In Largo Luís de Camões, at the heart of Cascais' historic centre, you'll find countless restaurants and pubs that tell the story of a town long shaped by tourism – think awnings advertising “typical Portuguese food” more than the restaurant’s own name, menus with glossy photos of dishes, and staff waving laminated menus at passersby.
But one new restaurant is looking to break the mould, aiming to win over locals with a more thoughtful approach. Marujo da Linha draws inspiration from the world of Luís de Camões and fittingly opened its doors on the poet’s own holiday – 10 June.
“This is a square steeped in history – it was once a bustling trading hub where people from all over Europe and the Índias came to exchange spices and goods. It has a rich past, but it’s been heavily diluted over time. Now it’s just menus with pictures, people grabbing tourists by the arm… It’s a shame, because this is an iconic place”, says Mireia López, the woman behind Marujo da Linha, in an interview with Time Out. Originally from Valencia, Mireia has called Portugal home for the past 18 years.
Her mission? To revive the spirit of the square and win back the hearts (and stomachs) of the locals. She’s doing it with an Iberian fusion restaurant that serves both Portuguese and Spanish dishes – with a special nod to her native Valencia. “I’ve always felt there was something missing – a proper fusion. Tapas and petiscos are similar, and sure, we have a bit of historical rivalry, but we’re also incredibly alike. The foundations of our cuisines are the same, our ingredients practically identical – the only real difference is in how we cook them. So I wanted to bring both cultures together here”.
There’s no shortage of tempting choices on the menu. You can’t go wrong with the Iberian ham and Manchego cheese board (€23), but there’s also Peruvian octopus ceviche with leche de tigre (€21), boquerones in vinegar (€10), aged beef tartare (€25), Iberian ham croquettes (€3), crispy Andalusian-style squid (€16), garlic prawns (€16), creamy cod buñuelos with piquillo peppers (€10), huevos rotos (€16 with Iberian ham or €24 with lobster), and esgarraet valenciano – a traditional Valencian dish made with roasted red peppers, cod, black olives and boiled egg (€9.50).
If you’re in the mood for something heartier, a few standout dishes include the traditional Valencian rice with chicken and rabbit (€16.50), lobster rice (€26), and the classic paella valenciana (€16.50) – though several other versions are also on offer. There’s also cod loin with a tomato onion sauce (€16), a slow-cooked Iberian pork terrine with mashed potatoes (€15.50), grilled lamb chops (€16.50), and 40-day aged beef loin (€28).
For dessert, the house favourite is a no-brainer: the torrija de leite creme (€6.50), a rich, custard-soaked treat. Pair it all with a selection from the restaurant’s well-curated list of Portuguese and Spanish wines.
“All our food is homemade and prepared with fresh ingredients. The idea is not to have a fixed menu”, explains Mireia, noting that despite having just opened, they’re already planning to offer daily specials and keep things fresh and exciting. Most ingredients are Portuguese, though some key items – like boquerones and cured hams – still come from Spain.
Before this new chapter in Cascais, Marujo da Linha had a short but sweet run along the Paredão de Carcavelos, where it operated for eight months during 2024. Then, Mireia stumbled upon this vacant space — formerly used as a storage room by the neighbouring restaurant, Palm Tree – and made the bold move from the beach to the heart of the village.
Mireia López grew up surrounded by pots and pans in a family that ran several restaurants. She first moved to Portugal drawn by her love of surfing and the country’s stunning coastline, but kept one foot in Spain, continuing to run her own ventures in Valencia. When she finally embraced her long-held dream of opening a restaurant in Portugal, she brought her brother Borja along for the ride – now the head chef at Marujo da Linha.
After six months of renovations, what was once little more than a “hole in the wall” was transformed into an elegant restaurant in shades of blue and white, with maritime details and subtle nods to the traditional Portuguese art of azulejos.
Mireia herself, a keen lover of the arts, handcrafted many of the details you’ll find in the space: the scroll-like dividers inspired by Camões, hand-painted tiles depicting the poet, and bespoke artisanal lamps. Among the 90 seats, spread between the indoor dining room and the outdoor terrace, you’ll even spot some of the writer’s books.
If all goes to plan with this new chapter of Marujo da Linha, the dream is to expand the brand and open a second outpost – this time, in downtown Lisbon.
Largo Luís de Camões, 44, Cascais. Mon-Sun 11.00-01.00. 925 675 800