Santini

In the heart of old-town Cascais, Santini Cascais has what many people consider to be the country's best Italian-style gelato. Branches have now opened across Lisbon and in Porto, but Santini Cascais is where it all began when Attilio Santini opened his ice cream parlor on the beach back in 1949.

The market will feature some of Lisbon’s finest restaurants, from Chefs Alexandre Silva, Vítor Claro, Miguel Castro Silva, Henrique Sá Pessoa or Marlene Vieira to well-known stores like Conserveira Nacional and Garrafeira Nacional as well as Arcádia (one of the oldest chocolatiers in Portugal, founded in the 1930s in the city of Porto, which still makes some of the best chocolates in the country), Santini (probably the best ice-cream in the world! Our favourite flavour is Strawberry, you really can’t beat the classics), Monte Mar (one of the most well-known seafood restaurants in Lisbon, that so far had only one location, in Cascais by Guincho beach, so it’s incredibly exciting that we’ll be able to taste some of the best seafood in the country in another location) and the new ones that are making an impression around Lisbon such as Sea Me, Honorato (one of the first burger restaurants to take advantage of the burger craze in Lisbon, with some of the coolest burgers in town), Prego da Peixaria (some absolutely delicious steak sandwiches, as well as the more modern salmon or tuna sandwiches – delicious) or Confraria (already a classic in Cascais, this sushi place makes unbelievably good lime nigiri, among some of the best sushi in Lisbon).

We finish the evening by following the directions of enthusiastic locals to the red-striped awnings of Gelados Santini, founded in 1949 by Italian immigrants. Raising our cones of melon sorbet and bitter chocolate gelato, we raise an ice cream salute to Cascais, the perfect home base for a sampling of Portugal, and a worthy sister city to our beloved Sausalito back home.

I can attest to this recommendation as we finished our meal in Cascais by stopping at Santini’s and getting a few scoops of their amazing gelato. I decided on the mango and passion fruit with both flavors igniting my tastebuds after a delicious Portuguese dinner. Location: Alameda Combatentes da Grande Guerra 100, 2750-326 Cascais, Portugal

This isn’t any ordinary ice cream parlour— it serves what is considered to be the best ice cream in Portugal. Founded by Atillio Santini in 1949, this historic gelato has impressed a long legacy of visitors including political personalities, curious tourists and even royalty. Get a taste of Santini’s unparalleled flavours!

You have to visit one of Portugal’s longest running family-owned ice cream parlours – Santini’s. They have two locations in Cascais and have been running for 70 years with a few locations in Cascais, Lisbon and Porto. All ice cream is hand made and uses natural ingredients and fresh fruits.

You haven’t been to Cascais if you haven’t tried the famous handmade gelato at Santinis. The line is typically out the door, but I PROMISE the wait is worth it (plus, it moves fast). Since you choose your size and pay first before picking out your flavors, it somehow speeds up the process.

Attilio Santini Mosena inherited the tradition of making ice cream from his great-grandfather. After a few years in other professions, he returned to the ice cream business in Italy. Later (1944) he moved to Spain where he opened Café Santpol.

One of my friends who lives in Lisbon said that Santini is one of the best ice cream shops in Portugal. Beyond the delicious ice cream, their secret is that the cone is totally filled with ice cream, so you can enjoy every bite.

More than 60 years ago, Attilio Santini, perhaps not fully realizing the importance of his undertaking, opened the doors to what is now, without a shadow of a doubt, the most famous ice cream parlour in Portugal.

Aangekomen bij Santini staat er een rij met wachtenden tot aan buiten. Dit ijs blijkt favoriet te zijn, bij locals en toeristen. Mia en ik duiken eerst even de Zara in die een paar meter verderop ligt.

Finally, while you’re strolling about the town, you must try one of the many flavours of gelato or ice cream at Gelados Santini , Avenida Valbom 28F, Cascais 2750-508 Portugal.

I couldn't leave Cascais without going to the famous Santini's, the ice-cream shop opened since 1949, to savour one of their hundreds of ice-cream flavours.

One of the most famous ice cream shops in the country, being one of the pioneers in the art of making Italian-style ice cream. Even today they do by hand.

Then, Cascais also has great ice creams from the famous Santini’s gelateria... all excellent reasons to put the diet on hold.