Restaurante Solar do Bacalhau

The place is beautiful, with amazing food and attentive service. We went there for a quick dinner as a last resort. I was amazed by the quality of the food and the service. Their menu is foolproof, so you won't have any problems, whether you speak Portuguese or not. We will definitely be going back again.

This Michelin Bib Gourmand is famous for its cod, specifically the loin of cod. And yet they have other fish and meat and even pizza in their menu, testament to the number of tourists they have as customers. The place is huge, with separate seating halls.

Me of course I ordered the most popular Grilled Cod Loin with potatoes and cabbage plus a soup. And with a fish dish, you can’t go wrong with a Rose wine.

First off the wine. The server was correct to recommend a small bottle rather than a house rose. It tastes crisp and refreshing.

Soup de jour was spinach soup. It was okay, not something to scream about.

But the cod. It was the thickest cut of North Atlantic cod I have ever had. I was told that the loin is sliced and salted and then refrigerated for 3 to 6 months, to let the salt slowly marinate the meat.

So no prize for the correct guess - the cod is salty but very very tender. Be careful there are fish bones in there. The dish is served drenched in olive oil and the potatoes and cabbage there help to balance the salty cod. Especially the cabbage. These were sautéed with garlic with the emphasis here that the garlic was almost raw. There are also some grilled onion rings and zucchini in the mix. So it’s an explosion of flavours as you go through the dish.

I must say the portion is quite big. People with small appetites should consider sharing a plate and then you’ll have space for dessert.

Total damage was Euro 29.75 which is quite decent, all things considered. Reservations are advised.

The staff was super friendly, especially Sir Oscar who helped me choose my dish. I ended up having Bacalhau com Queijo da Serra. Looked pricy at first, but when you get to eat it, it's completely worth it. Recommend 100%

Solar do Bacalhau was a great find. The service, food, and atmosphere were all very good.

As we arrived we were promptly greeted, seated, and served. We usually shy away from larger restaurants, because we like smaller more intimate settings. However, Solar still managed to maintain that personal touch and quality.

I ate a baked cod dish with veges, we shared a salad, and my wife had the pizza. All of the food was very good. We highly recommend Solar, and would eat here again when given the chance.

We had the mixed appetizer plate (entraidas a solar) and the Coimbra traditional cod recipe. The food was outstanding. Vittorio, our waiter, was amazing. He made us feel at home. He explained the menu very well and was also very friendly. The prices are reasonable. I highly recommend this place.

So much to
Chose from and it was all delicious I wish I could have eaten more

Probably one of my favorite meals in Portugal. This restaurant specializes in cod (as the name suggests, yes) and you can be sure that all their dishes will be authentic and good quality. Great place therefore for trying something different than a cod loin. I went for Bacalhau a bras and really enjoyed it. Also enjoyed my Pastel de Tentugal for the desert.
Extremely rich wine menu (including good per glass options).
Venue a bit dated but charming in its own way.
Prices very reasonable.
Definitely worth the Michelin bib they’re holding.

A traditional restaurant with really good food. The service is excellent and the atmosphere is very classic. The price is a bit higher, but it's definitely worth it.

Suggested by our tour guide and was a good choice. