seasonal salad featuring fruits and vegetables from the Cascais farmers’ market. And obviously, more clams and the bread basket for dipping.
The bread alone was worth the visit: a 14-hour fermented sourdough and artisan flatbread served with olive oil and za’atar.
Almina had many options that would be great for splitting amongst a group. The roasted cauliflower called me, but even on my hungriest days, I can’t eat a whole head by myself.
Final Thoughts on Dinner in Cascais
Cascais ended up being one of my favorite food cities in Portugal; smaller and calmer than Lisbon. I loved these restaurants and would return.
One final tip, we moved on to Sintra after Cascais, and there’s a BIG difference in the number of dinner options available. If I could re-do a portion of my trip, it would be to Uber to Cascais for dinner. There are options in Sintra, but most of them felt very touristy.
