The city of Alcobaça is famous for its renowned restaurants, opulent tables and the quality of its endogenous products. Traditionally, this region has always been highly fertile. In ancient times, the monks cultivated these lands and founded an important agricultural school. Comfort food that is good for the soul.
The Cistercian order played a major role in the organisation of the territory of Alcobaça, as well as in the development of agriculture through the introduction of new farming techniques and a specific diet based on excellence products with an enduring influence throughout the centuries.
What the monks ate reflected the wealth of the community, social status and the ideological principles that guided this community.
The fruit trees so cherished by the monks were a true symbol of the monastic culture. The fruit groves were actually divided into stone, pome and thorn fruit. A huge fruit diversity: apples, oranges, lemons, limes, cherries, apricots, peaches and plums.
Meat also played a central role for the monks of Alcobaça. The exquisite kitchen of the monastery received every year an incredible amount of chicken, hens and eggs. In fact, the recipe "frango na púcara" (chicken cooked in a casserole) continues to be an important local speciality. The rabbit hutch of the Monastery was actually one of the biggest in Europe, housing thousands of rabbits. Game meat was highly appreciated among the monastic community, while wine was produced within the Monastery of Alcobaça.
The monks were also known for having a sweet-tooth. They bought huge amounts of sugar, whole barrels of butter, almonds and milk for creating truly iconic sweet specialities that became a symbol of this deep-rooted gastronomic tradition.
The restaurant António Padeiro, located at the heart of the historical centre of enchanting Alcobaça, opened its doors back in 1938. This family-run restaurant was founded by António Padeiro, first as a tavern and later as pub that served the delicacies of regional gastronomy. Over the years, António Padeiro became a gastronomic institution of Alcobaça.
This restaurant serves mouth-watering comfort food that tastes like home. A genuine Portuguese house where you can taste the best regional cuisine, namely the iconic "frango na púcara" (chicken cooked in a casserole) !
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Benefiting from an unrivalled location with a stunning view over the World Heritage Monastery of Alcobaça, Pratu's Restaurante, Bar & Tapas is a welcoming restaurant known for its mouth-watering "petiscos".
But there's a place for vegans and vegetarians too with quite exciting specialities to taste!
Warm hospitality, an excellent cuisine and flawless service! Pratu's Restaurante, Bar & Tapas is a pet-friendly restaurant.
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Situated next to the World Heritage Monastery of Alcobaça, Origens is a deeply inviting restaurant where travellers can taste an honest regional cuisine.
Offering the best regional products, this restaurant is a well-deserved gastronomic reference of Alcobaça.
The desserts are outstanding and there are also many veggie options available.
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Located in the historical center of Alcobaça, Taberna sem regras is a welcoming spot where you can taste the most mouth-watering "petiscos", along with an excellent wine selection.
This house is famous for its irresistible mature meats, regional sausages, smoked ham selection, octopus salad, seafood specialities, and many other delicacies.
Opened in 2019, there are literally no rules ("sem regras") to taste the very best of Portuguese "petiscos"!
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Located in the breath-taking beach of Paredes da Vitória, one of Alcobaça's most stunning beaches, Magna Carta - Wine & Food offers an unrivalled view over the Atlantic.
The decor is absolutely inspiring, as well as its home-made specialities and exquisite wine selection. This pleasant restaurant organises regular wine-related events.
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Located in the beautiful Paredes da Vitória beach, O Tonico is "the" place to eat the most delicious seafood in the region of Alcobaça.
Beautifully placed facing the Atlantic, O Tonico is a laid-back restaurant that offers its guests an atmosphere of authenticity and warm hospitality.
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A traditional and very friendly restaurant, only 3 kilometers away from Alcobaça.
Micael Pedras offers meat from his own breeding in his restaurant, such as pigs of indigenous breeds, particularly the Alcobaça spotted pork, and the black pork.
He also works in partnership with local producers so that the meat is of excellence. The all-mighty king of meats!
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Located next to the small town of Casal das Arieiras, O Cabeço is a space that combines an elegant interior and a very cosy atmosphere on the outside.
The kitchen follows the rhythm of the seasons. Pedro João is responsible for the author's touch that recreates and innovates flavours of Portuguese origin.
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Located in the village of Benedita, 23 km away from Alcobaça, Costa Brava is a welcoming restaurant that serves absolutely mouth-watering delicacies of regional gastronomy.
The decor is inspired by Alcobaça motifs and the whole ambiance of this restaurant is particularly inviting. Founded in 1974, Costa Brava restaurant is a reference of local cuisine.
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At the end of the 19th century – in 1874, the great wine producer, José Eduardo Raposo de Magalhães, built his Adega do Olival Fechado in Alcobaça. It was a very modern winery for its time, equipped with the latest technology.
In the 20th century, Eng. Manuel Augusto Paixão Marques, delegate of the then National Wine Board (Junta Nacional do Vinho) transforms this winery into a Museum. In 1948, an extraordinary modernisation and transformation took place and the wine cellar space turned into a vertical industrial warehouse for white and red wines, following the model of Abel Pereira da Fonseca, founder of Quinta do Sanguinhal.
The museum has a remarkable set of collections of great historical and patrimonial value, collections that were built up, especially from the sixties of the 20th century, when the José Eduardo Raposo de Magalhães warehouses closed.
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