Calma Tavern — Restaurant in Coimbra

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...

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...

This has to be the best little gem in all of Coimbra. We walked in as a party of 5 (parents and 3 teenage kids) after a long day because of the 5.0 review average and would have given more stars if we could. Excellent food all around and an outrageous value for the money. We started with the Chicken Liver Pate Crostini, bread with prosciutto, and the Beets with red onion and orange - all awesome and devoured in no time. Most of us then had the great steak with chimichurri (nice with the Pureed Sweet Potato), plus the special of the day (some kind of mussels) and pork loin. Everybody loved their meal, and we ended with a terrific panna cotta. Can't recommend Calma Tavern enough and hope they'll be successful for a...