Sintra Terrace

I was in Sintra meeting my friend David, who runs Talented Street, offering tours and other services around Sintra and Cascais. We arranged to meet again later in the afternoon, so he dropped me in Sintra’s old town and I had a few hours to wander around. Sintra really is a beautiful place and, if you’re visiting Lisbon and haven’t been, I’d highly recommend making the trip.

After exploring for a while, I decided to find somewhere for lunch and ended up at , with its outdoor dining area overlooking the valley. The terrace has a retractable canopy, making it a comfortable place to escape the Portuguese sun while still enjoying the view.

I went for the chicken Caesar salad with a couple of glasses of Messias Vinho Verde. The food was excellent: fresh, well presented and full of flavour. My only criticism was the portion size. I know they say quality over quantity, but the rather clever deep-sided bowl made the portion look considerably larger than it actually was. There’s an extensive menu and wine list, and I thought the wines by the bottle were particularly good value.

Service throughout was excellent, but the setting is what really makes Sintra Terrace. Who’s it for? Anyone looking for a relaxed meal, something to drink and a great view while exploring Sintra. I’d happily return — although next time I might order a side dish as well.