The best restaurants in Cascais

It may not be the smallest restaurant in Cascais, but it comes close. Size doesn’t matter in a place that serves fast, quality meals. As the name suggests, carpaccios are their bedrock, but there’s also fine fish and meat tartars, ceviches and also some great piadina sandwiches - we advise the roast beef one. Located in one of the liveliest streets in town, as soon as you are done with dinner you can go for a drink next door.

For many years it has been the only fine-dining Chinese restaurant in Greater Lisbon. And has always been able to do it with a lot of quality, in a luxury service, in exquisite dishes, on a Cantonese cuisine basis - despite the Beijing duck, that comes to the table in two moments (first skin, then meat) being one of the ex-libris. The menu has more than 100 specialties, is signed by chef Dong Wei, and for lunch there are the mythical and delicate dim sums, from which you must taste the há-kau (prawns and mushrooms). Perfect for: being able to say that you’ve been to the best Chinese place in Portugal.Must try: the supreme shark's fin soup.

If you are looking for a restaurant where you can experience what the Portuguese describe as “petiscar” - ordering several small courses and sharing them with the rest of the party - then you came to the right place. There is a whirlwind of waiters running through the inner rooms and the outdoors tables, carrying platters of potato peels, padrón peppers, eggs with asparagus, “alheira” sausage croquettes, steaks, and more. The flavour could not be more Portuguese.

Best known as a pastry shop - one of the finest along the Cascais line - but it is equally excellent as a restaurant. Take note - they only serve lunches. But what they do serve is of the highest quality: from home-style food such as omelettes and croquettes - three croquettes and a side of rice will make a child (and an adult) happy - to more complex fare such as prawn curry or the famous Garrett steak.

Among several identical restaurants in the Cascais centre, Beira Mar stands out as a temple for good Portuguese food, under the same management for more than 40 years. Fish courses are the main attraction: whether grilled or oven roasted, they are always served with a fine side of rice or “açorda” bread broth. Carnivores will also be happy with a fine selection of steaks.

The location could not be any more idyllic, right on top of Cascais Bay, and the concept couldn’t be more intriguing: a bar-restaurant where food is for sharing. There is a community table for large groups (or not), there is a cocktail menu, there are platters for sharing (or not) and there’s original culinary treats that draw inspiration from Portuguese tradition and elsewhere. On weekends, there’s music until 2am.

Hidden among the buildings in a residential area, it is only sought out by those in the know. That, would be people interested in eating fresh fish without breaking the bank. The fish is handpicked by manager Dona Fernanda’s son-in-law; her daughter Sandra handles the kitchen, her other daughter, Joana, is in charge of the dining room. Grilled fish, cold salads, homemade desserts and some fantastic grouper fillets with tomato risotto are all on the menu.