Nightlife in Cascais is as varied as it is lively. This delightful coastal town some thirty kilometres west of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, offers an eclectic mix of relaxed eateries, lively bars and pumping nightclubs, guaranteed to keep its well-heeled clientele occupied from dusk until dawn. Wherever you choose to spend your evening, two things are certain – you will never be far from the sea and you cannot fail to be entertained.
Downtown Cascais makes a fun and laid-back location to spend an evening. The area drops away to the main town beach of O Pescador and the lively bars and late night restaurants often spill out onto the streets and down to the water’s edge where a fun-loving clientele often remain until well into the early hours.
Sunset on the roof
For a relaxed evening watching the world go by head to the Hotel Baia Grill Restaurant, the best-placed eatery in town located on the ground floor of the Hotel Baia Cascais with a broad terrace offering panoramic views out across the bay. Start your evening at one of the hotel’s famous sunset lounge parties held in the rooftop poolside bar, known as the Blue Bar. You may find you never tear yourself away from the beautiful view and forget entirely to head to the ground-floor restaurant, let alone explore the rest of the Cascais nightlife.
A taste of Ireland
No vacation destination would be complete without an authentic Irish bar and Cascais is no exception. Close to the Town Hall in the heart of the Old Town, O’Neill’s is a rowdy bar popular with expats, locals and tourists alike. Open daily from midday until 2am, live Irish music features on the entertainment itinerary from Wednesday to Saturday from 11pm onwards and is guaranteed to get even the most reluctant of feet tapping to the Gallic beat. Bar snacks are available throughout the evening and O’Neill’s is also a popular spot to enjoy a full Irish breakfast in an effort to soak up the excesses of the night before.
Sophistication on the waterfront
Cascais Marina offers a more sophisticated alternative some fifteen minutes walk to the west of Cascais Old Town. Here the a wide selection of restaurants, bars and discos dominate the nightlife scene during the summer months and can become crowded when the marina is playing host to a major sailing or watersports event.
Hemingways is something of a destination at Cascais Marina. This fun and quirky eatery and drinking spot serves beautifully prepared modern European dishes accompanied by a wine list that just begs to be explored night after night during your stay in Cascais. The setting is idyllic, with a modern, sophisticated vibe yet with décor that creates a warm and welcoming ambience that draws you in and envelops you in its cocoon until the doors close in the early hours. Friday and Saturday nights at Hemingways feature live after-hours DJs and are popular amongst a fun-loving, cocktail-swilling crowd.
Die-hard disco fans head to Coconuts, also close to the marina. Coconuts is the perfect destination for dance music lovers, with two dance rooms, a sophisticated outdoor terrace and even a karaoke room for those brave enough to give their vocal chords a workout. For more karaoke fun, head to Baluarte, also located in the marina.
Hit the jackpot
It is worth making the journey a little way out of Cascais, at least once during your stay. Nearby Estoril, just east of the town on the coast road leading back towards Lisbon, is a popular nightlife destination. Estoril is home to the Casino Estoril, which bears the mantle of being the oldest casino in Portugal and also the largest casino in Europe.
More than just a casino, the Casino Estoril is a fully fledged leisure complex featuring gaming rooms, slot machines and shows and is a must-visit destination on the itinerary of any visitor to the region. During high summer a series of free night concerts takes place here and celebrations and performances continue throughout the year ensuring that whenever you visit Cascais in Portugal, there is always some interesting entertainment to be had.
Begin your night at the casino with a relaxed meal and sundowner on Carcavelos Beach where the daytime beach bars transform themselves into laid-back nightspots perfect for watching the sun go down over the Atlantic Ocean with a cold glass of the local nectar to hand.