Arroz de marisco is the dish Cascais does best: carolino rice cooked soupy in a broth built from shellfish stock, tomato, onion and coriander, crowded with prawns, clams, mussels and crab.
It is a dish for two, brought to the table still bubbling in its pot, and the version served in the restaurants above Guincho beach — with the Atlantic that supplied it in view — is one of the region's classic meals. In town, the seafood houses of the old town and the fish restaurants by the market serve it alongside the day's catch.
Order bread, take your time, and accept that the last, most flavourful rice at the bottom of the pot is the point.
⭐ Must-try:
Arroz de marisco
Highlights
- Soupy carolino rice in shellfish and tomato broth
- Prawns, clams, mussels and crab from the local coast
- A sharing dish, served bubbling in the pot
- At its most famous above Guincho beach
- Best followed at walking pace, not on a schedule
Frequently asked questions
Is arroz de marisco a dish for one?
Almost always for two or more — it arrives in a shared pot and is priced accordingly.
Where should I eat it in Cascais?
The seafood restaurants above Guincho beach are the classic setting; the old town's marisqueiras serve excellent versions year-round.