Living in Cascais, Best Restaurants, And Connecting Through Food with Sue Reddel and Diana Laskaris

Sue and Diana live in Cascais, Portugal, a delightful beach city showcasing amazing traditional Portuguese food with some of the best restaurants you can find anywhere in the country. Listen to this podcast episode or play it on any podcasting platform. Feel free to jump down to the bottom for Sue and Diana’s restaurant and food recommendations from Cascais, Portugal.

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Philosophies of Food Travelist

Sue Reddel and Diana Laskaris run Food Travelist, a website showcasing their thoughts and ideas from exploring the world with their tastebuds first. Sue and Diana hold a true passion for food looking to share their findings with the rest of the world and encouraging readers to explore culinary destinations for themselves.

Food Travelist is all about encouraging travelers to eat sustainably and travel responsibly while uncovering hidden gems in every city. Sue and Diana take their passion seriously and became certified culinary travel professionals under the World Food Travel Association. 

To both Sue and Diana, exploring destinations through the food not only gets us closer to the culture but gets us closer to the people behind the food: the cooks, the farmers, and those producing the ingredients. 

They explain that food breaks down barriers and allows people to relate on a simple level, offering communication that supersedes languages. People can disagree on all subjects but everyone can agree on what’s delicious. Food acts as the ultimate tool for connection. 

Shortly after this interview, my wife and I went to Cascais and shared a meal with Sue and Diana at A Nova Estrela for an amazing night of stories and delicious Portuguese food. These two are true gems in the culinary travel world. Make sure to follow their blog and join them for their weekly chat on Twitter. 

Train to Cascais From Lisbon

Sue and Diana weren’t lying when they explained how easy it was to hop on the train and travel to Cascais from Lisbon. Head to the Cais do Sodré train station in Lisbon and find the ticket office by the main entrance. Buy a round trip ticket to Cascais from an operator guaranteeing you purchased the right ticket and ask for the platform to ensure you ride the correct train. 

In about 40 minutes you will arrive at the Cascais train station right in the middle of downtown. Super easy. Keep your ticket for the ride home since you already purchased the return fare. Trains leave every 20 minutes all day every day, so no need to book in advance. 

If you are planning a late night in Cascais, make sure to ask when the last train of the night leaves so you don’t miss it! 

Traditional Portuguese Food in Cascais

If compared to other cities in Portugal, Cascais leans towards the more expensive end, because the city and location are so desirable. All over the city, family-run restaurants called “Tascas” provide excellent traditional Portuguese meals at a responsible price. When exploring Cascais, prioritize these dishes for the full Portuguese food experience. 

Polvo a lagareiro – Grilled octopus with white wine and garlic sauce served with potatoes.

Carne de Porco Alentejana – Fried pork cooked with tiny clams in a tangy white wine sauce.

Piri-Piri Chicken – Grilled Chicken over hot wood coals served with a spicy chili sauce.

Prego – A steak sandwich eaten as dessert after a heavy seafood meal. 

Best Places to Eat in Cascais

With their time living in the Cascais and love for food, I trust the recommendations that Sue and Diana give below. Make this your hit list for the best places to eat in the city. 

Taberna Economica – Must-Try Grilled Octopus

Sue’s favorite dish and a place she highly recommends for one of the best Polvo a lagareiro in Cascais. 
Location: R. Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo 35, 2750-483 Cascais, Portugal

Palmtree – Large Group Seating 

Diana mentioned the Pork and Clams are particularly great here. Although it may appear touristy, plenty of locals frequent the Palmtree, and the setting is perfect for large groups. 
Location: Largo Luís de Camões 46, 2750-458 Cascais, Portugal

Jardim Dos Frangos (Chicken Garden) – Best Piri Piri Chicken in Cascais

No visit to Portugal is complete without Piri Piri chicken. The Chicken Garden is right in the center of town and you can even look in the front window to see chickens twirling away over the hot coals. 
Location: Alameda Combatentes da Grande Guerra 68, 2750-285 Cascais, Portugal

A Nova Estrela – Traditional Tasca Where Everything Is Delicious

One of Sue and Diana’s favorite restaurants, and where we ate together during my day trip to Cascais. Everything on the menu is delicious. I ate the Polvo a lagareiro and thought it was superb. Give this one a try!
Location: Rua do Poço Novo 205 b, 2750-467 Cascais, Portugal

Manjar Da Vila – Perfect Lunch in Cascais 

With a regularly changing menu, Manjar Da Villa focuses on what’s fresh so it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly to eat there, but their chicken and seafood options never disappointed Sue and Diana. Going for lunch is a great option because it’s only 8.50 EUR for an entire meal.
Location: R. Alexandre Herculano 25, 2750-642 Cascais, Portugal

Restaurante Marisco Na Praca – Amazing Seafood Restaurant in Cascais 

Check out their amazing seafood display to see what’s fresh and choose what you like. They have specialties like tiny slipper lobsters that are only available in Cascais. Do not forget the prego! 
Location: R. Padre Moisés da Silva 34, 2750-437 Cascais, Portugal

Café Galeria House of Wonders –  Incredible Vegetarian Option in Cascais

Showcasing an extensive menu for vegans and vegetarians that will even make carnivores happy. Dine outside on the beautiful outdoor terrace and a rooftop for an open-air experience. 
Location: R. da Misericórdia 53, 2750-642 Cascais, Portugal

Santini’s – Unforgettable Gelato 

I can attest to this recommendation as we finished our meal in Cascais by stopping at Santini’s and getting a few scoops of their amazing gelato. I decided on the mango and passion fruit with both flavors igniting my tastebuds after a delicious Portuguese dinner. 
Location: Alameda Combatentes da Grande Guerra 100, 2750-326 Cascais, Portugal

Things to Do in Cascais

We can only eat so much before our stomachs burst. With this being a coastal city, make sure to check out the amazing outdoor options available in Cascais. 

Walk Everywhere

Amazing trails wind along the water, up canyons, through the hills, and just about everywhere. Sue and Diana recommend walking along the Paredao, the promenade that goes all the way along the sea from Cascais.

Bird Watching at Parque Marechal Carmona

An amazing assortment of birds altogether in one place: pigeons, chickens, and roosters, ducks, geese, even a few peacocks. Take a seat under the trees for a wonderful picnic. 

Don’t Forget the Local Markets

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, farmer’s markets fill the Mercado da Vila with a flea market in the parking lot on Wednesdays. 

Connect with Sue and Diana

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