Cantinho Do Avillez Cascais

Cantinho do Avillez rises where the former Lucullus restaurant once stood, right in the heart of the coastal village of Cascais. The design narrative centers on creating a series of warm, contemporary spaces where guests feel at home from the moment they enter. While enhancing functionality and flow, we remained deeply respectful of the building’s original character, preserving its memory while reimagining its form.

The existing arcade in the patio became a central motif, its classic curves inspiring a language of soft, sinuous lines echoed throughout the interior. These graceful arches are reinterpreted in the five intimate niches of the main dining room, in thresholds and doorways, in glass partitions that reveal glimpses between rooms, in the high half-cane wainscoting, and in the retro-style bar cabinet.

From the nearby Bay of Cascais, we drew a natural palette of materials—deep ocean blues, slatted wood, and textured stone—that infuse the space with authenticity and coastal charm. The feeling of home is further conveyed through integrated furniture, handcrafted ceramic lamps, layered textiles, family photographs of Chef José Avillez, curated tableware, plants, and personal decorative touches.

The ground floor includes the entry hall, bar, dining rooms, restrooms, kitchen, outdoor patio, and esplanade. Upstairs, additional dining rooms and bathrooms offer more intimate dining experiences. One of the project’s greatest architectural challenges—bringing natural light into a deep and narrow footprint—was solved by opening floor slabs, doubling ceiling heights, introducing skylights, and installing a glass roof, allowing sunlight to travel freely throughout the space.

At Cantinho do Avillez in Cascais, the spatial sequence unfolds progressively. Walking through the restaurant becomes a playful, dynamic journey—an unfolding of distinct yet interconnected environments, each with its own atmosphere, but united by a consistent, narrative-driven design language.