Bitoque with a fried egg, rice and chips on a table in the dining room
Sirloin steak in garlic sauce with chips
Squid rice in a clay pot
Chocolate mousse in a glass bowl
Filament lamps over the white brick wall and the leather bench

The tavern in the building with the arch, in Celas, since 1977.

Portuguese cooking at lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday.

Monday to Saturday, 10:00–23:30

arco bar

What people order at the Arco

The dishes that come up most in our guests’ reviews. The menu changes: to know what’s on today, call +351 239 041 193.

Dishes

  • Steak with a fried egg, chips and rice.
  • Sirloin in garlic sauce. “It’s a must buy.” Google review.
  • Squid rice in a clay pot, for the table to share.
  • Pastéis de bacalhau com migas Salt cod cakes with migas.
  • Iscas de leitão da Mealhada Suckling pig liver, Mealhada style.
  • Pataniscas de polvo com arroz do mar Octopus fritters with seafood rice.

Desserts

  • Chocolate mousse in a glass bowl.
  • Tarte de lima Lime tart.
  • Bolo de bolacha Biscuit cake.
  • Baba de camelo Caramelised condensed-milk mousse.

To drink

  • Vinho verde à pressão Vinho verde on draught.
  • Vinho tinto da casa House red.
  • Limonada caseira Homemade lemonade.

Allergies or intolerances? Ask the team before you order.

Caldo verde, grilled black pork, octopus fritters, seafood rice and salt cod cakes, seen from above

At home, with Uber Eats

Uber Eats delivery prices, checked on 29 October 2026. Prices in the dining room may differ.

Open Uber Eats (opens in a new tab)
  • Caldo verde€3.25
  • Sopa alentejana€4.50
  • Moelinhasto be confirmed
  • Peito de frango com amêndoato be confirmed
  • Secretos de porco pretoto be confirmed
  • Naco de vitelato be confirmed
  • Bife da vazia à Arco Barto be confirmed
  • Filetes de polvo com arroz do marto be confirmed

Deliveries Tuesday to Saturday, on shorter hours. (to be confirmed)

In the building with the arch

Arco Bar opened in 1977 in the “prédio do arco”, the building with the arch, on the square now named after Fausto Correia. It calls itself a Taberna-Moderna, a modern tavern.

For many years it was the only place nearby serving bitoques at any hour, to whoever came off a late shift.

In 2014 it changed hands and was remodelled, without losing its place as a “second home” for many neighbours.

Arco-Bar, set in the famous “building with the arch” and calling itself a “Taberna-Moderna”, has been, since it opened in 1977, an unmissable landmark of the Montes Claros area.

Notícias de Coimbra, 19 October 2015 (translated)

Since 1977

1977
Opens in the building with the arch, on what is now Praça Fausto Correia.
2014
New management and a remodelled dining room.
2015
Last stop of Coimbra’s Rota das Tabernas, the tavern trail.
4.7
Out of 5 on Tripadvisor, from 297 reviews.
No. 3
Of 625 restaurants in Coimbra on Tripadvisor, and Travelers’ Choice 2026.

Tripadvisor checked on 29 October 2026. See it on Tripadvisor

What guests say

After a few years away, I came back to the place I went to for almost 30 years.

With new owners, I found the “old” waiters in a pleasantly improved space, the same quality, or even better, and excellent service.

One to come back to.

Ludgero O.Google review, February 2023 (translated)

What I liked most is that everything is made in-house. You won’t regret it.

Google review, May 2026 (translated)

The steak in garlic sauce. It’s a must buy. Get this.

Google review, in English

4.3 out of 5 on Google, 726 reviews (to be confirmed). Quotes from public reviews.

The dining room, with copper pendant lamps and the long bench
Filament lamps over the white brick wall and the leather bench
Sirloin steak in garlic sauce with chips

Arco Bar

Taberna-Moderna since 1977
Praça Fausto Correia, 26 (opens Google Maps)

3000-253 Coimbra

Mon–Sat, 10:00–23:30

239 041 193 A table for how many? Call 239 041 193

Opening hours

Monday to Saturday
10:00–23:30
Sunday
Closed

Public holidays: hours to be confirmed.

Monday to Saturday, 10:00–23:30

Bookings and contact

Bookings by phone. 239 041 193

[email protected] (to be confirmed)

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