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

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. 

When in town, sweet-toothed visitors should be sure to sample the local specialty called tortas de Azeitão: little sweet sponge cakes filled with an egg-and-cinnamon custard. Stop by this locally famous café to savor some pastries along with a Portuguese coffee or Moscatel wine, with the option to buy a box to enjoy later.

Enjoy colorful salads, seafood, and other light meals with a view over Cascais bay at this laidback bar-restaurant in the center of town. Communal seating, 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. You can book a table on the terrace if you don't fancy group dining.

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.

In the heart of old-town Cascais, Santini Cascais has what many people consider to be the country's best Italian-style gelato. Branches have now opened across Lisbon and in Porto, but Santini Cascais is where it all began when Attilio Santini opened his ice cream parlor on the beach back in 1949.

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.

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.

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.

"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. 

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.

Long gone are the days when vegetarians and vegans would struggle to find enticing dining options in seafood-focused Setúbal. Gentrification has brought with it a raft of vegetarian restaurants, and the centrally-located O Canteiro has been a firm favorite with health-conscious diners since it opened in 2016. Take your pick from a huge range of meat-free breakfast and brunch options, or go all-out at the excellent value lunch buffet, which includes tempting desserts and fresh fruit juice. The menu is updated daily, but expect colorful salads, quiches, and crunchy falafel, as well as plant-based versions of lunch staples like hotdogs and burgers.

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.

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.