Casinha Velha

The story

Casinha Velha – Michelin-Recommended Portuguese Restaurant in Leiria

A “Little Old House” in Leiria

Since 1998, Casinha Velha has been preparing “deliciosas iguarias” in the Marrazes parish of Leiria. The name translates to “little old house,” and stepping through the door under a suspended canopy of traditional Portuguese tiles, you enter a space that feels both welcoming and unexpected. The ground-floor dining room is anchored by a wine cellar kept at constant temperature and humidity, with cabinets of netted doors and a profuse yet comfortable decor. The kitchen, modernly equipped, retains a wood-fired oven that plays a key role in many of the dishes.

Cooking Rooted in Home Traditions

The kitchen’s philosophy is unmistakably homemade. Bread is baked in-house in several varieties, and the preserves and sausages are also made on site. The menu reads as a celebration of Portuguese produce and technique. The duck for the rice dish is a “pato mudo” (a mute duck), the roast chicken is a capon, and the cod is of “cura amarela” – a traditional yellow cure. Starters include a Serra cheese puff pastry with honey and Port, a Camembert with pumpkin jam, and a “Bola de Alheira” with almond. Among the main courses, you’ll find grilled tiger prawns, bacalhau assado na brasa (grilled salt cod), and an array of meats: roast kid, “Arroz de Pato Mudo” with dried fruits, and a “Galo Capão” roasted in the wood oven. Desserts stay true to the region: a “Brisa do Lis” (named after the local Lis River), Abade Priscos pudding, and a moist passion fruit cake.

A Michelin-Recognised Address

This commitment to honest, well-executed Portuguese cuisine has earned Casinha Velha a place in the Michelin guide as a Recommended restaurant for 2026 – a quiet nod to the consistency and character of this family-run restaurant. Whether for lunch or dinner, with a glass from the interesting wine list, it’s a place that feels both timeless and genuinely local.