There's a 'vero italiano' hidden in the historic centre of Cascais
Some people eat to live; Nina and James live to eat. She's the daughter of an Italian father who owns several restaurants in the UK (and her grandparents were also involved in the food business in Italy), while he's always had a knack for cooking (and an appetite for good things). Together, they opened Enoteca 19 on the peaceful, charming Rua do Poço Novo in the historic centre of Cascais.
The adventure of this British couple, who swapped London for the seaside town three years ago, was a long-held dream that came true in late 2024, almost by chance. "I left my job in recruitment two years ago and took some time off. I wanted to renovate our house. I was browsing on Idealista and came across this space," recalls James. "The idea had been on our radar, but when we visited, we knew this was the right place and the right time for the project," Nina adds.
And what project was that? "We initially thought of an Italian wine bar, with wine tastings and light bites to nibble on. There was a gap here in Cascais for a place to have a drink at the end of the day in the centre, but away from the chaos," explains Nina, who continues to work in recruitment in Lisbon. They then carried out some minor renovations to the space – which features a bright room decorated in shades of blue and white, a cellar with around 30 seats, and a small terrace (soon to expand across the street) – sourced high-quality Italian ingredients, and launched a well-curated wine list, featuring selections from all regions of Italy, along with generous boards of salumi e formaggi.
But there was another gap, Nina continues: an authentic Italian restaurant in Cascais. "We saw a lot of fusion, a lot of mixing." And the menu kept growing, with valuable input from James and the experience of chefs Fábio and Lia. Today, it features traditional, 100% Italian dishes, with no gimmicks: from pastas to pinsas (pizzas with a lighter dough), from primi to dolci – all served throughout the day, from 11.30am.
Let's start at the beginning, which could be the middle or the end for those who just want a light bite – there are bruschettas with tomato or mushrooms (€9/€9.50), beef or tuna carpaccios (€18/€17.50), seasonal cured ham with melon or figs (€15), and various salads (€14.50/€18), as well as the previously mentioned taglieri (Italian sharing platters), which can feature cured meats (€27 for two/€48 for four), cheeses (€14.50), or a mix of both (€25 for two/€45 for four). There's also a vegetarian option (€23 for two) with burrata, artichokes, stuffed peppers, and bruschetta.
For the main dishes, different pastas take centre stage: for example, Spaghetti alla Puttanesca (€17), with anchovies, capers, and black olives in a tomato sauce; Spaghetti Carbonara (€18), with guanciale and Pecorino cheese; or even the simple house pasta (€14.50/€9.50 for a child's portion), which can be served with pesto or tomato sauce. "In Italian food, it's 'all about the product'. It's not difficult; the ingredients speak for themselves," insists James.
In the pinsa league, you'll find the classics like Margherita (€13) and Salame Picante (€16), but the standouts are the surprising Burrata & Anchovy (€15), with burrata and anchovies, and Mortadella with pistachio pesto (€15).
Whether after lunch or dinner, to accompany a glass of wine or to round off a wine tasting (announced on Instagram and usually featuring four to six Italian wines alongside a selection of cheeses and pinsas for €45), it's worth taking a look at the desserts: tiramisu (€6.50), of course; panna cotta (€6.50), of course; affogato (€5), of course; but also the unexpected and indulgent Dolce di Pistacchio (€7.50), a pistachio paste in delicate filo pastry, served with ice cream and crumble.
Here, "la vita" really is "dolce".
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