The best terraces in Cascais for the Summer

It is the newest terrace in the town (a younger sister to another oasis – Bougain, which we'll talk about shortly), and a temptation for the upcoming summer. From the street, it immediately catches your eye. It’s no wonder: the veranda of the Villa Cascais hotel, where Corleone is located, is very stylish. The sober yet vibrant colours are inviting to passersby. The interior is no different, with summery shades of yellow and blue, reminiscent of Cascais and also southern Italy, which inspired Miguel Garcia to create an Italian restaurant unlike any other in the town.

It's an entry worth many. A sort of gastronomic hub, or restaurant district using the town’s official nomenclature, Rua Amarela boasts more than a dozen restaurants within a three-street enclave, all with terraces. One of our favourites? The one at Moules & Gin, spacious and airy, with a view of a mural designed by Cascais artist Mário Belém. But there are many other options to choose from: Taberna Clandestina, Malacopa, La Contessa, Residente, Chutnify, and more. Some partitions separate the terraces of different restaurants, but in reality, everything functions as one large outdoor dining space.

Whatever the plan, EMMA is sure to fit like a glove. The restaurant on Praia da Conceição in Cascais is perfect for a snack on beach days, but it’s also an excellent choice for lunch or dinner with a sea view without having to set foot in the sand. It’s great for bringing the kids, a date, or to kick off a stroll along the Paredão.

The Marisco na Praça brand was born in the Mercado da Vila and, a few years later, extended to the Marina de Cascais. Both restaurants have terraces, but the one we highlight here is the latter, because there’s nothing like enjoying Bulhão Pato clams while gazing at a beautiful sailboat – even if it’s not yours. The seafood is chosen by the customer at the counter at the entrance, according to what the sea offers, weighed, and then taken to the kitchen to be prepared, making the seafood dining experience even more interesting.

Attention all sailors: we're not talking about just one restaurant, but three, totaling three terraces, all offering the same vegetarian cuisine with Middle Eastern influences. There's a rooftop for lunch, enjoying a juice, or spending the afternoon; a roof garden designed for the same purpose, but where smoking and bringing your dog are allowed; and the terrace of a more serious restaurant, let's say, with a buffet of hot and cold dishes. A family of outdoor tables that deserves to be discovered.

They call it the poor man’s yacht, but don’t worry, it’s not an insult. For many people, though, it is the closest they will ever come to having a meal on the deck of a boat. And perhaps in a lot more comfort. From here you can see the sea and the Estoril coast - and very far on clear days - and you can try dishes like the Ria Formosa oysters, the crab à la Albatross, the Caesar salad with grilled chicken or the orange marinated salmon sandwich. All you have to do is enter the hotel and head for the terrace.

It's been around for quite a few years, but it's still a semi-secret café-restaurant where the locals of the Linha like to take someone they want to surprise. It's located above a (also secret) beach, Forte Beach, and has a charming terrace where they serve well-prepared salads, bruschettas, or platters with cheeses, cold cuts, and pastas. It's worth mentioning that all you see around is the sea. A dream.

Rain or shine, whether the sea is calm or rough, characteristic of the area, the terrace at Furnas do Guincho is always unbeatable. But on summer evenings, it takes on a new charm, becoming one of the best spots to enjoy the sunset while savoring fresh or cooked seafood and very fresh fish.

Right on Avenida Valbom, it's unlikely that anyone in Cascais isn't familiar with Casa da Pérgola, a beautiful century-old mansion protected by a garden. Outside the gate, photos have always been taken of the facade, which stands out with hand-painted tiles. In 2023, the Bougain Restaurant & Garden Bar opened, discreetly occupying the garden with a terrace where you can relax. The menu features classics, and the service is attentive.

From meats to sushi, pizzas to snacks, at Casa da Guia, the hard part is choosing the best terrace for a sunny lunch or a sunset dinner. Discover the best you can eat (or buy) there with our guide. Special mention goes to the beautiful and always lively Palaphita.

Portuguese are big fans of "petiscos," which never have a fixed time to come to the table. The locals behind this traditional restaurant, masters in the art of "petiscos," know this better than anyone and use this idea to attract people of all ages at any time of the day. Almost everyone prefers the terrace (try to make a reservation) to indulge in potato skins, "peixinhos da horta," eggs with asparagus, among other delicacies. The tables are close enough to end up feeling like one big group of friends – and that's priceless.

Cascais has a new gastronomic hub called One Market. It's the commercial galleries of the luxury development One Living, a project designed by architect Francisco Valsassina, where until a few years ago, the bullring stood. There you'll find sweet and savory treats with a Brazilian accent at Da Lis com Amor, a Delta Espresso shop, the Presse Linha stationery store, a Pasta Non Basta restaurant, The Butler gastrobar, the Boutique del Jamon, as well as a sushi restaurant. At the heart of it all is a green square filled with terraces.

