For 37 years it was Padaria da Torre. But in recent months, under new management, it’s been morphing into Marinha Bakery – a transformation well underway, though not yet fully complete. “The former owners, Mr Manuel and Mrs Madalena, decided to retire as they’re already at an advanced age. As customers, we heard about their decision and thought it was a great opportunity”, explains Juan Matias, one of the co-founders and manager of the new project, to Time Out Cascais.
The plan is to “maintain the quality of the product” – especially the famous bread rolls (29 cents), which sometimes sell 1,500 in a single day – while also expanding into a “healthier, more artisanal offer, with slow fermentation sourdough” as well as vegan and gluten-free pastries, keeping things fresh, contemporary and in line with today’s trends.
From Alentejo bread to rice bread, rye to spelt, milk rolls, cornbread, burger buns, Mafra loaves, seven-seed bread or simple sliced loaves – the choice at Marinha Bakery is endless. And everything is baked right there, in the spacious production area at the back of the shop.
On the pastry front, expect muffins in different flavours, custard tarts, savoury pies, requeijão pastries with pumpkin jam and cookies studded with all sorts of chocolate. You’ll also find Cascais’ traditional areias, Sintra’s pillows and cheesecakes, plus gooey brownies staring back at you from the counter. Banana bread is on the way soon, too.
Keeping up the old Padaria da Torre tradition of selling regional goodies, Marinha Bakery also stocks wines, jams, honey, cheeses and charcuterie. Around 95% of what’s on the shelves is Portuguese, but you’ll also spot a few international gems – like Italian prosecco.
A tasty new feature is also on the way (with a bit of extra work involved): sourdough pinsas and pizzas. “It’ll be very soon, within the next two months. The pinsas will undergo an even slower fermentation, of 72 hours. The result will be an ultra-thin, super-crispy, easy-to-digest dough made with soy, rice and wheat flour – lighter, healthier, and seriously delicious”.
The new Marinha Bakery, which first opened its doors in April but has only looked like the pictures since early August, also came with a serious glow-up. The traditional tilework on the façade, a nod to the old Padaria da Torre, has been preserved as a tribute to its legacy. But the former parking spots out front have been swapped for a sun-dappled terrace with a dozen seats – the perfect place for breakfast outdoors (though sheltered), with the irresistible smell of fresh bread and just-out-of-the-oven croissants wafting through the air.
“In the past, customers would buy, head straight to their cars and take everything home. Now they can sit down, sip a coffee or juice, and enjoy it here. We wanted to change the vibe, make the space friendlier. And people have been seriously impressed with the transformation. In those first few days there was real buzz, lots of curiosity – the feedback has been extraordinary”.
The name change – from Padaria da Torre to Marinha Bakery – marks a turning point in the spot’s story, but also reflects a “more and more cosmopolitan” neighbourhood and world, the kind of market they’re keen to tap into.
As for the future, the priority is to “consolidate the new brand and product portfolio”, but there are already plans on the horizon to open “new outlets as soon as possible”, with production staying put in Cascais. “We don’t want to move into the Lisbon market, but eventually Oeiras or Sintra…”
Rua Freixos, 134, Cascais. Mon–Fri 07.00–13.00, 15.00–19.00; Sat 07.00–13.00. 965 266 266