Just a short drive from Lisbon, Costa da Caparica has long been one of the easiest places to escape the city for a day by the sea. Its long stretches of golden sand, Atlantic waves and relaxed beach culture make it a favourite for both locals and visitors.
And now, there is another reason to make the trip south: Casa Mata, a new beach club and restaurant at Praia da Mata.
Set directly by the beach, Casa Mata brings together the things that make a day at the Portuguese coast so enjoyable: good food, cocktails, sunshine, comfortable sun loungers and a beautiful seaside setting. It is the kind of place where you can arrive for lunch and easily find yourself staying for the afternoon.
Where Is Casa Mata?
Casa Mata is located at Praia da Mata, in Costa da Caparica, on the southern side of the Tagus River.
Casa Mata
Estrada da Praia da Mata
2825-491 Costa da Caparica, Portugal
The beach club sits right by Praia da Mata, making the beach the centrepiece of the experience. Praia da Mata is one of the beaches along the extensive Costa da Caparica coastline, an area known for its succession of sandy beaches and beach restaurants.
The location is ideal if you want to combine a meal with some time by the ocean. You can enjoy lunch at Casa Mata, walk down to the beach, go for a swim or simply spend the afternoon relaxing by the sea.
Location:
How Far Is Casa Mata from Lisbon?
One of the best things about Casa Mata is how easy it is to get there from Lisbon.
From central Lisbon, the journey is approximately 20 to 25 kilometres, depending on your starting point and route, and usually takes around 25 to 35 minutes by car. Of course, journey times can be considerably longer during busy summer weekends and peak beach days.
The easiest route is to cross the 25 de Abril Bridge and follow the signs towards Almada and Costa da Caparica. Once you reach Costa da Caparica, continue towards the beaches and follow the signs for Praia da Mata.
If you are visiting during the summer, it is worth allowing some extra time for traffic and parking. Costa da Caparica is particularly popular on sunny weekends, when thousands of people make the journey from Lisbon and the surrounding areas to spend the day at the beach.
For visitors without a car, Costa da Caparica can also be reached by public transport from Lisbon, followed by local transport or a taxi towards Praia da Mata.
A Beach Day Without Leaving Lisbon’s Doorstep
What makes Casa Mata particularly appealing is that it gives you the feeling of being on a proper beach holiday without having to travel far from the capital.
Within less than an hour of leaving central Lisbon, you can be sitting beside the Atlantic with your feet in the sand, enjoying a leisurely lunch and a cold cocktail.
And that is really the appeal of Costa da Caparica. You do not need to plan a full weekend away. Casa Mata works equally well for a spontaneous afternoon at the beach, a long lunch with friends, a date by the sea or a full day of relaxing in the sun.
The location also makes it easy to combine a meal at Casa Mata with some time on Praia da Mata itself. Go for a swim, take a walk along the sand or simply settle into a sun lounger and enjoy the sound of the waves.
The Casa Mata Atmosphere
The atmosphere is one of the biggest attractions of Casa Mata.
Rather than feeling like a conventional restaurant that happens to be beside the beach, Casa Mata embraces the beach club lifestyle. The setting is relaxed, stylish and designed for spending time outdoors.
There is an easy-going holiday feeling as soon as you arrive. The proximity to the ocean, the sandy surroundings and the outdoor seating create the perfect environment for a slow afternoon.
It is also the type of place where the atmosphere changes naturally throughout the day. During lunchtime, it is ideal for enjoying food with friends or family, while later in the afternoon the focus can shift towards cocktails, music and watching the sun move lower over the Atlantic.
The relaxed setting makes Casa Mata feel suitable for both casual visits and occasions when you want to make your beach day a little more special.
The Décor
Casa Mata’s décor complements its beachside location rather than competing with it.
The overall aesthetic has a contemporary coastal feel, creating a space that feels both comfortable and stylish. Natural textures and beach-inspired details work alongside the relaxed outdoor setting, while the open-air layout allows the surrounding landscape to remain part of the experience.
It is the sort of setting that suits Costa da Caparica perfectly: casual enough for a day at the beach, but stylish enough to feel like a special occasion.
The outdoor spaces are particularly appealing. With the ocean just steps away, there is little need for elaborate decoration when the view itself provides the backdrop.
This is also what makes Casa Mata a good option for spending several hours rather than simply stopping for a quick meal. You can settle in, order something to eat and drink, and let the afternoon unfold.
What to Eat at Casa Mata
Of course, a beach club is only as good as its food, and Casa Mata is designed around a menu that works particularly well for a long, relaxed day by the sea.
The food is varied enough to suit different tastes, but the grilled dishes and fresh seafood are particularly appropriate for the setting.
One of the highlights is the selection of steaks, which makes Casa Mata a little different from the typical beach restaurant where the menu focuses almost entirely on seafood and salads. A perfectly cooked steak paired with a cold drink is an excellent choice when you are looking for something more substantial.
There is also grilled fish, which feels like the natural choice when you are sitting beside the Atlantic. Fresh fish, simply grilled and enjoyed outdoors, is one of those meals that does not need much embellishment.
The menu also works well for a relaxed lunch where you can order several dishes to share. Whether you are looking for something substantial after a morning in the ocean or a lighter meal before heading back to the beach, there are options to suit the occasion.
Cocktails by the Sea
A visit to Casa Mata is not complete without ordering a cocktail.
There is something particularly enjoyable about having a beautifully prepared cocktail while sitting beside the ocean, especially on a sunny afternoon. The beach club setting makes Casa Mata a natural choice for a leisurely drink even if you are not looking for a full meal.
