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, services were great. Definitely recommend if you are in Sintra after visiting the castles.read more

I found this one. Find my gluten-free amazing gluten-free options and attentiveness so plus one…read morethen my friend local friend said oh yes it's the best chef in town. Indeed food was absolutely amazing. They had pasta amazing risotto great salads. All the basics were recovered exquisitely but then there was amazing extras that brief and better who could think of these great dishes of this place Prices were really good. Definitely this is a must.

The food was amazing. The best I've had in Portugal. Everything was fresh and delicious. The…read moreservice was outstanding. I recommend it 100%.

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.

A hidden gem just down from Regaleira Tower that serves delicious food, carries a wonderfully…read morepleasant vibe and makes for one of the better lunch spots you'll find in Sintra The space is cozy and splendid, with two small wine racks on display showcasing a solid variety of bottles to choose from. WiFi is available if you need it. We ordered and while waiting, enjoyed a bottle of wine for €18, a great value for a sit down lunch. Food hit the table about 20 minutes in, which was perfectly reasonable. My wife went with the steak, potatoes, eggs and sautéed vegetables. The steak was seasoned perfectly. I had the codfish with cornbread, sweet potatoes and spinach, a dish that is distinctly Portuguese and done really well here. Generous portioning for one, and again the seasoning was spot on across the board.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ A small but appreciated detail: the espressos arrived on warm plates, a thoughtful touch that suggests the kitchen actually cares about what they're sending out. After a morning of climbing through Sintra's palaces and towers, this is exactly the kind of place you want to stumble upon. Highly recommend making it part of your afternoon.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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.

We came in January and it was a little cold (they had blankets at the table). Nice hidden place…read morewith great service. We had the octopus and fried cod (both local cuisine). Then we had Pudium de Queijada de Sintra (Sintra pudding made with cheese). All were very tasty... but I would highly recommend the Pudim.

Food, service, and ambiance was nice! Especially liked the…read moresardines and sea bream. Octopus was tender, but I thought needed a bit more seasoning. Cod was very tender as well. Sangria and bread was great! Would def recommend

his place couldn't accommodate all 7 of us. They could only do 4-5, so some of us ended up going to…read moreanother restaurant. They were short handed and I think they didn't really want to take us in but did. We were extremely grateful. They said it may take some time for our food to come out. We chanced it as reviews raved about this place. Also, we don't have reservations. The ambiance was great, staff was great, owner was amazing, and the food was really good. I highly recommend this place BUT I would make reservations. We learned this the hard way but got extremely lucky. We made sure to tip really well. I highly recommend this place and big thank you to the owner for taking us in.

A week in Portugal, this was my favorite place. If there were a Michelin system for casual little…read moreplaces this would be a Three Star. The food (wife) was absolutely phenomenal and the service (husband) was casual but attentive like a fine dining restaurant. The dishes were from all over Portugal like such as Cape Verdian beef; sheep cheese on toast; smoked duck with orange slices; grilled shrimp. It's about a 20 minute walk from the center of Sintra, which for the record completely empties out after the day trippers are gone.

Five stars for how fast the waitress has to work here. This place gets very busy (especially since…read moreit's in a highly touristic area of Sintra), and even more so in rainy hours when everyone is trying to hide indoors. They mostly offer pastries and beverages, but despite one person managing all the tables, our order was accurate and came out quickly. We were able to escape the rain for a bit and fuel up with sugar and coffee. Fun historical note: the bakery was established in 1862 (164 years ago!) by baker Amaro dos Santos and his wife Constância Gomes, and it is now managed by the fifth generation of the family, which makes the quick coffee stop feel even more special.

So grateful that my tour guide recommended this pastry shop. They are known for "travesseiros" or…read moreflaky pillow pastries with almond and egg cream, and Queijadas de Sintra, small, sweet cheese tarts. These are considered a local delicacy in this region. Not so secret because there's always a line to try this! Definitely use the to go option so you can have a snack while touring shops. Or sit down for a coffee.

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.

Enjoyed this family style restaurant in the heart of Sintra square. Friendly staff. Generous…read moreportions.

We had a lunch break while on a bus tour of Sintra and passed on the guide's recs for lunch and…read moretook a shot at this place. So glad we did! We were welcomed by a couple really friendly and funny young lady servers and ours was especially so cute, helpful, and funny to talk and mess with!! Wife had a great green wine and I got a huge sangria for one that was great and fruity. She ordered a "seafood rice" served invite own metal crock packed with octopus and stuff that she couldn't finish. I got the steak and chips (fries) and a perfectly sunny side egg on top (13.70 Euros). She loved hers and my server made sure mine was truly medium rare leaving it cooked and not bloody yet swimming in juice. Beware in Portugal sometimes the "steak" is a fillet if you don't confirm first like this one. So glad I went med rare!! Perfectly cooked fries too. These ladies were actually from Nepal and we enjoyed talking with them about that and we joked a lot. It was a fun welcoming lunch. Two police officers dined next to us talking with the Portuguese owner so it's a mix of locals and tourists. It's right in the center of it all and convenient. Large menu and great service. Very affordable as well! Not the best steak I've ever had but the best for this price point generally and we would def go back again next trip. Our server was named Asmee(what a cutie!) and her associate Greeta.

Spacious indoor and outdoor seating area. Excellent Portuguese dishes. I recommend the Caldo…read moreverse com chourico- cabbage soup with Portuguese sausage. For the main entree, the bochecha de pro Estrada em bingo tinto - pork cheek stewed with red wine and mashed potatoes. Lastly, the chicken pot pies were tasty. They serve you two crispy pies with soft baked chicken meat.

I saw outside. Beautifully placed terrace to watch people watch. It was chilly and the waitress…read more(without asking) brought me a blanket. She also offered recommendations which was very helpful. The cod was delicious. Well seasoned and cooked. No complaints. Anyone that is looking for a good meal and even better service, come here.

I'm surprised by the mixed reviews. Our recent visit did not disappoint. Came here on a whim after…read moreour tour of the castles. We happened to look up restaurants on Travel Advisor and this one was highly rated. The outside dining area was appealing but as we walked inside, I was drawn in by the decor - clean, cozy, and serene. Their bathroom was stunning immersed in green tile. We were seated in the back next to a window with a beautiful view. Service was attentive yet unintrusive. We were so hungry and ordered quite a few dishes: Starters: Bread/Butter Olives Foie Gras White Anchovies Prawns with Garlic Main dishes: Caesar Salad (enough to be shared by 2 people) Steak was served medium rare and came with fries Bacalhau - Cod EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING was delicious!! I did not realize that the Caesar Salad came with chicken. It was a meal of its own. However, the steak and cod were the highlight of our lunch experience! The steak was well-seasoned and tender. They made sure it was prepared medium rare. The cod was also tasty paired with sauteed greens and their version of mashed potatoes. Such a beautiful restaurant. This spot is a hidden gem in Sintra - give it some love and check it out.