After Hífen in Cascais, Vírgula opened in Carcavelos

Eight years after opening its doors in Cascais, Hífen now has a younger sibling. Opened in early June in Carcavelos – right by the tunnel leading to the western side of the beach, closest to Cascais – Vírgula is a fresh concept with its own distinct identity.

“This isn’t about fine dining, but we’ve kept the idea of sharing”, explains Rafael Costa, one of the minds behind the new venue. “We’ve brought in healthy options, lighter dishes… If Hífen is about sitting down for a full meal or a two-hour dinner, Vírgula is more of a quick, refreshing pause”.

The team behind Hífen had been toying with new ideas for years, but the opportunity only came when this space – formerly a humble snack bar – became available. What followed was a complete transformation: “only the roof stayed the same”, they say. Now, the result is a bright, elegant spot with soft wooden tones and a seafront terrace shaded by a pergola, offering prime views over the ocean and the Marginal.

Still in its early days and with almost no official launch or promotion, Vírgula is gradually taking shape. More tables are on the way – bringing the total close to 60 seats, spread between the indoor dining area and the terrace – and the menu is still getting its final tweaks.

Still, plenty is already on the table to try. In the breakfast section, the Breakfast Brioche (€8) comes loaded with scrambled eggs, Iberian bacon, avocado, spinach, chives, Viso cheese, vegan hollandaise and oregano. The Arzak Eggs (€11.50) are served with gravlax salmon, avocado, rocket, crispy quinoa, chives, vegan hollandaise and a slice of three-grain or gluten-free bread. You’ll also find a variety of egg dishes – from Turkish-style to rancheros-inspired.

As you walk into the space, you're immediately met with a large oven – not for pizzas, but for sampi’s, the house speciality: sandwiches made with pizza dough. These are one of Vírgula’s signature offerings. One standout is filled with roast beef, mustard, garlic, courgette, salsa verde, oregano and chilli oil (€15); another combines salmon with oxheart tomato, rocket, beetroot, Japanese togarashi spice, gribiche sauce and oregano (€12).

Another chapter in the light-meals story is what they call the “non-salads” – essentially deconstructed salads where lettuce or leafy greens step back from their usual starring role. These are more generous, ingredient-forward dishes that let other elements shine.

Take, for example, the non-salad with chicken, kale, Viso cheese, cashews, avocado, streaky pork bacon, chives and a cashew vinaigrette, finished with a sprinkle of Japanese furikake (€11); or the version with burrata heart, nectarine, courgette, basil, flax seeds and parsley (€11). The menu also features a colourful range of smoothie bowls.

As for dessert, Vírgula’s signature sweet – though the menu also includes favourites brought over from Hífen, like the peanut butter parfait (€5.50) – is the parsnip cake with fig, shaved coconut, agave syrup and vegan chantilly.

To wash it all down, the choice is clear: pick from the lineup of fresh juices or house smoothies. In the juice corner, standouts include the Kickstar (€4.90), with kale, celery root, apple, ginger and lemon; the Auriki (€4.50), made with carrot, apple, kiwi and lime; and the Rootsy (€4.50), a mix of beetroot, orange, strawberry, cucumber and lemon.

Over on the smoothie side, the show-stealer is the CinaDate (€6), a creamy blend of banana, date, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and almond milk.