The 14 best bars in Cascais for a drink

The Adamastor viewpoint in Lisbon has both the reputation and the goods to back it up. What fewer people know is that, a few years ago, it decided to show its face on the Linha too – more specifically at Praia da Parede, with views over the ocean and Cascais bay. They brew their own craft beer, host sunset DJ sets on Fridays and usually have live concerts on Saturdays and Sundays. And if hunger strikes somewhere between that early-evening drink and the next one after dark, there is plenty to choose from, from PALOP dishes to Vietnamese specialities.

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A classic is a classic, and Bar do Guincho was already a Cascais favourite long before sunset parties became a way of life. On Guincho Beach, over on the Abano side, it is a solid refuge for anyone not in the mood for full-blown Atlantic winds – or for those who do not want to risk it, or simply cannot be bothered to get too imaginative, when choosing a beach bar for a drink in the sun. The menu has everything you want from a proper beach bar, including sangrias and classic cocktails.

It is not just the striped awnings, the wavy counter or the terrace chairs: at Blue Bar, the blue that really steals the show is the ocean right in front of you. Cascais’ best-located rooftop reopened in 2025 after a refresh, with a new look and a new food and drinks menu, including sandwiches, tacos, smoothies, sangrias and signature cocktails such as the Baía Spritz and the Sandy Shores. For the warmer months, expect themed parties with DJ sets at sunset.

Hidden away on a quiet street in the centre of town, Cascais Jazz Club is one of those places that seems to exist outside time. Since 2011, it has hosted regular jazz, blues and bossa nova gigs four nights a week, but it was never meant to be just another live music venue. The idea was always to create something like a living room away from home, where people could drop in for live music, have a drink and stay until the end of the night without watching the clock. The atmosphere is intimate, comfortable and unpretentious, with tables close to the stage, low lighting and a grand piano taking centre stage in the room.

Compañia de Bebidas is a bar in São Pedro do Estoril with a Mexican backbone – it is, after all, the younger sibling of the much-loved Paco Bigotes – but it happily makes room for a few other inventions. The menu is short when it comes to snacks, but stretches out nicely when the cocktails arrive, many of them made with coffee. The look nods to a landscape of greenery and exotic touches. Behind the bar, it is Manuel Ralho, with Portuguese, Dutch and North American roots, who works the magic.

Looking for somewhere you can drink an ice-cold beer while listening to Interpol or The Strokes and watching NBA highlights, the Super Bowl or a football match? Yes, it is a very specific request – but if you are in the centre of Cascais, we have a suggestion: Crow’s Bar. Once a rock bar, it is now a sports bar, with five screens and tables arranged to create a proper stadium effect. Food has joined the cocktails too, with a menu inspired by American classics and snacks ranging from salted peanuts to nachos with guacamole and, of course, chicken wings with BBQ sauce. After something a bit more substantial? Try the Philly cheesesteak, the 200g Angus cheeseburger or the slow-cooked BBQ ribs.

The idea of small plates to share comes from João Matos’ previous Cascais restaurant, Cascas, which eventually gave way to this one after its forced closure. So, they turned towards the sea and opened a two-storey space with a bar at the entrance, serving classic cocktails and signature creations designed to sit nicely alongside the food. The result is an Instagram-friendly bar-restaurant whose tables, right on Cascais bay, are rarely empty.

Holy Wine opened in Lisbon in 2020, quickly becoming something of a sanctuary for natural wines in the capital. In August 2023, the brand arrived in central Cascais, where it found a bigger space, with more seating, more light and, above all, the chance to serve food. As in Lisbon, the focus here is on natural wines from different countries, with a particular eye on Portuguese specialities. Many are rare or distinctive bottles, served both by the bottle and by the glass.

The neon sign hanging on one of the walls sets the tone for the spirit of this Mexican restaurant: La puta fiesta. It is repeatedly photographed as proof of the livelier nights on Rua Amarela. At weekends, expect DJs, reggaeton, tequila shots and margaritas with a solid reputation.

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If there is a little bit of the Amazon in Cascais, it is at Palaphita, the town’s most sustainable bar. Set in a small woodland area inside Casa da Guia, it uses nature as architecture, just as it did in Rio de Janeiro before arriving in Portugal in 2020. As well as plenty of outdoor tables, there are stilted huts dotted around the space, perfect for loved-up couples, groups of friends or even families with children – everyone is welcome here. DJ sets and concerts are regular fixtures, and they go very nicely with the cocktail list.

Set inside the historic Sociedade Musical União Paredense – better known as SMUP – in Parede, Sociedade is much more than a restaurant with a busy terrace. It has inherited the old neighbourhood association’s tasca spirit, but gained new life thanks to brothers Carlos, Pedro and Nuno Costa, who have long-standing ties to Lisbon’s music and nightlife scenes. Today, it remains a relaxed meeting point, the kind of place people come to as much for the small plates as for the carefully chosen soundtrack and informal atmosphere that carries on well past dinner. Beyond the kitchen, Sociedade also works as a bar, ideal for a drink with friends, some music and a good chat, whether inside the cosy dining room or out on the terrace.

Taberna Clandestina is one of those places with square wooden tables and a fondness for high stools, like the ones you will find on the tiny terrace by the door. Inside, it is all corners and cosy little nooks made for sharing plates, grazing on petiscos and working your way through the wine list.

On the rooftop of Evolution Cascais-Estoril, The Upper Deck pairs sweeping sea views with the creativity of Ricardo Cardim, a national bartending champion. Between cocktails such as the Lady in Red and the Fuego Fresco, this is the perfect bar for a sunset aperitif or nights with DJs and live music, all in a setting that feels both sophisticated and laid-back.