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In the heart of Cascais, surrounded by a garden and with a chalet-like charm that invites you to linger, sits one of the town’s most traditional institutions. Visconde da Luz, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on 11 January, has stuck to the same principles that have carried it through generations: quality, attentive service, and treating every guest like part of the family.
Founded in 1976, it began with a bold decision. “Three young staff from João Padeiro – which was Cascais’ best restaurant at the time [now closed] – decided to join forces and even bought this building from their own boss, who believed they could make it”, recalls Ana Cerqueira, partner-manager and daughter of Manuel Cerqueira, one of the founders. The project started as a true family business: the men in the dining room, the women in the kitchen – a model that shaped the restaurant’s identity and still informs how Visconde da Luz presents itself today.
Visconde da Luz thrived and became a staple for locals, largely thanks to its selection of fish and seafood. “One of the standout fish dishes is the sole (€72/kg). The fried sole with homemade chips is the house’s signature”, highlights Ana. The restaurant’s connection to the sea remains a cornerstone, evident in a menu that showcases classic starters such as garlic prawns (€18.80) or clams à Bulhão Pato (€28), and mains like sea bass baked in salt (€62.80/kg), brill (€72/kg), octopus à lagareiro (€29.80), seafood cataplana (€62) or seafood rice (€53.80), all served with obsessive attention to freshness. “We stand out for the quality of the products and the service,” the heir sums up.
For those who still believe in the old saying “fish won’t pull the cart”, there are meat options ranging from Chateaubriand (€68.80) to the more traditional Portuguese liver strips (€25.80), served with properly cooked potatoes. And don’t leave without trying the desserts, from flan and toucinho do céu to almond tart. A must is the special apple tart with ice cream.
Cozido Day
To mark its 50th anniversary, Visconde da Luz has also turned inward, reviving dishes that have shaped its history. One such example is the traditional Portuguese cozido (€35 per person), which will be served at the birthday celebration on 11 January. “The cozido has been a bit of a surprise. We brought it back after the pandemic because some customers asked for it. The demand was so high that it stayed”, explains Ana Cerqueira. Served just twice a month to preserve its special character, it has become a winter ritual and one of the most anticipated dishes among regulars. “It’s very popular; customers are always calling to check if it’s available”. The secret lies “in the quantity and quality”, with a slow-cooked, old-fashioned cozido made from carefully selected meats, sausages, vegetables and long hours of cooking to develop rich, deep flavours.
Visconde da Luz’s longevity has been built as much outside the plate as on it. “For us, service is that daily challenge where a guest should enter through the door and leave almost like a friend”, says Ana, highlighting the importance of personalised, attentive service where nothing fails at the table. For instance, if you order the fried sole, it’s prepared and filleted right before being served – though if you prefer to take on the task yourself, that’s also an option.
This philosophy has helped make the restaurant a gathering place for families – some spanning four generations – and a legendary spot full of stories and personalities. Over the years, politicians, footballers, actors and international figures have all passed through its doors.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa holds a special place in the team’s memory. “He used to come here regularly before he became president and always had a little table where he wrote, using both hands at the same time”, recalls Ana. Eusébio, Ayrton Senna and Cristiano Ronaldo – the latter before he became a global superstar – are other names tied to the restaurant’s story, even if many of these moments weren’t captured in photographs on the walls.
Looking ahead, the partner-manager says the focus is on preserving what has been built over the past fifty years. “The daily challenge is to maintain and attract new customers, dispelling the idea that this is a fancy restaurant you can’t walk into”. Social media, engaging younger generations, and reviving historic dishes are all part of the strategy, always with the goal of remaining “people’s home”. Fifty years on, Visconde da Luz continues to prove that tradition and modernity can sit at the same table – as long as there’s time, dedication, and a good fried sole.
Visconde da Luz, Jardim Visconde da Luz (Cascais). Wed–Mon 12.30–16.00; 19.00–23.00
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