Café O Semedo is one of our area’s best-kept secrets! Located down a quiet side street in a village nearby and not to be found listed on Google Maps, this became one of our regular haunts when we discovered it quite by chance.

The café has a charming little beer garden and serves ice-cold canecas, which are the Portuguese equivalent of a pint. They also have a very tasty lightly sparkling frizante white wine on tap, and serve tremoços, a traditional Portuguese bar snack of salt-cured lupin beans. Here’s where to find this little gem.

Quinta dos Corgos is a decadent glamping destination around 20 minutes drive from Quinta Castanheira. The venue has a fantastic restaurant that is open to the public by reservation only. Visitors can also hire pool-side cabanas for the day if they want to take a dip and soak in the panoramic scenery.

Quinta dos Corgos regularly hosts live music events, particularly during the summer months, so it’s well worth checking out their Facebook page. There is also an ice cream shop and pop-up pizzeria during peak season. In the winter, the restaurant is cozy and well-heated.

Portuguese, English, and Dutch are spoken by the staff. You’ll need to follow a long well-maintained forest track to reach this beautiful spot—a journey that will certainly reward!

Cota Maxima is a river-side restaurant located just outside of Santa Comba Dão. This is a great destination for afternoon drinks on the sun terrace or an indulgent dinner with friends.

Every weekday, the chef provides a lunchtime prato do dia, or plate of the day, at excellent value—which makes booking a table for lunch a wise move, as this mealtime is usually busy! One of the best eateries in town.

Few can say that they have one of the most famous wineries in the country almost on their doorstep! Quinta de Cabriz is an award-winning winemaker both nationally and internationally. The location is around 10 minutes drive from Quinta Castanheira, and offers a restaurant, wine-tasting, tours, and other events such as cooking classes.

Visitors are advised to reserve, whether booking a table in the restaurant or taking part in one of the other on-site activities. This location is situated on the edge of Carregal do Sal, with rolling vineyards adjoining.

O Verdelhão is home to an organic and fairtrade shop and a Restaurant/Lounge Bar in the nearby town of Tábua. The Dutch owners also run a nationally prized mushroom growing company. This is a fantastic stop-off for those seeking fusion cuisine, vegetarian and vegan dining options, and organic produce to enjoy during their stay.

Whether you’re looking for a home-from-home experience or something different that is entirely out of its natural habitat, this English Pub is an unexpected find in Central Portugal!

Open only on weekends, the George and Dragon provides an authentic English pub atmosphere and American-style menu, blending the heritage of the two owners. This venue often hosts weekend events, including karaoke nights, pub quizzes, and fish-and-chip nights, so check their Facebook page if you’re curious.

Every Sunday morning, Tábua is brought to life as locals flood to the market to buy produce, plants, and small livestock. At the same time, the barbecues are fired up for a time-honored Portuguese tradition—eating grilled chicken or frango, usually served with chips, salad, and sweet vinho verde which is a young sparkling white wine.

You can order food from around 9am, but most arrive for lunch sometime after midday. The setting is truly rustic, with everyone packed onto long wooden tables with benches. There is usually a queue and service can take a while due to the sheer numbers that dine here. However, if you go with the mindset that you’re along for the ride, it’s a great opportunity to take in a truly Portuguese experience!

If you don’t fancy going out but don’t feel like cooking either, why not indulge with a visit from a talented local private chef?

Sebastien Guerin is a French maestro of all things foodie who has brought his phenomenally varied culinary skillset to Central Portugal. You will find his business card inside your accommodation at Quinta Castanheira, just in case the urge takes you!