It's called Saíra, like the colorful Brazilian bird, and it's the new brunch spot in Cascais. It opened in January in the space of an old tavern, in a more residential area of the village.
This is a project of two Brazilian friends, Liliane Martins, a Bahian with a connection to the kitchen; and Pamela Freitas, a barista from Minas Gerais. They met as colleagues in a restaurant in Cascais, but the idea of joining forces to create their own business quickly emerged - an initiative that came from Liliane. "I always had this desire and ended up sharing it with Pamela," she explains. "She said 'yes' just to get rid of me, but she didn't realize it was really going to happen. I started looking for a space, checking ads, and then I found this one."
Pamela Freitas knew the place, as it is right next to the martial arts studio she attends, Striker's House. They ended up getting the space and started developing the concept. They quickly realized that they wanted to focus on a brunch with personalized service, a cozy atmosphere, and a menu open to suggestions and constantly changing.
The brunch menu (€15.50) includes a choice of egg, two traditional pancakes with topping, yogurt, a juice, and the option of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. In addition to the Benedict (€6.90), Florentine (€7.90), and scrambled eggs (€6.90), you can order the Saíra eggs (€7.90), an omelette stuffed with cheese on slow-fermented bread with butter-sautéed mushrooms and spinach accompanied by fresh leaves, herbs, and hollandaise sauce.
Also, try the Crepioca (€6.90), an omelette with tapioca gum filled with cheese and served with cherry tomatoes and fresh leaves. You can also add ham (priced at €7.50) or bacon (€7.90). There are also plenty of pancake and tapioca options available.
If you opt for lunch dishes, you have a choice of traditional carbonara (€8.90); Primavera pasta (€8.90), made with tricolor fusilli, vegetables, peppers, onions, walnuts, cherry tomatoes, and olives; Saíra pasta (€7.90), spaghetti with spinach sauce; mushroom or almond risotto (€11.90); or the Happy Vegan wrap (€8.90), made with falafel, white rice, sautéed vegetables, avocado, fresh leaves, and cherry tomatoes.
Another specialty at Saíra is their cakes, which are sold by the slice but can also be ordered whole — options include vanilla, pineapple, banana, carrot, chocolate, corn, orange, lemon, cornmeal with guava paste, apple, walnut, and spices, among others.
Don't leave without trying the homemade cheese bread (€1 for two units) and the açaí prepared at Saíra, with homemade granola, strawberry, and banana. A medium glass costs €6.90, while the large one is €9.50. You can add extras — such as powdered milk, peanut butter, mango, kiwi, honey, condensed milk, or whey protein (for €1.50).
Enjoy everything with the smoothies — the house one includes açaí, powdered milk, banana, and granola for €5.90 — and the many available lattes. They also feature the cupuaçu cream, made from the blended pulp of this tropical fruit, with condensed milk and coconut flakes.
Saíra has 22 seating places and aims to be a comfortable spot where customers can work, play board games, or read a book — the space even has some books available to borrow. For the coming months, they plan to extend their operating hours and introduce a happy hour menu.
Avenida das Comunidades Europeias, 20, Store 3, Cascais. Mon-Sat 08.30-19.00