One of the oldest restaurants on the promenade that connects Cascais to São João do Estoril along the beach, Azimut, was inaugurated in 1977. On May 21th of this year, it transformed into Glória, the new restaurant next to Praia das Moitas, with a renewed look and menu. A year ago, David Lopes, a Portuguese-French restaurateur responsible for several establishments in France, had acquired the former Azimut. “We wanted to understand how the management of a beach restaurant works because it is very different”, he explains. Gradually, they conducted tests and envisioned the new project, which has now come to fruition.
“From here to Cascais, there are a number of beach restaurants. But they are all very similar, serving burgers, toasties, and little else”, continues David, who wanted something different, more upscale. “We focused on a menu of modern Portuguese cuisine with flavours from around the world”.
On a menu designed by Brazilian chef Iury Almeida, who has worked at various restaurants in Portugal and was previously at Season in Lisbon, you can start with fresh oysters from the coast (3,50€ each); an octopus salad served in pani puri with vinaigrette salad and harissa sauce (15€ for three units); shrimp à la guillo (27,50€); or tuna loin tacos with lime mayonnaise, grilled pineapple, and aromatic herbs (20€ for three units).
For more substantial dishes, the highlights include the sea bass ceviche with tiger's milk, aromatic herbs, sweet potato cream, and wakame seaweed (21,50€); the crispy heart with smoked salmon or shrimp, served with Caesar dressing, Parmesan, quail egg, and cornbread (18,50€); the slow-cooked black pork cheek, stewed for four hours, accompanied by parsley and caper mayonnaise, a green bean and mustard salad (17,50€); and Glória's octopus, grilled and served with sweet potato purée, bottarga, pancetta, Swiss chard, and smoked paprika (26,50€). The full menu can be consulted on the restaurant's official website, where reservations can also be made.
The name Glória, besides representing a good omen, was chosen in honour of one of David's aunts. "She is that aunt almost everyone has who cooks for the family at big dinners. And we wanted a Portuguese feminine name for this restaurant. Glória made perfect sense".
Like Azimut, the space has 120 seats, including the glass-enclosed indoor dining area and the terrace. There is also a separate outdoor area with sofas, where you can relax, have a drink, and order some snacks. Glória also manages the concession for Praia das Moitas during the bathing season, allowing you to order food or drinks to enjoy with your feet in the sand, on the loungers.
Praia das Moitas, Estoril. Mon-Sun 12.00-21.00