6 Best Restaurants in Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal

A standout on the pedestrianized "Rua Amarela" eating and drinking strip, Cantina Clandestina serves delicious tapas, light meals, and cocktails (try the Clandestina, which combines gin with lemon, basil, and ginger beer) to a relaxed crowd. You can take a seat in the cozy confines of Cantina Clandestina itself, at sister bar-restaurant Taberna Clandestina across the road, or arrive early to grab one of the much-coveted tables on the famous yellow-painted street itself. 

Enjoy colorful salads, seafood, and other light meals with a view over Cascais bay at this laidback bar-restaurant in the center of town. Communal seating, sharing plates, and a lively musical backdrop make for a sociable atmosphere, and the sea breezes blowing through the open windows keep things fresh on hot days. You can book a table on the terrace if you don't fancy group dining.

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 á la carte options are reasonably priced, it's the three-course set lunches that are the best value.

In the middle of gorgeous gardens, this unusual restaurant occupies a lovingly restored traditional windmill perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The outdoor seating area has different seating areas tumbling down the cliff and shaded by pines and flowering cacti. The food has Mexican and Middle Eastern accents, with excellent vegetarian options along with the fresh fish synonymous with the Portuguese coast.

This restaurant—a glassed-in wooden cabana built in the sand dunes—has a laid-back beach vibe with colorful pillows, swinging hammocks, and weathered wooden tables. The menu is strong on daily fish specials.

In a half-timbered building, this family-run restaurant features baronial surroundings of burnished wood, heavy drapes, and oak beams that have played host to royalty, high-ranking politicians, and celebrated authors. The menu spans continents, with everything from French to Indian and Indonesian selections.