100 Montaditos plans three openings in Portugal in 2026

100 Montaditos is preparing to open three restaurants in Portugal by the end of 2026, in Benfica, MAR Shopping and Marquês de Pombal. The Restalia brand currently has 40 restaurants in the country, according to information published on 25 September in Correio da Manhã’s C-Studio. For those following restaurant franchising, the announcement makes this network expansion one to watch over the coming months.

Three locations in the expansion plan

All three announced openings are planned for 2026. The available information identifies the locations but does not provide individual opening dates, investment figures or the number of jobs associated with each restaurant. Nor does it clarify how each of the future sites will be operated.

It is therefore important to distinguish the network’s current size from its growth plans: the 40 restaurants represent its reported presence in Portugal, while the three new sites are openings in preparation. They should not be presented as restaurants already trading.

The announcement refers only to MAR Shopping, without specifying which shopping centre bearing that name will house the restaurant. That detail, along with full addresses and opening schedules, remains unclear in the information provided.

For prospective franchisees, these gaps matter. An expansion announcement offers a way to track a brand’s development, but it neither sets out the commercial terms for joining the network nor confirms that territories are available to new partners.

A presence dating back to 2015

100 Montaditos arrived in Portugal in 2015. Since then, according to the C-Studio content, it has expanded its presence in major cities, urban centres and tourist areas. The forthcoming openings therefore build on more than a decade in the Portuguese market.

The same publication describes the brand as Restalia’s most emblematic and tells the story of Gustavo Costa, a customer who fulfilled his ambition of owning a business through 100 Montaditos. This is an individual example and does not, on its own, support conclusions about other operators’ financial performance.

The nature of the source also deserves to be made clear: the opening announcement appears in C-Studio content. The figures and plans presented there should be read as information released in that context, rather than as an independent survey of the Portuguese franchising market as a whole.

What to assess beyond restaurant numbers

The size of a network is a useful indicator of a brand’s presence, but it is no substitute for assessing a specific site. Anyone considering an investment still needs to evaluate the location, costs and support available.

In an article published on 24 September, Observador describes franchising as a relationship in which the franchisor grants the franchisee the right to use the brand and other resources in return for payments set out in a contract. These may include initial franchise fees, royalties or other charges.

The same article recommends assessing the sector and how well the business suits the entrepreneur, the location’s potential, brand recognition, the processes and tools provided, training and ongoing support. It also includes the initial investment and obligations towards the franchisor among the factors to consider.

These are general guidelines, not terms specific to 100 Montaditos. The available research does not specify the brand’s franchise fees, royalties, premises requirements or investment payback periods.

The next developments to watch

The next milestone will be the delivery of the three planned openings, with confirmed dates and precise site details. Until then, the key point is the planned expansion of a network that reports 40 restaurants in Portugal.

Practical takeaway: anyone considering joining the brand should request up-to-date contractual and financial information, confirm which territories are available and assess each location on its own costs and potential. The announced growth is a starting point for analysis, not a guarantee of profitability.