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The world’s best fine-dining destinations, viral dishes, tables for two, vegan and vegetarian spots... Dozens of restaurants across the globe have just been honoured in the 2026 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Awards. The gastronomic picks by users of the travel platform Tripadvisor also featured what they dubbed “hidden gems” – treasured spots well worth the trip. And it’s precisely in this category that Taberna Clandestina, on Rua Amarela in Cascais, landed in fifth place.
Set in a "fantastic spot for people-watching and relaxed dinners," the restaurant – which opened in 2016, even before Rua Afonso Sanches joined neighbouring Nova da Alfarrobeira and Alexandre Herculano in closing to traffic and adding dozens of outdoor terraces over yellow-painted pavement – is praised for the team’s "genuinely warm welcome" and a menu packed with "creative plates made with fresh ingredients." The top recommendation from Tripadvisor travellers, who also praise the "thoughtful" wine list, "fair" prices, and "laid-back" vibe, is the octopus served with migas (€11).
The space naturally invites you to pick at small plates and linger without checking the time. There are three different sharing boards, including the Taberna (€13), which pairs burrata, cured creamy sheep's milk cheese, Parma ham, finocchiona, artichoke, and melon; the Mar (€18), featuring baccalà mantecato, octopus salad, marinated anchovies, burrata, chickpea purée, and salmon; and the Prazeres (€18), loaded with mixed cold cuts, a curated cheese selection, jams and honey, melted taleggio, and potatoes with porcini, artichokes, vegetables, and burrata caprese. Between a glass of wine or a classic cocktail, you can also tuck into bruschettas, focaccias, and fresh pasta.
Ahead of this well-kept Cascais secret were Tua Casa Hamburgueria e Petiscaria in Maragogi (Brazil); Sad Man's Tongue Bar & Bistro in Prague (Czech Republic); Hanoi-Oi Kitchen in Hoan Kiem (Vietnam); and Sfiziarte in Rome (Italy).
The ranking spans a total of 25 addresses, from Mexico to Japan, and Greece to Sri Lanka. Portugal made a second appearance on the list with a spot in Madeira: Mad Market in Funchal.
Rua Afonso Sanches, 36 (Cascais). Daily 12.00-23.00
See also: Between sweet treats and healthy bites, MIMO Café will leave everyone's mouth watering
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