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We've compiled the best of the best in Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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.
This family-run pastry shop is said to be the birthplace of the tortas de Azeitão, sweet sponge cake rolls filled with an egg-and-cinnamon custard, but there are many more to sample, including the moscatel-based doce de moscatel.
In the heart of old-town Cascais, Santini Cascais has what many people consider to be the country's best Italian-style gelato.
Offering a vegan alternative to Sesimbra's many fish and seafood restaurants, Aloha Café serves delicious plant-based breakfasts, brunches, and light meals. Expect an abundance of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables alongside vegan versions of classic desserts like cheesecake and pudim (a sweet flan usually made with egg). More substantial dishes include a different set meal every day, and a delicious vegan burger made with portobello mushrooms and smoked tofu. The cozy interior is pure rustic-chic, but on sunny days you'll want to take a seat on the terrace to enjoy the unobstructed ocean views.
In an eye-catching blue-and-white building that also houses the tourist information center and a small museum, the Casa da Baía serves cakes and pastries from around the region. You place your order at a small deli (well stocked with Moscatel and Península de Setúbal wines) and then take a seat in the dining room or head out to a vast terrace complete with comfy deck chairs.
"House of the Endless Sea" serves deliciously fresh seafood, burgers, and light meals accompanied by excellent craft beers and an amiable clientele. The informal restaurant is popular with local trail runners and cyclists, who stop here to refuel after a hard day's endorphin-boosting exercise.
Tucked away in the valley of Serra de Louro, down the road from Palmela, o Gaiteiro is a picturesque place to relax with a drink. There are two distinctly different cafés on the property: a winter one on the lower end among the pines with cozy seating, and a summer one perched on a small cliff with glassed-in walls and a balcony that faces the forested hills. There's a large and enticing pool with a glorious backdrop, surrounded by sun loungers which can be rented for the afternoon during the summer months.
The Portuguese have a sweet tooth—not a morning, or afternoon, goes by without a stop for a coffee and pastry—and this traditional little shop, with its wide selection of tarts, cakes, biscuits, and croissants, is a great introduction to typical Portuguese sweets. It's also a good spot for a light breakfast.