Located in Jardim Carlos Anjos, better known as Jardim dos Passarinhos, this café/terrace/meeting point has been the social hub of perhaps the most beautiful neighborhood in the municipality of Cascais for decades. Recently renovated, it offers options for every hour of the day. It serves brunches, pokes, bruschettas, cheese and charcuterie boards, juices, wines, sangrias, and cocktails.

The name gets straight to the point: it's a beach terrace, about a meter (or even less) from the sand, offering everything you expect from a place like this. Pizzas, caipirinhas, salads, sangrias, fresh juices, burgers, beautiful faces, and ice creams are the keywords at this restaurant on the Estoril Coast. Also worth mentioning: the garlic bread in pizza format tastes amazing on a summer afternoon.

Facing the garden and the pool, it's within the classic Palácio Estoril Hotel that you can enjoy this terrace with a tranquil ambiance. With a menu designed for all-day dining, it serves salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Also, try the Ria Formosa oysters, a hearty serving of "pica-pau" (a traditional Portuguese dish), "amêijoas à Bulhão Pato" (clams in a garlic and coriander sauce), or sautéed shrimp.

The restaurant opened by José Avillez in Guincho in 2023 boasts a spacious terrace perfect for summer days. The menu focuses entirely on seafood, blending contemporary and traditional flavors. For drinks, there are signature cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Before the summer of 2022, it was just an ordinary beach bar with plastic chairs and beer-branded umbrellas. Since then, La Plage has emerged as one of the most pleasant and elegant spots on Carcavelos Beach, with carefully curated decor matching the beach's tones, and a menu that sets it apart. While maintaining a focus on traditional Portuguese cuisine, they prepare their accompaniments in a distinctly French manner - not surprising given the owner and manager's background. Grilled fish is always in high demand, but they also serve a surprising octopus with chimichurri sauce, sweet potato purée, and a hint of orange; or a shrimp moqueca with coconut rice and crispy farofa. At the top, they have a terrace with its own menu and host bands for laid-back sunset music sessions.On the rooftop, they have their own menu and host bands for relaxed sunset music sessions — closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except between June and August when it's available every day. "Carcavelos deserved this, our mission was to build a restaurant where we would want to go," explains the manager, Benoît Delachaux.

Among the locals, it's said that this is the best terrace of all to take the kids. It's easy to see why. The space is enormous, enclosed by walls but offering views of the sea and the Marina; there's a lighthouse that comes with a history lesson (and many requests to visit); and the menu has everything they like to nibble on: cakes, croissants, pancakes, and the like. There's also specialty coffee and its own radio station, hence the name, which can also serve as another educational lesson: after all, how does a radio station work?

Right by the ocean, Liquid Lounge is the perfect rooftop spot for the late afternoon, to have a drink and enjoy a snack at sunset. Give a try to the various signature cocktails and the Italian delicacies on the menu, from focaccias to burrata, while the neighbors downstairs at SEN Estoril also offer some Vietnamese dishes. On Sundays, Liquid Lounge also serves a brunch menu. Want more? Here's something unexpected: in the summer, they offer a drone service that delivers bottles of sparkling wine right to your table.

A beach destination without a beach bar isn't complete. On this spacious terrace overlooking the sea at Praia da Bafureira, you can enjoy salads, toasts, steak sandwiches, burgers, oysters, or cheese and charcuterie boards. They also serve pastas, seafood specialties (like garlic shrimp, clams à Bulhão Pato, or cataplana), as well as various grilled fish and seafood risotto. If you prefer meat dishes, they have those too. You can accompany it all with juices, wines, gins, or cocktails.

"On the rocks" isn't just the term for an alcoholic drink served with ice cubes. It's also the name of the summer bar at the Farol Design Hotel, which, true to its name, sits atop the rocks, with the sea crashing below. It operates as a bar, but also offers a small part of the menu to nibble on, with salads, seafood, and other light dishes like grilled mackerel bruschetta. For a more substantial meal, choose the restaurant The Mix, also with outdoor seating.

It's an icon among locals, with people frequenting it no matter the weather. On sunny days, to maximize vitamin D absorption, on windy days, for sheltered and sunny lunches, and on cold days, to enjoy the fireplace. On any of these, you can start with appetizers and finish with a Guincho toast, with a fried egg inside. During the bathing season, they open an extension right on the sand, with a short menu of sandwiches and bean bags to relax while watching the sea.

The full name is Capricciosa Beach Lounge and it comprises three levels of activity. Upstairs, there's a restaurant serving pizzas, pasta, and other Italian specialties; in the middle, there are more seating areas for the same purpose, along with a children's area; downstairs, there's a beach lounge serving light meals and drinks on the terrace. The cherry on top: the sea and the coastline of the Linha region to admire while enjoying a pizza.

Enchanting – that's the adjective that best fits the terrace of one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in the village. The bougainvillea provides the necessary shade for the tables set behind a low wall, the Portuguese cobblestone floor helps to complete the scene, and then it's just a matter of ordering, one by one, the house specialties, to prolong the time spent outdoors. All to make the most of this idyllic and very popular spot whenever the temperature rises.