If you are searching for fresh seafood in Caparica with your feet almost in the sand, Café do Mar is the easy answer. We are a beach restaurant on Praia de Santo António, in Costa da Caparica, where Portuguese cooking takes centre stage and the catch of the day comes straight to the charcoal. Picture a sunny terrace, the sound of the waves, and a table with one of the finest sunset views on the whole coast. We serve wonderful seafood, yes, but first and foremost we are a beach kitchen built around honest grilled fish, generous rice dishes and the kind of long, unhurried lunch Caparica was made for.
Fresh seafood in Caparica, straight from the grill
The heart of our menu is simple: good ingredients, treated with respect. Our fish arrives fresh and is grilled over real charcoal, so it keeps the smoky edge and tender centre you only get from an open flame. Whether you fancy a whole sea bass, a plate of grilled sardines in the summer, or a sharing platter for the table, this is seafood by the sea the way it should be. A few favourites to look out for:
- Charcoal-grilled fish of the day, picked fresh each morning
- Grilled prawns, simply dressed with garlic, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon
- Clams, mussels and other shellfish when in season
- Classic Portuguese mains for anyone who prefers meat or vegetarian plates
Seafood Rice & Shellfish to share
No visit is complete without our Seafood Rice & Shellfish. The seafood rice is slow-cooked until it turns rich, soupy and full of flavour, brimming with prawns, clams and whatever the sea gave us that day. It is the dish people drive out to Caparica for, ideal to share between two or more while you watch the boats come in. Pair it with a cold vinho verde or a crisp white from the Setúbal peninsula and you have the perfect long afternoon by the water. Curious about the full line-up? Take a look at our menu before you arrive.
Charcoal Grills & Fresh Fish with the best sunset
From June to September we are open every single day, from 12:30 to 22:30, so you can drop in for a relaxed beach lunch or stay on for dinner as the sky turns gold. Our Charcoal Grills & Fresh Fish taste even better with a glass in hand and the sun dropping into the Atlantic. The terrace looks straight out to sea, so whether you are a couple after a romantic evening, a family with hungry kids or a group of friends winding down after a day on the beach, there is a table here waiting for you. Few places in Costa da Caparica put grilled fish and a front-row sunset on the same plate.
Find us by the sea in Costa da Caparica
We sit right on Praia de Santo António, an easy stroll from the sand and a short trip from Lisbon. If you have been hunting for grilled fish in Caparica or somewhere to enjoy grilled prawns while the day cools down, you have found it. Tables fill up fast in summer, especially around sunset, so it is well worth booking ahead. You can reserve your spot in seconds on our reservations page, and we will have the charcoal ready when you arrive.
Book your table at Café do Mar
Praia de Santo António — Apoio 10, 2825-384 Costa da Caparica · Open every day 12:30–22:30 (June to September)