Liquid state: best bars in Cascais

If there’s a bit of the Amazon in Cascais, it’s at Palaphita, the town’s most sustainable bar. It’s located in a small forest inside Casa da Guia and uses nature as architecture, just as it did in Rio de Janeiro, before arriving in Portugal in 2020. In addition to many outdoor tables, there are palafitas scattered around the space, perfect for hosting couples in love, groups of friends
or even families with kids – everyone is welcome. The menu, also with Amazonian inspirations, includes perfect options for the end of the day. To eat, try the Tapi (dadinhos and tapioca hydrated and seasoned with cheese, served with spicy honey), and to drink go for the Verano (a mix of caipirinha with sacolé ice-cream) or the Boto cor- de-rosa (vodka, tequila, cucumber and lime).

Compañia de Bebidas is the younger sibling of the Paco Bigodes taco shop next door, and there can be no doubt that it lives up to its name. Among the classics and house-craftedrecipes, there is a section dedicated to coffee cocktails. The Carajillo con Marshmallow, for example, combines Licor 43, coffee and two toasted marshmallows that are ready to be dipped into the foam. A great choice for those who don’t think twice about substituting a dessert with an alcoholic drink. Be sure to take note of two other suggestions: the Jaguar, with vodka, Aperol, passion fruit and homemade tepache (fermented pineapple peel with water and sugar), and the El Temazcal, which is probably the most unusual flavour combination you’ll taste here - whisky, Amaretto, grapefruit and salted caramel syrup.

Blue Bar is the bar of Hotel Baía, which, as the name suggests, is located in the middle of Cascais Bay, with a decent view, mixing sand, boats and sea. With live music, DJ sets (every Friday and Saturday), drinks and snacks, it’s a beautiful place to spend the afternoon and watch the sunset, try the house sangrias, and indulge in burgers, toasts and salads. The cocktail list is extensive and there is no shortage of classics and other creations. Our suggestion is the traditional Piña Colada, with pineapple, orange, gin, campari, martini and rum. A moscow mule, with vodka, lime, ginger beer, is also always handy.

With Peruvian cuisine and an Asian twist, this restaurant and bar is educating its clientele on how to appreciate pisco. The classic Pisco Sour is increasingly popular at lunchtime. If you can only try one of its cocktails (although the nights are long), the head bartender recommends the Matchu Pisco. In addition to this South American spirit, the recipe includes pineapple, Martini Bianco and cardamom. In the realm of successful puns, they also have the Ginco de Mayo, a best-selling drink made with gin, lime, mint and ginger.

In the middle of Avenida Valbom, there's hardly anyone in Cascais who doesn't know Casa da Pérgola, a beautiful century-old mansion protected by a garden. Outside the gate, photos have always been taken of the façade, which also stands out for its hand-painted tiles, but it's rarely been possible to cross that barrier, even though it houses a small hotel with just 12 rooms. Until now. The Bougain Restaurant & Garden Bar has opened on the ground floor of the Casa da Pérgola with a terrace that discreetly occupies the garden and where you feel very good. The menu is classic and the service attentive. The bar, with a few seats at the counter, is on the terrace (heated in winter) and serves classic cocktails, as well as signature ones.

It’s official: Central and South American cuisines have become one of the highlights of Cascais, and the bar scene is no exception. Just step into Malacopa on Rua Amarela to begin the showdown with a house-made cocktail menu designed to accompany the popular meat and fish tacos. The star? Perhaps a sour called Última Palabra, which is suggested as a digestif to finish off your meal. It’s based on mezcal, with Luxardo and Chartreuse liqueurs, pineapple juice and lime. The garnish varies, it’s edible and Instagram usually loves it.

Chutnify went all out when it set about combining Indian cuisine with a cocktail bar. Punkha is a kind of antechamber that’s almost a must-visit either before or after dinner. What you’ll taste here always has a touch of difference, starting with the exotic Bombay Badshah, a refreshing (and green) mix of gin, lemon juice, egg white and basil. Other ingredients catch your eye here and there - the cilantro in Delhi Dhamaka, the mango pulp in Made in Cochin, the pomegranate juice in Kashmir Ki Kali and the Indian whisky in Gone in Goa. No matter how classic the base, India is an ever-present.

The bar and everything that comes out of it has held a prominent place in this establishment from day one. Years later, that principle hasn’t changed. With a menu designed for sharing, cocktails might be the touch of individualism everyone needs. And to stand out, one of their specialties is served in an unpretentious glass. It’s called the Pink Starburst and is made with rum from Fiji, dragon fruit syrup and a touch of rhubarb and lime. In the realm of fruits, essential to summertime mixology, you can also try Tom’s, which is a blend of vodka, strawberry, passion fruit and lime.

A summer classic never hurt anyone, and in a place where specialties range from fruit bowls to towering pancakes and well-topped toasts, nothing beats a fruity recipe to accompany them. Combining tequila, triple sec and lime can only result in a margarita, which is one of the highlights of Fauna & Flora’s menu on hot days. Those less inclined toward this timeless mix can always ask for the other daily cocktails, which usually lean towards daiquiris and mojitos. If you’ve never explored the wonders of day-time drinking, then you don’t know what you’ve been missing.

Known as the Caixinha da Amêndoas (Almond Box), the Dukes of Loulé Palace on Conceição beach – yes, where the President likes to go for a swim every morning when it is too windy at Guincho – has been transformed into a small 1960s inn. You don't have to check-in this charming boutique hotel to be happy: it has one of the best balconies in town, with a swimming pool and comfortable sun loungers, and a small terrace where you can take tea at five or enjoy a drink at the end of the day.