Coimbra, the medieval capital of Portugal, encompasses nearly the same characters in cuisine as the rest of Portugal. Portuguese cuisine is influenced by the lands around the Mediterranean sea. Portuguese cuisine is famous for the fresh and delicious seafood and also for the wide variety of spices. These spices include Piri-Piri, garlic, cinnamon, saffron and fresh herbs. Some traditional Portuguese meals are, for example, Bacalhau, Alentejano pork, Caldo Verde or famous sweet Pastel de nata. However, cuisine in Coimbra also has some local twists. In this area is the famous Leitão-roasted piglet, Chanfana or sweets such as Arrufadas Coimbra and Pastel de St. Clara. Read this list for the best places to eat in Coimbra!
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Try the freshest and most delicious seafood in one of the top 3 seafood restaurants
1. Dom Duarte Dois
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Restaurante D.Duarte 2 on Saturday, November 21, 2020
In the Dom Duarte Dois, you can taste regional, traditional cuisine. They use fresh ingredients to cook food of the highest quality. The staff are friendly and provide professional and fast service. The menu offers various seafood, such as crab, shrimp, fish and much more. On the menu, you can also choose from meat dishes and at the end, you can taste any of the home-made sweets. It’s a fantastic place for a romantic dinner or late snack.
Address: Rua Moçambique, 34 rc, Coimbra
Contact: +351 239701461
Website: Dom Duarte Dois - in Portugese)
2. Napolitano
Napolitano is a favorite restaurant in Coimbra that serves traditional Portuguese food. The menu consists mainly of seafood, fish, and meat. The selection is huge and it’s a good place to try some local dishes. The menu is written in Portuguese but friendly and willing staff will surely help you with your choice. This place is family friendly and also good for groups. So if you are traveling with your beloved and kids or with friends, the Napolitano will be a great place to eat.
Address: Estrada da Beira, Coimbra 3030-173, Portugal
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun: 10:00am-11:00pm, Monday closed
Contact: +351 239701422
Website: Napolitano
3. Solar de Bacalhau
Bom dia! Almoça connosco hoje? Temos: peixe do dia na brasa, escalopina com molho de cogumelos, entrecosto com favas e chouriço, pizza salame, cebola e cogumelos. #SolardoBacalhau #Restaurante #Coimbra
Posted by Solar do Bacalhau on Thursday, 9 March 2017
Solar de Bacalhau is located right in the heart of Coimbra. It’s a typical Portuguese restaurant and a fantastic place for dinner with your family or friends. This restaurant serves delicious meat and fish dishes and on the menu, you will find some specialties from the chef, such as cod fish in bread or sun steak. The menu also includes an extensive range of wines. It’s a great, fresh restaurant that is worth a visit.
Address: Rua da Sota 12, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: 12:00pm-11:45pm
Contact: +351 239098990
Interested in traditional Portuguese cuisine?
4. Ze Manel dos Ossos
Ze Manel dos Ossos is a friendly and local restaurant with typical interiors and a menu of Portuguese culture. The restaurant is popular and high rated for its fresh and delicious food. The menu offers various Portuguese dishes such as cod fish, grilled fish or traditional Portuguese plates. It’s a small place with welcoming staff, who make this place super friendly and comfortable. The Ze Manel dos Ossos can be busy and crowded, and it’s not an accident. It is worth it to wait a couple of minutes to taste their yummy dishes.
Address: Beco do Forno no.12, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat: 12:30pm-3:00pm & 7:30pm-10:00pm. Sunday closed
Contact: +351 239823790
Facebook: Zé Manel dos Ossos
5. Santo Liquido
Posted by Santo Líquido on Friday, 23 September 2016
A small restaurant, newly opened in 2016, is tucked away from the main area in Coimbra. The menu is full of various tapas of all tastes, which represent pieces of traditional dishes. On the menu, there is also a wide range of Portuguese wines, which are well-selected. The Santo Liquido is run by the owner, who also cooks and prepares drinks for you. It’s such a unique place with a homey atmosphere.
Address: Rua Corpo de Deus nº 68, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: Tue-Thur: 6:00pm-2:00am. Fri-Sat: 6:00pm-3:00am. Monday and Sunday closed.
Contact: +351 965562404
6. Notes Bar & Kitchen
Notes Bar & Kitchen is a restaurant situated in the center of Coimbra. The kitchen cooks traditional food, tapas, and local sweets. There is a great selection of wines and beers sourced from Portugal. As with previous restaurants, here you will see typical Portuguese temperament; a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Address: Rua Dr. Manuel Rodrigues nº17, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat: 12:00pm-3:00pm, 6:30pm-11:00pm. Monday and Sunday closed.
