In May 2023, a former mansion in the centre of Cascais, dating back to 1899, opened to the public as a five-star boutique hotel. Named Artsy, it has the cosy, refined feel of a grand old house - but with a contemporary, irreverent twist, noticeable in the art pieces adorning the walls and the striking Vhils installation on the façade of the new wing, built to add more rooms.
At the Art restaurant, the approach is no different. Traditional ingredients, both Portuguese and international, are worked with experimentation and creativity, under the modern vision of chef David Casaca, who took charge of the kitchen a year ago after starting out as sous-chef on the project.
The idea is for no one to get too used to the menus. They focus on seasonal ingredients and the desire to explore new flavours, changing the menu every few months. Recently, a new dinner menu was introduced, featuring a variety of shareable options. Everything is homemade and prepared on-site: there are no frozen items in the kitchen.
Fun dining
It’s fine dining, no doubt about it - but with a relaxed, fun, and personalised experience. They call it "fun dining". Guests, whether staying at the hotel or not, can order from the menu or leave it in the chef’s hands. For 75€, you can enjoy The Art Experience, a five-course tasting menu curated by David Casaca, tailored to the customers’ preferences. The dishes are served continuously, without strict divisions between starters, main courses, and desserts. Wine pairings can also be requested separately (price varies).
With a menu heavily focused on smoke and grilling, you can’t go wrong starting with the shrimp Berlin ball (8€), a particularly original starter that’s as surprising as it sounds. While unusual, it features seafood — after all, Berlin balls are a beloved specialty on Portuguese beaches, especially in Cascais.
Other options to kick off your meal at Art include focaccia with beef tartare (7€), tender mushroom pasta (6€), or pork cheek croquettes (5€). And don’t skip the cover (6€) of sourdough bread with beurre noisette baked in the oven and onion coffee.
When it comes to more substantial dishes, don’t miss the green curry gnocchi with fried chickpeas (22€); the Chinese cabbage with onion and peanuts (21€); the catch of the day with xerém and shellfish (32€); or the beef scarpinocc with burnt cream and Parmesan (29€). To evoke his Alentejo roots, David Casaca also offers his takes on black pork presa with migas and orange (31€) and ray with garlic and almond (29€).
Wrap up your evening with grilled and caramelised figs paired with crème brûlée ice cream (11€) or a special version of the traditional Cascais walnuts (13€). Art also boasts a carefully curated selection of unique Portuguese wines that complement the dishes perfectly.
With a dining room that seats around 20 people, you can also enjoy your meal at one of the ten counter spots, where interaction with the chef and kitchen team is more intimate — and welcomed. Here, you can watch the finishing touches being put on most dishes. Like the hotel itself, the Art restaurant is family-friendly and inviting, elegant yet relaxed, proving that if it’s art, it should provoke.
Avenida Dom Carlos I, 246, Cascais