Sabores d'Itália

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

On Praça 5 de Outubro, in the heart of Caldas da Rainha, Sabores d'Itália has been serving Italian cuisine since 1995. The address on the square gives the restaurant a natural presence in the city, and the longevity speaks for itself — three decades of consistent cooking is a rare thing anywhere.

The Wine List

The detail that sets Sabores d'Itália apart most sharply is its cellar. In 2024, Wine Spectator awarded the restaurant its Best of Award of Excellence, one of the publication's most competitive distinctions, recognising wine lists that show depth, breadth and genuine pairing ambition. For a restaurant of this size, in a mid-sized Portuguese city, that recognition places it in select company. Wine pairing is clearly taken seriously here, and guests who enjoy exploring Italian varietals alongside their meal will find the list well worth attention.

At the Table

The kitchen opens for lunch and dinner, with the chef's suggestions spanning the full range of a considered Italian menu. Starters include Foie Gras; soups lean toward the sea with a Fish and Seafood option; and the salad selection features the Chef's Salad. Among the mains, Grilled Mixed fish and seafood sits alongside Pork Tenderloins with Chestnuts — a dish that nods to local Portuguese produce within an Italian framework. The dessert list closes with Pear Rock Symphony, a preparation built around the Rocha pear, another regional touch.

A lunch set menu runs alongside the full à la carte, making the restaurant accessible for a midday meal as well as a longer evening sitting.

Why It's Here

Italian cuisine executed with enough care to earn international wine recognition, in a city that doesn't often appear on food destination lists — that combination is the point. Sabores d'Itália earns its place on Wattafork not through novelty but through sustained quality and a wine programme that stands up to serious scrutiny.