Contact: +351 239151726
Facebook: Notes Bar & Kitchen
Taste the sweetest Portuguese cakes in one of the top 3 pastelarias
7. Pastelaria Briosa
Posted by Pastelaria Briosa on Saturday, 4 June 2016
Briosa Pastelaria, situated in the center of Coimbra, has been making people happy with their delicious sweets since 1955. It’s a well known and popular pastelaria, and an excellent representative of Portuguese desserts. The Briosa was awarded the prize of the Confraria da Panela ao Lume. They offer a good variety of sweet cakes, which are made with original recipes and fresh ingredients.
Address: Rua Ferreira Borges, 211, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: 7:30am-9:00pm
Contact: +351 239821617
Website: Pastelaria Briosa
8. Pastelaria Vénus
Posted by Vénus on Sunday, 13 May 2012
Pastelaria Vénus is outside of the center and the main touristic area, but surely worth a stop by if you are around the area. The Vénus provides a wide range of sweets and salt bread. It’s known primarily for its delicious, fresh bread of all kinds. You will find here all of the Portuguese desserts, tasty and traditional. This pastelaria also has good coffee, so it is worth having a cup of coffee together with a yummy local cake.
Address: Alameda Calouste Gulbenkian, 131, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: 8:00am-9:00pm
Contact: +351 239483697
Facebook: Pastelaria Venus
9. Pasteleria Alco lris Lda
Bolo elaborado para a VII Mostra de Doçaria Conventual e Regional de Coimbra em honra da nossa padroeira Rainha Santa Isabel
Posted by Pastelaria ArcoÍris on Saturday, 8 October 2016
A Pastelaria Arco Iris is a pastry shop that sells sweet and salted pastry. In the offer, you can find traditional Portuguese desserts as well as sandwiches and bread. They are proud of a quality and fresh products that serve. The Pastelaria even got an attention of New York Times where was positively referenced.
Address: Av. Fernão de Magalhães, nº22,Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: 7:30-20:30
Facebook: Pastelaria Arco Iris
What about a cup of coffee in Mocca the Coffee Shop?
Para partilhar ou se forem muito gulosos comer de uma só vez. 😍😍😍😍
Posted by Mocca Coffee Shop on Tuesday, 14 February 2017
If you are looking for a good cup of coffee, then head to the Mocca Coffee Shop, one of the best places in Coimbra for its quality service and excellent coffee. Mocca Coffee Shop is not as traditional and typical as others cafés in Coimbra. The concept here is totally different and way more modern. They make various coffees and on the menu, you can also find breakfast, some salads and small snacks. If you didn’t fall for Portuguese sweets but still want to eat something yummy, they sell home-made delicious muffins and cakes. It’s a good place for relaxing after a long day.
Address: Cc Girasolum Loja 117 Piso 1, Coimbra, Portugal
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00am-8:00pm. Sat: 10:00am-7:00pm. Sunday closed
Contact: +351 239091932
Facebook: Mocca the Coffee Shop
Portugal's must-try signature foods:
Let me share with you Portugal’s traditional dishes you definitely shouldn’t miss:
Leitão Leitão is a name for a piglet, typically in the first weeks. This is a must-eat if you are traveling to Portugal. The meat is spiced with garlic, pepper, kosher salt, bay leaves and pig fat. The piglet should have tender meat, while the skin should be crispy.
Bacalhau This dried cod fish is typical for the whole of Portugal. You can buy them in almost every mall or market. The term for the fresh cod is Bacalhau Fresco, and you can eat them in nearly every restaurant within Portugal.
Chanfana Traditional Portuguese dish from goat or pork meat. The meat is cooked in a stove with burning wood, marinated in red wine, garlic, saffron, and pepper.
Arrufadas Coimbra Arrufada Coimbra is a type of sweet bread, which originated in convents. The Arrufada used to have decorations of different shapes, such as stars or rosettes. Today they are typically decorated with a crown made from a ring of pastry and placed on the top.
Pastel de nata The most famous egg cakes originated from Portugal. It’s heaven in your mouth, believe me! You must try them.
Portuguese cuisine will please all your senses!
Portuguese cuisine is famous for its freshness and delicious flavors. The most typical restaurants have their own unique atmosphere but they maintain the lovely, Portuguese temperament. Above is a great range of really quality restaurants with welcoming service and I am sure that anyone will find one to suit their tastes. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong!
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