If you're in Sintra, do NOT miss Tascantiga. It was easily our favorite meal of the trip. It feels…read morelike dining in someone's Portuguese family home, with mismatched plates and charm in every detail. The sangria (by the glass or in a clay jug) is a must.  We went all in as a group of four diners, ordering the sardine sandwich (incredibly fresh and layered with flavor), fried fish, octopus, scrumptious pig cheeks, and the most delicious chicken wings. Honestly, I could've skipped the steak sandwich, but everything else was outstanding. Didn't make it to dessert, but the plates we saw heading to other tables looked good. Even the bathroom adds to the experience, decorated like a home, complete with fake hanging "laundry". We walked in during a busy lunch time on a weekend day. Indoor and outdoor seating is available depending on the weather.

This was the first spot we visited on our second leg of our Portugal trip. It was easy to find and…read morewas very casual. The tapas sized food was perfect for what we needed as a simple appetizer as we ate through Sintra. We coupled it with wine and beer. Service was fast and friendly. It was the only spot that had a lot of people - speaks to its superiority in the area perhaps. I'd definitely recommend - get the seafood salad!

Casual reasonably priced dinner with friendly service and lovely food! We had a 730pm reservation,…read morewere seated right away. The food came swiftly, and they gave us a shot of sherry complimentary post meal! The place is good for large groups, those on budgets, vegans/vegetarians. My husband got the peri peri chicken a d it was super hot but he liked the flavor (just wish they had ice cream on the menu to have after to cool down). I went with the p ppl Goat cheese-- it was colorful, packed with veggies & flavor!! My vegetarian friends, they are a handful of options for us!!

Metamorphosis has one of the best reviews in. Sintra but I was underwhelmed. It took about 45…read moreminutes to get our entrees of cod and grilled giltfish. The giltfish was seasoned well and cooked properly but the cod was a disaster - it was overcooked and under seasoned. We were surprised by the way as well since there were only 4 tables and we ordered fish. We also got the clams which was average as well. Not sure if the restaurant went through an unfortunate metaphorphosis.

Food was delicious. Servers were attentive. Small quaint place with soothing music playing.read more

the food was good, well priced. Service was average... required a decent amountof waiting or…read morechasing down the wait staff. Gluten-free options are plentiful and the staff is knowledgeable.

Bacalhau na Vila -- A temple to Portugal's most iconic ingredient…read more Portugal has a deep culinary relationship with Bacalhau, and Bacalhau na Vila leans into that heritage completely. This isn't simply a restaurant that happens to serve cod; the entire concept is built around it. The menu explores bacalhau through multiple traditional preparations, each highlighting a different texture and flavour profile. We started with cream of spinach soup with cod, a surprisingly elegant opener. The soup was smooth and comforting, with the cod adding a savoury depth that balanced the creaminess without overpowering it. The appetizers showcased two beloved Portuguese classics. The codfish cakes (pastéis/bolinhos de bacalhau) were perfectly executed--light, crisp, and fluffy with well-balanced seasoning. The pataniscas, a looser cod fritter, had a rustic charm with a golden exterior and tender interior. For the main course we ordered roasted cod, which was excellent. The fish was flaky and deeply flavourful, demonstrating why bacalhau has been such an enduring staple in Portuguese cuisine. What makes the restaurant memorable is how intentionally it celebrates this ingredient. Cod has historically played a major role in Portugal's food culture, and Bacalhau na Vila turns that history into a cohesive dining experience. Service was friendly, attentive, and professional, with staff who clearly know the menu and take pride in the concept. If you're visiting Sintra and want to experience one of Portugal's most iconic ingredients prepared in several traditional styles, Bacalhau na Vila is a great place to do it.

The food and service were incredible! We ordered the steak, octopus salad, and roasted cod dish,…read moreand every bite was fresh and delicious. The white sangria was also so good!

Lovely ambiance and great food! The four of us all had a wonderful evening and everyone enjoyed…read moretheir meals. Definitely recommend as a lively, delicious place to eat.

