14 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.

A standout on the pedestrianized "Rua Amarela" eating and drinking strip, Cantina Clandestina serves delicious tapas, light meals, and cocktails (try the Clandestina, 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 bar-restaurant Taberna Clandestina across the road, or arrive early to grab one of the much-coveted tables on the famous yellow-painted street itself. 

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 á la carte options are reasonably priced, it's the three-course set lunches that are the best value.

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 salad with tofu and asparagus.

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).

This highly regarded seafood spot has sea views, speedy service, and a bright, modern interior with lots of colorful mosaics. Grab a table on the esplanade to dine with the sea breeze in your hair and magical sunsets over the crashing waves just steps away. Sushi and grilled fish are the specialities, but there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too.

This restaurant—a glassed-in wooden cabana built in the sand dunes—has a laid-back beach vibe with colorful pillows, swinging hammocks, and weathered wooden tables. The menu is strong on daily fish specials.

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 glass of Portuguese wine.

One of the city's first wine shops, Loja do Vinho has a cozy cellar lined with hundreds of bottle 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, glass-fronted Neptuno is where sandy-footed diners can feast on freshly grilled fish that was swimming in the surf just hours before. Try the octopus ceviche, and the seafood-rich arroz de marisco.

Prepare to update your Instagram feed: this is one of the most picturesque spots for a meal anywhere in the region. A vast outdoor space is filled with sun loungers and comfy chairs, so you can relax with a sangria and enjoy views across Fonte de Telha Beach as you browse the menu of simple-yet-tasty salads, seafood, and grilled fish.

At this restaurant in the center of town, the handful of tables in the convivial dining room spill out onto the sidewalk in warmer weather. Seafood petiscos (the Portuguese version of tapas) and a good wine selection are the main attractions. Don't expect the speediest service in town, but relax with a bottle of the house wine as waiters hurry past.

Owned by Portuguese actor Lourenço Ortigão and his brother Tomás, Villa Saboia is a stylish space for sushi and light Mediterranean meals. Fish and seafood takes the starring role, cropping up on the "Mediterranean Menu" in dishes like octopus carpaccio and lobster burgers, as well as in the beautifully presented sashimi and sushi. The upstairs dining room has plenty of designer flair, while the leafy terrace is a great spot for people watching on a sunny afternoon or balmy evening.