Welcome to Jângal, the new healthy café on the Paredão

Time Out

5 hours ago

In April last year, the Capricciosa group was invited to develop and open a healthy café inside the sleek ALLO office buildings in Alcântara, Lisbon – a space exclusive to office workers. It was such a hit that Jângal has now taken on a life of its own, opened to the general public on June 19th, right on the Paredão, by Praia da Duquesa.
'At its core, it's a sister concept to Sellva, another of the group's brands. It's all about healthy food that's not boring. We want the best, natural ingredients, but packed with flavour – it has to be yummy. It's much more about feeling good than counting calories. Jângal was born to be a faster, more casual version of Sellva', explains Ana Arié, general manager of the restaurant group, to Time Out Cascais.
'The brand worked really well, people love it, we've had regulars from the start – and we wanted to make the most of this opportunity', she adds. The new Jângal is tucked beneath Capricciosa Cascais, in the space that once housed the Italian restaurant's beach lounge and later a gelato shop (which has now moved next door, needing less room). The café includes indoor seating for 30 and a sunny terrace with 50 more.
'We felt this space was the perfect fit for what we offer – it's so close to the beach, and it really taps into that healthy lifestyle vibe of people jogging by and spending time on the Paredão… It's also something Cascais was missing. There's not a lot of this kind of food concept around here yet. So we decided to focus on brunch, grab-and-go options, and a more protein-rich menu, which is definitely a growing trend.'
Most of the menu at Jângal Cascais mirrors what you'll find at the Alcântara spot. But since this is all new to those who don't work in the ALLO offices, executive chef João Novo – who oversees the kitchens across all the group's brands — added a few tweaks tailored to the location and the slightly different crowd.
'We've brought in more of what we think people here are after – especially those heading to the beach', explains chef João Novo. 'Our burritos are bestsellers, but we've also introduced the new Jângal club sandwich (€9.50) and the caprese sandwich (€7.50). Then there are the pinsas, a product we first started testing at Sophia Pizzoteca & Bar. We've kept most of the pastries, though slightly trimmed down, as demand here might not be as high. The smoothies, which we sell in small bottles, are also very popular. And our menu works across the board – whether it's a light breakfast, a more filling one, a quick lunch, or something to grab and go'.
So, what's on the menu? There are the Breakfast burritos (€8.50), packed with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese and avocado cream; the grilled chicken version with romaine lettuce, mozzarella, kimchi mayo and corn (€9); and a veggie option with stir-fried vegetables, avocado and lettuce (€7.50). You can also go for the Jângal bagel (€8.50), filled with smoked salmon, herby sauce, salad and seeds.
On the pinsa front, you'll find a classic margherita (€8), pepperoni (€8), and a more indulgent option with stracciatella, mortadella and pistachio (€8.50). For something more substantial, opt for the tuna tataki with teriyaki sauce and chives, or the roast chicken with kimchi and lemon. For €10.50, you can pair either with two sides – take your pick from black rice with vegetables, grilled veg, roasted sweet potato, or a fresh green salad. There are also ever-changing salad bowls (€11) and a soup of the day (€2.90).
Just want something to take to the beach or nibble on the promenade? The grab and go menu lets you mix and match – a pinsa, burrito or sandwich plus a drink, all for €9.50.
The options at Jângal don't stop there. You'll also find eggs your way – scrambled or fried – with bacon (€7.50), smoked salmon (€7.50), or spinach and mushrooms (€6.20). And for those with a sweet tooth, there's a dreamy line-up of oat pancakes: peanut butter, mixed fruit and matcha (€6); homemade Nutella and berries (€6); ricotta and banana (€6); or a kid-friendly version made with wheat and honey (€3.60).
Alongside pastries and set menus that include a drink, there's a solid line-up of bowls to explore. Highlights include the açaí with banana, lemon granola, dried fruit and seeds (€5.80); raspberry overnight oats (€3.30); and the fruit bowl with flaxseed and flaked almonds (€4). Go for the brunch menu (€11) and you'll get a bowl of your choice, eggs, a drink and a hot beverage to round it off.
As for what's next for Jângal – which also offers catering for events or home delivery – Ana Arié isn't ruling out opening more cafés in the future. 'It's on the table, but we don't have any specific locations in mind just yet. What we want to do here first is really test the brand. The group has opened six new spots in the past year and a half, and now we need to take a breather, look inwards and nurture all our concepts. You never know when an unmissable opportunity might arise, but I'd say we won't be opening any new restaurants before the end of the year'.