Calma Tavern

Exceptional food and service. We had the grilled octopus as starters and steak with Chimichurri and grilled cauliflower. The white house-wine was exceptional and we finished of with pana cota. Highly recommended.

The best restaurant experience we’ve had so far this trip. Wandered in through the narrow streets and liked the menu, and had a perfect 5.0 review rating on Google. An American couple making great food and providing great service. Every dish perfectly balanced and great value as well!

Their five-star rating is real. This was one of our favorite meals in Portugal. Each dish was delightful - with my favorite being the duck salad. I would return to Coimbra just to revisit this restaurant, it’s that good!

We are so glad we found this place—what a gem! I had the special of duck breast with chimichurri sauce and my husband had the fish with lemon and mint. We shared the braised greens and the sweet potato purée. We also shared a wonderful orange almond cake for dessert. Wonderful friendly service! Highly recommended!

Walking into this little restaurant felt like coming home. Run by a lovely American couple, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, without a hint of pretension. It’s clear they've poured their hearts into this place, and it shows in every detail. ​The food was absolutely incredible. You can tell they cook with real passion and skill—each dish was perfectly executed and delicious! Everything was made with amazing care, from the fresh, high-quality ingredients to the thoughtful presentation. ​The service was just as fantastic as the food. We never felt rushed, and it was such a treat to enjoy a truly lovely, unhurried meal. ​If you’re in Coimbra and looking for a delicious, and heartwarming dining experience, you absolutely have to visit this spot. We even went twice on our 2 night visit! I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Fantastic place to dine in Coimbra. We love the places off the beaten path. This charming little gem was set back in a quiet alley off the main square. Erin and her husband Wesley are the proprietors. Who would have thought that some of the best meals we’ve had in Portugal (so good we went there twice!) would be served by Americans? The bread and olives with olive oil were delicious. (I rank a lot of Portuguese restaurants by them alone because we always try them.) I enjoyed the cheese and fruit board. We also loved the steak (so tender) and sardines. One night we went there was a delicious braised chicken with olives. We tried two desserts over the two nights. Nectarine panna cotta was so light and delicately flavored, we left not a bit! We also tried orange almond cake - so moist and not too sweet which we prefer. Erin and Wesley honor the Portuguese food culture but give their menu items a bit of a twist. Erin warned us when we sat down that meals aren’t served quickly as her husband makes everything to order all by himself in a tiny kitchen. We would never have expected food to be served quickly in Portugal- that is one of the reasons that we love it! But we definitely did not wait an overly long time. We would absolutely return to Calma Tavern to have a delicious meal and talk with Erin again. It is a wonderful place! Amy and Mike (from Maryland)

This was the best meal we have had in Portugal. All of the dishes were delicious. The flavours were superb and everything so fresh. My husband wanted to extend our stay in Coimbra so we could dine here another night.

One of the most memorable stops while in Coimbra had to be Culma Tavern. From course to course, this restaurant delivered on style and taste! Appetizers and entrees were delicious with all the right flavor notes. Erin, co-owner, was an exceptional host and provided very welcoming hospitality. I will definitely be going back.