The best brunches in Cascais

After a busy place in downtown Lisbon and a bohemian place in Porto, Nicolau has opened a holiday home in Cascais, with a terrace, a bar and a pink bathroom. The menu features some of the classics of this all-day café, such as the Amélia eggs, the Flower Power Bowl and, of course, the pancakes and waffles. But there's no shortage of exclusive specialties to match the summer holiday vibe: cauliflower and hummus with pesto, pistachio and pomegranate; Tom Yum prawn soup; the photogenic pumpkin risotto with coconut milk and goat's cheese or the Get Dirty Sandwich, a mountain of roast beef with a special mayonnaise between two slices of bread. In the sweets department, the novelties include Choco pancakes, which in addition to a chocolate, cream cheese and red fruit filling, have chocolate in the batter, and homemade ice creams, with unlikely flavours such as crumble or guava.

The latest "resident" of the Rua Amarela in Cascais focuses on healthy food and brunch dishes, although it also serves heartier meals. It's a project that brings together seven partners, including those behind the neighboring Malacopa and Senhor Manuel, but also the former owner of that space, which used to be an Italian restaurant. Expect a wide variety of eggs, pancakes, toasts, and bowls – sweet (with açaí, muesli, pitaya, or yogurt, for example), but also savory, including highlights such as roast beef, shrimp, falafel, and tuna. One of our favorites is the Resident's Croque, a brioche bread toast with cheese, ham, fried egg, and hollandaise sauce.

The breakfast, brunch, lunch and brinner restaurant, with two houses in Lisbon, has yet another space full of plants - and colour - in São Pedro do Estoril. After Madragoa in 2017 and Anjos in 2019, Fauna & Flora has arrived in Linha de Cascais and the menu includes the pancakes, bowls and smoothies that made the brand famous in the capital. Here, however, there's one thing you won't find anywhere else - a sea view.

It reopened with a fresh look and a new menu. However, it still offers a menu of healthy meals, without excess, from breakfast to dinner – and always leaving room to indulge a bit. Bowls, bagels, burgers, toasts, croissants, and pancakes are all on offer, to be enjoyed with natural juices and house cocktails. Now, in addition to the usual terrace and seating, there's a lower room perfect for larger groups or rainy days.

It's a brunch spot (and specialty coffee shop) that opened in the center of Cascais by the hands of a Russian who already had a coffee roasting company in Moscow. It aims to be a meeting point for everyone, with an international menu that includes various specialties from Eastern Europe and beyond – from crepes to waffles, through toasts, and more elaborate dishes. Don't miss the chance to try the multiple coffees and their derivatives that abound there, as well as the teas and natural wines. Unity Coffee Roasters also has an online store where they sell their products.

The meeting point is the lighthouse, whether for eating, drinking, or tuning into a live radio broadcast. Lusophonica opened inside the Farol de Santa Marta, right above the sea, with a fantastic terrace. They serve snacks all day and tapas in the evening, offer specialty coffee, and have an online radio station capturing the sounds of the Lusophone world. If brunch is the plan, there's room for everything: smoothies, pancakes, toasts, or eggs.

Some people say the stomach doesn’t keep time – and neither does this kitchen. At Mâide, the doors open at 10 am and don’t close until 10pm. The menu features all the brunch favourites, from eggs to pancakes, from pokés to bagels. To each their own but, if you’re feeling lost, just follow our lead and go for the scrambled eggs on toast with bacon and chives; a prawn and guacamole taco, the açaí bowl with banana, strawberry, house granola and honey and the pancake with chocolate coulis, peanut butter, banana and toasted peanuts. Fancy something more robust? Then the Florentine burger is for you: 160 grams of meat with poached egg, spinach, mushrooms and hollandaise sauce, in a brioche bun and served with fries and garlic and herb mayonnaise.

It was in August 2022 that Brazilian Lis Sadalla made herself known to Linha with Da Lis com Amor, a confectionery shop in Alcabideche. Since November 2023, there has been a new brand space at One Market Cascais, in the luxury development One Living (built on the land of the old Praça de Touros). While the Alcabideche space mainly sells sweets, in Cascais they wanted to increase the range of savory snacks, from cheese bread to toast, including tapioca.

Here you can try pancakes with various toppings (between €5 and €7.20), chicken drumsticks (€2.50), cheese bread waffles (€5.50), cookies of various flavors (€3.90 ), banoffee (€4.80) and chocolate or coconut brigadeiro (€4.80). There is also no shortage of cakes by the slice, a series of sweets in a jar, bowls, Brazilian couscous, tapioquinhas and toasted bread on the grill. Lis suggests the toast with shredded meat (€7.20), one of the house specialties.

In the Cascais store, as well as in the other locations of the group, dozens of types of slow-fermented, natural bread are available for purchase. But, for the first time, the bakery has gained a space where you can also enjoy drinks and food, complete with a terrace. For brunch, there is no fixed menu; it operates à la carte, allowing you to order anything from a croissant to a pain au chocolat or some delicious sandwiches. And there are several options, such as fried egg in chorizo bread, tuna salad, pulled pork, and turkey terrine. Tostas, empanadas, and a salad are also on offer. Plus, there's a delightful partnership with Milkees, allowing you to end your meal with some cookies.