I went back and forth between three and four stars, and came to the conclusion I had higher hopes…read morebeing on vacation and Europe has always had a higher standard for me with food compared to the United States. Inside was classically decorated with many square tables that could be rearranged for groups of 1-2 or larger. We did not need a reservation but it was a Tuesday night at 8pm. Service was friendly but could felt similar to the service you get in many tourist restaurants and the idea of American tipping seems to be taking root. Food portions were hearty and seemed to be a more formal take on Portuguese comfort food (I imagine). The Cod Duque was under seasoned with the Octopus done well and the sweet potato puree was just....there.

Came as part of a group tour. Service was okay but the restaurant was definitely at capacity for…read morelunch and felt cramped. Wasn't a fan of the seafood rice soup (shrimp and monk fish) nor the flan inspired dessert. At least the prices were pretty reasonable.

Visiting Sintra just for the night. Suggested by the hotel I'm stayed. Highly recommend!! Out of…read morethe park on all counts. Service food and prices are extraordinary. Had the fillet and rice as an entree, melon and procutto as an app and ANY of the deserts are a home run!!

Absolutely amazing dinner. Every single dish hit the spot for us. The service was excellent. Highly…read morehighly recommended.

The tasting menu was a fantastic experience. We had the place to ourselves, come here before this…read moreplace becomes more popular. It is a bit off the tourist trail, but worth going slightly out of your way for.

The monk fish rice was terrible. So fishy. We ordered fried pork and it was sautéed with brown…read moresauce. I am not sure why the reviews are high here. My husband and I regretted coming here. Nothing tastes good. Pork was chewy. Sauce was not tasty. Fish rice tasted bad.

Walked in for a Tuesday night dinner and was seated immediately! The interior is really big with a…read morelot of tables. We ordered a couple items but my favorite was the monkfish with rice. It was kind of like a soup and came to our table in a large pot with a ladle. The flavors were fantastic, one of the best things I've eaten in Sintra. The service was good, very friendly. We received a free dessert :) The other two dishes we ordered were just okay. One of it was a seafood skewer and the other dish was a grilled cod. Both had a very simple olive oil taste and we requested some hot sauce to go with it. I find that Portuguese food tends to lack salt in general. The menus were outdated and didn't give the food any justice. The menu with prices on it was in Portuguese only so we had to play some matching with the English menu and the Portuguese one to figure out the prices.

The best restaurant…read more We were heading to Sintra for the day and found this restaurant online and are so glad we did. It's the best hidden gem. It's about 10-15 minutes from Sintra, in the small village of Colares. Unlike Sintra, there aren't any tourists and it's truly locals only. We both got the steak and fries and it was the best steak ever. After we got done, the owner came over and chatted with us about the area and the restaurant. She's lovely and very proud of the restaurant. We asked her to pick out a dessert for us and she brought us cookie cake and it was SO good. When we were having lunch, a delivery came with fresh produce, so you know the food is fresh. The restaurant was authentic Portuguese food and worth the trip. If you're going to Sintra, I highly recommend coming here on your way! If I was a local, I'd eat here every meal. The best food and the best people. Truly felt like they welcomed me into their home. Note, it is cash only, so make sure to have cash!

I had a great dinner with the soup and the grilled octopus (served with baked potatoes and wilted…read moregreens) on a Thursday night. The chocolate mousse was also delicious.. a welcome change to all the pastries I have been eating. No fado, yet had great service. Ended up chatting with locals in neighboring tables and learning about the region. Even outside, they have a cute decor, a cute cat that comes by to say hello, and tables that are well separated for COVID-19 precautions. I would come back.

Stopped here after a visit to the ocean. Perfect place for for families and a bit of local culture…read more Service is slow but that is the norm for our journey here in Portugal. Enjoy the pace of life. Food is awesome. Cannot recommend more of you Love a local feeling experience with a great atmosphere. I recommend the sangria here but as is the case with all restaurants in this area green wine is best.

Absolutely charmig place with great interiors, nice garden area and a pleasant family atmosphere…read more The restaurant is located far away of crowdy touristic spots and you can truly relax there. The food is delicious !