The iconic Estrada do Guincho is known for its sea and cliffs, its beaches and winds – but also for its restaurants, especially those serving fresh fish and seafood, stretching between Cascais and the Sintra mountains. One Guincho classic is Panorama, opened almost 40 years ago opposite Porto Santa Maria, owned by the same family. After closing for renovations in early 2025, it quietly reopened on May 8 with a refreshed menu and a lighter, more relaxed vibe.
"Our idea was to create something from Cascais for Cascais, but for a new Cascais – for the whole local community, Portuguese and international alike", tells Pedro Igrejas, the Cascais native now at the helm of the new Panorama. He was challenged by his uncle, owner of Porto Santa Maria, to lead the project after years working in the same field in Miami, USA, and later heading SEEN in Lisbon. Panorama had been sold in 2013 and has now been reclaimed by its former owners for this new chapter.
"Apart from that one very traditional lunch spot – where you eat and go – the rest of the dining scene has to be a bit more than that, it has to offer more", says Pedro Igrejas. "Nightclubs are falling out of favour, even with the younger crowd. Older people want a place where they can chat with friends over a drink, without any fuss. At the same time, I think Guincho’s dining scene is very traditional. Slightly to the left or right, the restaurants tend to stick to the same old style, the same kind of service. Here, we’ve tried to make the atmosphere more relaxed, a place where people can come straight from the beach to snack or have dinner. No need to go home and get all dressed up".
Designed by Vera Onofre, the décor nods to Guincho’s old striped awnings – in white and blue or yellow. Panorama Beach Club, as it’s now called, has two distinct areas: the restaurant room, seating at least 90 guests on chairs and tables salvaged and restored from Porto Santa Maria; and a more relaxed zone – open windows, louder music, and a bar serving classic cocktails – with a menu of snacks and starters.
"This new area is perfect for grabbing a bite after the beach, and on weekends we also serve snails, which isn’t very common around Guincho. We have smaller tables, ideal for snacking rather than a full dinner, and it’s the spot that stays open later".
As expected, fish and seafood remain the stars at the new Panorama. Right at the entrance to the main dining room, a large display showcases the catch of the day, fresh and ready to be cooked to order – grilled or baked. Some classic dishes, like fish in bread served with açorda, are still on the menu.
The big news? Starters and dishes like cuttlefish croquettes with ink (€2), prawn tartare (€14), prawn popcorn (€10), crab hot dogs (€13) and surf & turf (€40), here served with a ribeye steak and tiger prawns.
They also serve black rice seafood paella (€42 for two), seafood açorda (€42 for two), oven-baked rice with scarlet shrimp (€46 for two), seafood rice (€68 for two) and fish and prawn rice (€36 for two).
Grilled fresh squid over charcoal (€22), hake fillets with cockle rice (€22) and lobster bitoque (€33) are other highlights on a menu that also includes meat dishes like beef tartare (€22) or black pork lagartos (€20).
"At the end of the day, we’ve introduced a few innovations and added some tweaks to certain dishes, but we still serve fish in bread, salt-baked fish, steamed fish, goose barnacles and prawns. That’s why we decided to keep the name Panorama – so our longtime customers don’t feel disappointed".
The more laid-back vibe also means Panorama now hosts DJ sets every Friday and Saturday from late afternoon, with occasional special sessions at other times.
"The old guard of Guincho is disappearing – those heavier, traditional restaurants. So Guincho has to start reinventing itself. Another thing that sets us apart is our prices: we’re around 30% cheaper than most restaurants here. For example, our priciest wine is €24. We also want people to relax in that sense, to feel free to open a second bottle of wine without any fuss".
Estrada do Guincho, Praia da Cresmina. +351 910 926 327. Tue–Thu 12.15–00.00, Fri–Sat 12.15–02.00, Sun 12.15–18.00