Trovador

Timothy B. • 4 reviews

September 7, 2025

10/10

Tasty dishes, well presented. Many restaurants on central squares near old cathedrals in Europe are just tourist-level joints not worth going to if you care about good food. However, O Trovador is an actual upscale restaurant with attentive service, good ambience, and good food. And the prices are reasonable! It just happens to be in an incredibly prime location right across from the old side entrance of the Se Velho (Old Church) which in itself is totally worth spending some time in if you happen to be in Coimbra midday on a Sunday. Tripadvisor screwed up its reservation system, claiming no availability most of the noon to 3pm Sunday opening time, but that's wrong, so just show up...there seems to be plenty of room.

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Marco G. • 11 reviews

July 29, 2025

10/10

The staff was kind and the food very good. The position of the restaurant, very closed to the University and the Cathedral, makes it a very strategic choice.

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Stan K. • 3 reviews

March 20, 2025

3.5/10

Despite being in the middle of a tourist area, there was only one waiter and he did not speak a single word of English. This doesn’t seem sensible, given how few tourists speak Portuguese. My wife’s grilled octopus, was mediocre, and my salmon was overcooked and dry. It was our only dinner during a long trip to Portugal that wasn’t delicious. Very disappointing.

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Paul C. • 1 review

December 26, 2024

7.5/10

Lovely place but due to time of year, 27th December, it was empty. We were still looked after with a lovely meal.

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Katarzyna J. • 1 review

October 23, 2024

2/10

Complete and ulter disaster, the food was cold, not good.

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huub v. • 1 review

September 14, 2024

7/10

Good and decent restaurant. Surprisingly little number of people attending on a Saturday since it is well located and the food is of good quality,

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Natascia C. • 37 reviews

August 13, 2024

4.5/10

Terrible service, rude owner and waiters.

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Karen F. • 2 reviews

June 1, 2024

6.5/10

I expected more from the food after reading previous reviews. However, for the prices I found the food to be average at best. My plate looked lovely but the meat was overcooked. My dinner companion's plate was full of polenta and 3 prawns, for the main course. Not a great food experience - better options available in Coimbra for sure.

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Tom A. • 4 reviews

April 18, 2024

10/10

The restaurant was very nice. It is in a terrific location just down the hill from the University on the river side and near the Fado performance center. We were seated promptly a few minutes before our reservation time. A few minutes after our pre dinner drinks arrived a group of two dozen people were seated for a pre arranged dinner. Our service continued uninterrupted and with perfect timing. Our meals were very well prepared and the service remained relaxed and appropriately attentive. After finishing our meals and paying our bill we were invited to stay longer for a Fado performance that was arranged for the large group dining along side of us. The performers were superb and put on a show that we will fondly remember. We recommend the restaurant wholeheartedly.

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LARRY S. • 1 review

March 12, 2024

8.5/10

thought the food was very good.... had a wide variety of choices. On our night we had a large party so atmosphere was a little different I'm sure than a usually night. But I must say the waiter was extremely attentive and food was brought out perfectly on time

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Stephen K. • 8 reviews

November 2, 2023

8.5/10

There happened to be a group of three musicians doing some Fado music at the restaurant that evening, which made the dinner a bit more enticing.

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Nanette C. • 1 review

October 25, 2023

6/10

There were tiny bugs flying around and landing on my bread that was on the table.

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Cecil M. • 1 review

October 13, 2023

6.5/10

The Coimbra version of Fado was the best thing about this restaurant. The acoustics seemed perfect. The Octopus dish was really good but the veal was really tough, hard to chew.

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Rachel B. • 1 review

July 13, 2023

9.5/10

Really pleased with the authentic, extremely tasty food at this restaurant, with good meat, fish and vegetarian options and lovely desserts. Service was friendly and efficient too and good value for money. We were a party of 12 and everyone was delighted with the choice of venue.

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Jorge V. • 41 reviews

June 29, 2023

7/10

Nice place to eat.

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Penelope W. • 10 reviews

June 11, 2023

10/10

Lovely to sit on the terrace and overlooking the church while people watching

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Lyndsey E. • 1 review

March 28, 2023

10/10

My husband and I have walked by this restaurant regularly and finally decided to book. Couldn't have been happier and cannot recommend this place enough. We chose to sit outside, enjoying the view of the old church directly opposite. The food was excellent, the portion sizes were generous considering the price, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful.

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Shirley M. • 7 reviews

March 25, 2023

10/10

Excellent food, attentive and friendly service, excellent location by the cathedral and lovely atmosphere.

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David R. • 39 reviews

February 1, 2023

5.5/10

Tourist trap.

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Gary W. • 5 reviews

January 27, 2023

9/10

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Trovador, a great dining experience. Online booking very straightforward. We arrived at start of Friday dinner services so only one other table occupied but it filled up after a little while. We had a lovely selection of bread to get us started, followed by vegetable soup which was delicious (although waiter took away our plates when soup arrived so we couldn't butter the bread any more). We shared the Chanfana for two. First time trying goat and it was great, very rich in a red wine sauce which went very well with the potato and cabbage. We were too full for a pudding but stayed for coffee and to listen to a fabulous fado singer accompanied by 2 guitarists on the stairs. No wine list but the house red was great, went very well with the Chanfana and was very reasonably priced. Oh, nearly forgot about the two glasses of Port we received having booked through the Fork! This rounded off a lovely meal at a great spot - highly recommended..

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