Would you live for pancakes, waffles and croissants? Then it's with a smile on our face that we inform you that a place called Ophelia has recently opened between the Guia area and the Rosário neighbourhood, where you can sit down and order brunch at any time of the day. If the reason is urgent or due to a lack of organisation on your part, you should also know that there you can always count on a photogenic pavlova, made to order (it takes about 10 minutes), as well as various birthday cakes (you need to order them two days in advance). In addition to the pastries and other equally tempting options, such as the fried egg with focaccia bread topped with bacon, avocado and dehydrated onion, Ophelia also organises events such as birthday parties, baby showers or corporate brunches.

The kiosk at Jardim Carlos Anjos (known amongst locals as Jardim dos Passarinhos), was reborn anew. There are options for all hours of the day, from breakfast to late afternoon, with a mandatory stop for brunch. There is also plenty of space to let the kids loose, between slides, swings and the lawn areas, as well as a chance to simply watch the birds inside the renovated
bird cage.

Three Russian partners — Anna Aleshkovskaia, Yuriy Gushchin and Nikita Pirogov — created the Liberty concept last year, when they opened a space in Santos, Lisbon. In August 2023, da Parede was opened, in a privileged location, overlooking the sea. Although they don't have a specific menu, they serve different brunch options here. Highlights include the roast beef Benedict (€12.50), wheat porridge (€12) or Hash brown (€11), a mixture of fried grated potatoes served with cream cheese, lightly salted salmon, cucumber, radishes , dill, coriander and parsley.

For desserts, don't miss the blackcurrant pancakes (11€) or a Russian specialty, the syrniki (11€), cheese balls that can be served with cherry compote with rum, yogurt and dark chocolate; or ripe plum with agave syrup, mascarpone cream and lime zest. In Santos, Liberty has a section dedicated to books and hosts literary gatherings and other cultural events there. On the wall, there is not enough space for this component, but the view and the menu make up for it.

It's called "À Boca do Mar" (by the sea) and it's Italian-inspired. Meet Sunday brunch at the Grande Real Villa Itália, the last home of the last king of Italy, Humberto II, in Cascais, with an impressive view of the ocean. As well as breakfast classics, there are entrées and insalates, minestra (soup), primi (main courses) and abbanamenti (side dishes), not forgetting, of course, the dolci and bibite: the 48 euros per person includes appetisers such as Bellini, Mimosa, Rossini, sangria, white or red wine and water.

Brunch menus, burgers, bowls, pancakes or toast, among many other options. This is what you can find at Miami Mami Estoril, an American-style brunch restaurant, with dishes close to the American diner, but also many twists linked to Latin cuisine, such is the influence that Central and South American countries have on the city of Miami, which serves as a great inspiration. It is right in front of Praia da Poça, on Avenida Marginal, and aims to be the beginning of a successful chain.

The Sheraton serves brunch in front of the swimming pool on Sundays from 12.30pm to 4pm, and it’s a great meal. Ah! And it also includes access to the swimming pool, which is usually only open to guests. The menu has all the classics – a selection of bread, cheese and sausages, an egg station, a variety of salads – and a range of hot dishes, including lombo de porco com alecrim (pork loin with rosemary), salmon and grilled fish. Remember to leave space for the dessert trolley.

It's at the Oásis Terrasse (the name of the restaurant with an outdoor terrace by the pool of this luxury hotel, surrounded by palm trees and overlooking the sea, is to be taken literally) that a buffet brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday. Inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, there are plenty of vegetables, a selection of sandwiches, croissants and bruschettas, a sushi station and charcuterie boards. In the hot section, you can help yourself to eggs Benedict with salmon, seafood cream or more composed dishes, for those who tend more towards lunch at this time of day. To finish, there is a selection of gâteaux, tartlets and cheese boards accompanied by jams and sliced fruit. The price per person is €42.50 - and children from 5 to 12 pay €21.25.

Jay’s Brunch Caffe is specifically designed for that late breakfast. There are three brunch menus: the athlete, which includes scrambled eggs with mushrooms, green salad, tomato with seeds, oatmeal pancake with peanut butter or jam and fruit, orange juice or juice of the day and tea, coffee or hot chocolate; the vegan, which includes tofu with chives, oregano, sweet potato, green salad and turmeric powder, a vegetable yogurt with fresh and dried fruit, oatmeal and banana pancakes with peanut butter or jam and fruit, a vegan house jam, an orange juice or juice of the day and tea, coffee or hot chocolate; and finally, Jay's menu, which includes smoked salmon and rocket with sliced avocado and pumpkin seeds, yogurt with fruit and homemade granola, pancakes with sugar and cinnamon, Nutella or jam, a basket of bread, croissants or scones, cheese and ham, orange juice or juice of the day and tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

The motherhouse of Local’s healthy cuisine is located in Mercado da Vila and has a small and pleasant terrace. On the café menu, everyone can create the brunch of their dreams: there are bowls of oatmeal, açaí or granola; bruschettas, such as avocado, salmon and hot eggs; and pancakes – good luck choosing between salted caramel, pink, with berries and homemade almond butter or cocoa, with banana, homemade nutella and cashew cream. The sweets section offers banana bread or brownie and, to make things even better, there are smoothies, juices, kombuchas and hot drinks with organic coffee.