10 Best Restaurants in Sintra, Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula

This bakery in Sintra’s old town has been dishing out regional pastries to visitors since 1862. It is known for its travesseiros, a pillow-shaped puff pastry filled with almond and egg custard and dusted with sugar. It’s become so popular that they opened another place around the corner called Piriquita II.

Not far from the town's main train station, this restaurant's location on one of Sintra's major thoroughfares means that it is always busy. The dining room is elegantly lighted with crisp linens on the tables, but the favorite seats are on the street. While the à la carte options are reasonably priced, the lunch deal with a drink is the best value during the week.

With an enviable location near the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, this elegant bistro has been attracting a well-heeled crowd since the 1920s. There's a covered area for outdoor dining, while the mirrored walls, ceiling frescoes, and crystal chandeliers of the interior are in keeping with the sense of opulence.

Inside white stucco walls beneath a barrel-tile roof, this tavern is said to be one of the oldest in Portugal. The interior has exposed brick walls, expansive windows, and a huge fireplace that keeps the place cozy in cooler weather. The menu is Portuguese with a French accent, and the fair prices ensure a steady flow of locals alongside the daytrippers.

Dine with a view of the Palácio Nacional de Sintra at this contemporary restaurant inside the Moon Hill Hostel. The menu combines traditional Portuguese flavors with touches of Italian and French cuisine. There are plenty of codfish dishes, as well as meat options like the aged entrecôte with truffled mashed potato (a house favorite).

One of the city's first wine shops, Loja do Vinho has a cozy cellar lined with hundreds of bottles from all over the world. Plates of cured meats, boards of local cheeses, and bowls overflowing with olives make good companions to the many varieties of wine on offer here or on the tiny outdoor terrace. If you enjoy the bottle you had with your meal, you can buy another to take home.

One of the best oceanside restaurants in nearby Praia das Maçãs, here sandy-footed diners can feast on freshly grilled fish caught just hours before. Try the octopus ceviche and the seafood rice with shrimp.

Locals make their way up a steep hill to this restaurant for traditional dishes like roasted cod that are cooked with panache and served by a friendly staff. Steaks are a specialty, as are the mouthwatering desserts that include house-made cakes and tarts. On warm days the small terrace is delightful, and there is often live guitar music welcoming you at the door.

At this restaurant in the center of town, the handful of tables in the convivial dining room spill out onto the sidewalk in warmer weather. Seafood petiscos (the Portuguese version of tapas) and a good wine selection are the main attractions. Don't expect the speediest service in town, but relax with a bottle of the house wine as waiters hurry past.