Where to eat & drink when in Sintra Centre
Like many other tourist towns in the world, Sintra has an abundance of restaurants, cafes & tascas making it hard to decide on where to stop. Here is my guide to some of the best places to stop whilst in town. I know how it can be when you aren’t somewhere long you want to eat at the best places, so I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!
water
Starting with the basics – water. Sounds silly maybe but it’s not always known if you can drink tap and fountain water abroad. Being set into the mountain there is no shortage of fresh mineral water fountains. Although many locals still use these as their primary source of water, local councils have added plaques to make tourists cautious and drink at their own risks due to the increase of modern farming methods. If you have a reusable bottle or just need something to quench your thirst it’s perfect and refreshing.
Sweet tooth
Coffee and cakes are a great way to refuel during a busy day seeing the sites. Head to one of these cafés for the best selection of pastries, breads and light bites.
Queijadas da Sapa – So you’ve tried Pastel de Nata in Belém, now you must try a Queijada de Sintra in Sintra and here they have been making them since 1756. These thin crusted, cheese and cinnamon treats are my absolute favourite Portuguese pastry. For anyone who catches a train into Sintra, you’ll walk past here to get to the centre so there’s no excuse to miss it.
Pastelaria Casa do Preto – Based in S. Pedro, this cafe is a great stop to have lunch/ grab some snacks for any journey or just stop to enjoy a coffee. This is only accessible if you are driving or taking the bus as it’s a bit of a walk from the station.
Casa Piriquita & Piriquita II – Due to such a high demand for their delicious pastries the bakery opened a second one in the centre. Both serve pastries, coffees and light bites but a heads up you will have to join the queue no matter what time of the day.
Alba Gelato – Grab an afternoon ice-cream or a late night sweet treat and coffee. Order a take-away and sit down on a bench in the Jardim Correnteza opposite. Time it right and enjoy an ice-cream whilst watching the sunset over the hills.
something a little bigger
Needing something a bi more? There are so many options, with small restaurants on every corner, side-by-side on every street it becomes a tough decision sometimes. So here are my favourites at random.
Villa 6 – Tucked away on a quieter street, enjoy classic Portuguese and Mediterranean dishes alongside cocktails, regional beers, ciders and wines. They also have a great selection of spirits! Price Range – £
Tip – Most of the time the seating is in the shade so you may want a jacket.
INcomum by Luís Santos – Enjoy contemporary fine dining without the price tag. Enjoy their al-la-carte or lunchtime set menu* with options for all diets and portion sizes.
Price Range – £-££ [Depending on what menu.]
*This may not be currently available due to Covid-19 restriction and restaurants reducing their menu options.
Bacalhau na Vila – Bacalhau meaning salted codfish, is a staple ingredient in many popular dishes throughout the country and here they serve a fine selection of those dishes. Some with a slight twist on the traditional but nonetheless a great stop to go to try it for the first time. Order a few dishes and share with your party. Codfish is the main ingredient, in all but a couple of dishes, so if fish isn’t your preferred meal maybe skip this one.
Price Range – ££
Becco de Sintra – A relatively new restaurant in the centre has made it’s mark significantly with locals and tourists. The menu contains a variety of dishes which all have a Portuguese element too. Both main meals and tapas items are available making it a great spot anytime in the day and located only a short walk from the main square of the National Palace it’s understandable why it’s booked up quickly. Here is where I discovered port wine over fresh pineapple, a dish I never knew I needed in my life.
Price Range – ££
I have added a price range guide to all of the above based on one person for food/drinks but obviously this is rough and depends on what you decide to order, your choice of beverages and whether you have a single course or more. Prices are slightly more than in other areas of Portugal due to it being a popular place for tourists so I have considered this in the price range. But it is cheap in comparison to some tourist towns in the rest of Europe.
Night out
Wanting to have dinner before leaving, then I only have one recommendation and that’s because every time I am in Sintra I return here;
Restaurante Apeadeiro – Only a few minutes walk from the train station, this is the great stop to enjoy classic portuguese dishes, great wines all with friendly service. It’s well-known and a go to for locals. Some dishes are designed to share whole fresh caught fish or rice dishes. My advice is to ask for a portuguese copy of the menu as well and use google translate to read the menu. Their english menu isn’t the best translation of the dishes but it’s understandable and a literal translation. Do make sure you book as it can get very busy both at lunch and in the evenings throughout the year.
Price Range ££
late night drinks
Lastly if you are after a late night beer or a chilled gin and tonic after a long day of sightseeing check out visit Salla de Estar. A short walk from the train station or there is free late night parking just down the road for those designated drivers out there. It’s in a great location for anyone staying in the village or a train ride away. Catch up with friends and enjoy this laid back bar. With tons of drinks choices, chilled vibes and interesting decorations it’s the place to be. It’s a popular spot with locals and indoor smoking is permitted but the bar is pretty well ventilated. Can get really busy at weekends but it’s one of the only bars which is open late into the night. Usually closes around 2am most nights. However due to current restrictions this may have changed in accordance with Portuguese laws. All drinks are pretty cheap, the more local the drink, ie. Sagres or Superbock, is cheaper than any imported beers.
