When you live on (or are scouting) the Lisbon Riviera, you quickly learn that the locals judge a restaurant by two things: how fresh the catch is and how well the grill handles steak. The eight spots below tick both boxes and are easy to reach from the typical expat neighbourhoods of Cascais, Estoril and Birre.
| # | Restaurant | Why Expats Love It | Insider Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belém Restaurant (Praça do Comércio – Cascais) | Old-school Portuguese taverna where the waiters still fillet fish tableside and the chalkboard always lists a secret steak. | No website – arrive before 20:00 or call +351 214 862 xxx for an English-friendly reservation. |
| 2 | Entreáguas (Rua Frederico Arouca, Cascais) | Candle-lit dining room facing the Ribeira das Vinhas stream; excellent picanha and daily sea-bream. | Ask for the “menu em Inglês” and book the front window table for a date-night vibe. |
| 3 | Mar do Inferno | A Cascais institution hanging over the Atlantic; octopus & rib-eye are both charcoal-grilled. Sunset balcony seating is a must. (mardoinferno.pt) | Reserve online or by WhatsApp – it sells out on weekends. |
| 4 | Furnas do Guincho | Waves crash beneath the terrace while you cut into a butter-soft filet mignon or share the famous seafood cataplana. (furnasdoguincho.pt) | Download the free Guincho parking app for stress-free beach parking. |
| 5 | Monte Mar (Guincho Road) | Chic but relaxed; hake fillets & cockle rice for fish-lovers, aged sirloin for carnivores, plus killer sea views. (montemar.pt) | Lunch menu is better value; dinner requires a credit-card guarantee in high season. |
| 6 | Marisco na Praça (Cascais Marina) | Choose your lobster or DOP steak from the market counter and they cook it to order – ideal for groups. (marisconapraca.com) | Pair dinner with a marina stroll; validated parking for two hours. |
| 7 | Beirão (Birre) | Neighbourhood gem famed for ribs and “robalo grelhado” (grilled sea-bass). Good kids’ menu. | Closed Sundays; best to phone ahead as the terrace is small. |
| 8 | Visconde da Luz (Historic Centre) | Brasserie-style menu: Portuguese beef medallions alongside turbot and local “vinho verde”. Great for people-watching. | Go early (19:00) to snag an outdoor table without a booking. |
How we picked them
- Walkable or a short Bolt ride from popular expat districts.
- Menus equally strong on land & sea dishes.
- English-speaking staff and online booking where possible.
- Consistently high ratings from our WhatsApp foodie network plus recent online reviews.
Practical expat tweaks
- Book ahead – September to May is conference & golf-season in Cascais.
- Share mains – portions tend to feed two; ordering one fish & one meat plate lets you taste both.
- Mind the salt – ask for “pouco sal” if you’re not used to Portuguese seasoning.
- Parking hacks – Guincho restaurants sit on the N247; grab a space at the south end of the beach car-park and walk up.