In Lourinhã, one can really feel the connection to the sea when seating at the dinner table, particularly through the local recipes, rich in fish and seafood staple. But the octopus rules, and even merits a two-week gastronomic event dedicated to it. The healthy countryside atmosphere also contributes to open the appetite for the local tasty meats and the convent-originated pastries. Even if there was nothing else in Lourinhã, the trip would have been worthwhile just to try the locally made, spirited aguardente, in what is the only wine region in Portugal producing a wine-based spirit, along with two other European regions, Cognac and Armagnac. If you have a taste for it, aim your visit to coincide with the two-week DOC Lourinhã Aguardente Gastronomic Festival, when the region’s restaurants present recipes based on the famous spirited drink. Throughout the rest of the year, one will equally receive an excellent service in all the restaurants from the following selection.