Come for lunch, stay for cocktails, and you have the perfect Costa da Caparica afternoon.
The setting is particularly appealing towards the end of the day, when the light becomes softer and the beach takes on a completely different atmosphere.
Whether you are enjoying a drink before dinner or settling in for an afternoon with friends, the combination of cocktails and ocean views is hard to beat.
Don’t Skip Dessert
After a meal of grilled fish or steak, there is always room for something sweet.
Dessert is another part of the experience that turns a simple lunch into a leisurely afternoon. Rather than rushing off after eating, order dessert and another drink and enjoy the surroundings for a little longer.
Our advice: choose the Nutella and ice cream cake, it is simply delicious!
That is perhaps the best way to experience Casa Mata: do not treat it as somewhere you simply go to eat. Treat it as somewhere you go to spend the day.
Sun Loungers and Relaxing by the Beach
One of the biggest differences between Casa Mata and an ordinary restaurant is the opportunity to combine dining with a proper beach day.
The beach club atmosphere makes it possible to spend time relaxing in the sun before or after your meal, making it an easy choice when you do not want to choose between going to the beach and going out for lunch.
You can start the day with a swim in the Atlantic, relax on a sun lounger, head over for lunch and then return to the beach afterwards.
For anyone visiting from Lisbon, it feels like a mini holiday without the need to book accommodation.
Praia da Mata and the Costa da Caparica Beaches
The location deserves as much attention as the restaurant itself.
Praia da Mata is part of the long coastline of Costa da Caparica, where you will find numerous beaches stretching south from the town. The Atlantic here is popular with surfers, while the expansive sandy beaches provide plenty of room for sunbathing, walking and relaxing.
The area is particularly attractive to people who want a beach experience close to Lisbon but prefer something less urban than the city’s riverfront.
Costa da Caparica is also well known for its surfing culture. Depending on the conditions, the beaches can offer good waves for surfers, while those who simply want to swim, sunbathe or walk along the shore can enjoy the extensive sandy coastline.
And because there are so many beaches along this stretch of coastline, you can easily turn a visit to Casa Mata into a full day exploring Costa da Caparica.
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
For the full beach club experience, summer is naturally the best time to visit. The combination of warm temperatures, long days, sunshine and the Atlantic makes it difficult to beat.
However, one of the advantages of the Costa da Caparica coastline is that it can be enjoyable well beyond the height of summer.
Spring and early autumn can be particularly lovely if you prefer a quieter atmosphere. The weather can still be warm enough for sitting outside, while the beaches tend to be less crowded than during July and August.
If you are visiting specifically for the beach, always check the weather and sea conditions before travelling. And if you are planning a weekend lunch during the busy summer months, going earlier can help you make the most of the day.
Parking at Casa Mata
There is a big car park in the vicinity of Praia da Mata, although availability can become more limited on busy summer days.
If you are driving from Lisbon, it is worth arriving with some extra time, particularly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The beach itself is also accessible from the surrounding road network, making driving one of the easiest options for visitors carrying beach equipment, towels and everything else you need for a day by the ocean.
Is Casa Mata Worth Visiting?
There are plenty of beach restaurants along the Costa da Caparica coastline, so what makes Casa Mata worth adding to your list?
For us, it is the combination.
You get the location of a beach bar, the food of a restaurant and the relaxed atmosphere of a beach club all in one place.
It is close enough to Lisbon for an easy day trip, but once you are sitting outside with the ocean in front of you, it feels much further away.
The food also makes it more versatile. If you are craving grilled fish, you can order that. If you would rather have a steak, there is something for you too. Add cocktails, dessert, sun loungers and the beach just outside, and you have all the ingredients for a full afternoon.
It is also a good option for different occasions. You could visit for a casual lunch with friends, a family beach day, a romantic afternoon or simply a spontaneous escape from the city.
Casa Mata: A New Reason to Visit Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica has never needed much convincing when it comes to attracting people from Lisbon. The beaches, surfing, seafood restaurants and relaxed atmosphere have made it one of the capital’s favourite coastal escapes for years.
But new places like Casa Mata give visitors another reason to return.
With its beachfront location, stylish décor, relaxed atmosphere, sun loungers, cocktails and menu of steaks, grilled fish and other dishes, Casa Mata offers the kind of experience that makes you want to stay longer than planned.
And perhaps that is exactly what a good beach club should do.
Come for lunch. Have a cocktail. Walk down to the beach. Take a swim. Return for another drink. Stay until the sun starts to go down.
Best of all, you can do all of this less than an hour from Lisbon.
So, if you are looking for a new place to spend a sunny day by the sea, put Casa Mata at Praia da Mata on your Costa da Caparica list. It is an easy escape from Lisbon and a beautiful way to make the most of Portugal’s Atlantic coast.
Casa Mata: Practical Information
Address: Estrada da Praia da Mata, 2825-491 Costa da Caparica, Portugal
Location: Praia da Mata, Costa da Caparica
Distance from Lisbon: Approximately 20 to 25 km
Driving time from Lisbon: Approximately 25 to 35 minutes, depending on traffic and your starting point
Food: Steaks, grilled fish, seafood and other beach-friendly dishes
Drinks: Cocktails and other drinks
Experience: Beach club, restaurant, sun loungers and beach access
Parking: Parking available in the vicinity
Nearby: Praia da Mata and the wider Costa da Caparica coastline
Opening hours and menu options can change depending on the season, so it is a good idea to check directly with Casa Mata before visiting.