For 23 years, Confeitaria da Guia has been serving snacks and meals at Casa da Guia, nestled between the old manor house and the stunning Atlantic Ocean, which can be admired from its generous terrace. In April, the space reopened with a refreshed look and a new menu - though no major changes were made. After all, long-time regulars, who are part of the café’s story, weren’t about to give up their usual favourites.
Until now, the only renovations Magda Monteiro and her team - also behind neighbouring spots Paladar da Guia and Gusto - had made were in the kitchen. This time, they completely refurbished the indoor dining area, closing for around two months. But just as they reopened, Storm Martinho hit - a tragic moment for Casa da Guia, with strong winds uprooting trees and causing damage. After a full clean-up, Confeitaria da Guia finally reopened in April.
“Our chefs from Gusto helped us tweak the menu a little,” Magda Monteiro tells Time Out Cascais. “We can’t change it too much, because our customers won’t allow it. They’ve been coming here as long as the café’s been open - some of them walk in and don’t even have to order, we already know what they’ll want.”
Among the new dishes that these (and other) customers can try are toasties with roasted tomato, avocado and egg (€10); ricotta, honey, walnuts and lemon zest (€9); or smoked salmon with crème fraîche, dill and pickled radish (€12).
For a heartier meal, try the new meatball sandwich with provolone (€12); the breaded shrimp burger in a garlic sauce (€16); or the grilled salmon with black rice, served medium-rare and topped with green sauce (€22).
“Confeitaria is like a pharmacy - you don’t need to change much, it sells a bit of everything,” explains Magda Monteiro. “But our chef Fabrício, who works at Paladar, brought a more refined touch and introduced some of these more elaborate dishes. We only removed a few more common items, like the bitoques. As for the space, it was quite dark before and now feels fresher, more Mediterranean. We renovated the entire dining room.”
Another new addition at Confeitaria da Guia is their homemade, artisanal ice cream. Whether in a cup or cone, you’ll find flavours on display like stracciatella, Madagascan vanilla, pistachio, Italian coffee, salted caramel, rice pudding, chocolate fondant, candy floss, forest fruits, prickly pear, and lemon sorbet, among others.
With a fresh new look and vibe, yet keeping its signature identity and versatility, Confeitaria da Guia remains one of the venues preserving the essence of Casa da Guia for over two decades.
101 Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo, Cascais. Mon-Sun 08.00-20.00. +351 935 844 477
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