Azenhas do Mar for the best food

Navigate necesse est, vivere non est necesse

To sail is necessary to live is not, is printed on the front page of the menu at restaurant Azenhas do Mar. The restaurant is located straight on the beach in the small picturesque cliffside village with the same name as the restaurant, Azenhas do Mar, close to Lisbon in Sintra community.

Right on the beach, fish straight from the sea. Best beachrestaurant in Sintra. Phot: Merete Moen 

The historical village of Sintra with it´s many castles attracts hords of tourists very day even in the low season. The locals head to restaurants in the countryside outside of the village to have their meals or do as I did, they head to the coast, leaving the restaurants of Sintra to the tourists.

Be seated inside or outside, the Atlantic Ocean is only a few meters away no matter where you are sitting and the view is spectacular. With it´s sea front location the menu has of course a wide selection of seafood and fish, but in addition meat dishes that are both juicy and tender according to the restaurant itself. Homemade bread, delicious local cheese, olives, butter, pesto and home made tapenade is served while you study the menu.

As fresh as it gets! As usual no room for dessert, but my neighbour had dessert and seemed very happy with it.

I do not agree with the famous words on the menu, to sail is necessary to live is not. Spending the day, afternoon or evening at Azenhas do Mar, with great food, wine and beautiful view of the sea is a day, afternoon or night well spent.

Living is about enjoying the small things in life such as a nice restaurant with amazing food, great view and to top it off, a location on the beach. Azenhas do Mar restaurant is a place you don´t want to leave. I do beleive the owner felt the same way and that the text on the menu is ironic. Azenhas do Mar, I will return!