About Us
On the picturesque banks of the Guadiana River in Alcoutim, a unique culinary venture was born—one where the provenance of our ingredients is celebrated with as much passion as the art of cooking them.
Cascas & Marés is the product of Ana and Bernard’s shared devotion to the sea, fine gastronomy, and an uncompromising commitment to sharing exceptional produce with every guest who steps through our doors. Our restaurant is uniquely anchored to Anaber – Produção e Comercialização de Bivalves, Lda., a family-run boutique enterprise dedicated to cultivating artisanal oysters and premium shellfish in our private nurseries, tucked away in the pristine waters of Culatra Island within the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve.
Since day one, Anaber has championed quality over quantity. Our production is intentionally limited and meticulously tended to every single day—respecting the natural tides, lunar cycles, and the delicate biodiversity of this extraordinary coastal ecosystem.
For years, our wild-reared oysters made their journey straight to France, where world-class distributors and discerning seafood connoisseurs cherished the purity of our artisanal harvest. Today, we are proud to keep that reserve right here at home.
We chose to reserve a dedicated portion of our finest harvest exclusively for our guests in Portugal. Not because we expanded production, but because we felt it was time to share a culinary gem—once exported strictly abroad—directly with those who visit us.
That is why signature Anaber Oysters can be experienced nowhere else in Portugal except right here in Alcoutim at Cascas & Marés. Each visit offers a truly rare opportunity to savor a delicacy crafted by hand, shaped by nature, and served fresh off the water.
Far more than a seafood restaurant, Cascas & Marés is the meeting point of sustainable aquaculture, authentic regional gastronomy, family heritage, and the rich terroir of the Algarve coast.
From the Ria Formosa to Your Table
Our story begins long before our doors first opened to welcome you.
Cultivating world-class oysters is an art that requires patience, deep expertise, unwavering commitment, and a profound respect for nature. Every single oyster grows at the natural rhythm of the Ria Formosa Lagoon, nourished by the pristine, nutrient-rich waters of this protected sanctuary and nurtured daily through the hands-on care of our team.
As artisanal growers ourselves, we know every chapter of this journey. We know precisely where every shellfish we serve originates, how it was raised, and the exact moment it achieves peak flavor and freshness to be presented at your table.
This direct line from our ocean nurseries to our dining room allows us to offer an extraordinarily rare experience: serving ocean treasures whose quality we have personally safeguarded, from their origin in the sea straight to your plate.
At Cascas & Marés, we believe that exceptional culinary artistry begins long before the Chef prepares the dish. It begins in the sea, within the harmony of nature, and through an absolute devotion to the purity of our ingredients
Mission, Vision
Our Mission
To deliver an exceptional dining experience rooted in deep respect for product provenance, offering our guests the rare opportunity to savor unique culinary treasures—many harvested directly from our private nurseries in the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve. Through a refined fusion of Algarvian heritage and French culinary technique, we celebrate the ocean, authenticity, and uncompromising quality in every dish.
Our Vision
To be recognized as a premier benchmark in Portuguese gastronomy—distinguished by our unique sea-to-table connection as both artisanal producers and restaurateurs, the exclusivity of our signature oysters, the creativity of our kitchen, and our commitment to establishing Alcoutim as a destination of culinary excellence. We aim to grow sustainably while preserving the unyielding quality, authenticity, and warm family spirit that have always defined Anaber and Cascas & Marés.
Values
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Provenance
We know every single product from day one, believing that world-class cuisine always begins at the source.
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Uncompromising Quality
We produce in limited batches, prioritizing artisanal excellence over volume.
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Exclusivity
We share a rare culinary gem with our guests—an artisanal oyster once reserved strictly for international export and today available nowhere else in Portugal except right here at Cascas & Marés in Alcoutim.
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Purity & Authenticity
We honor the natural flavors of our ingredients, elevating the purest gifts of the sea and our regional terroir.
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Expertise
We unite decades of hands-on mastery in shellfish cultivation with the technical precision and flair of French gastronomy.
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Genuine Hospitality
We welcome every guest with warmth, sincerity, and dedicated care, ensuring every visit becomes a memorable story.
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Sustainability & Stewardship
We respect natural lunar and tidal cycles, championing responsible aquaculture and working to protect the rich biodiversity of the Ria Formosa, the Guadiana River, and the inland Algarve.
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Family Heritage
We are a family business that channelled decades of aquaculture knowledge into a unique dining destination—where tradition, innovation, and passion walk hand in hand.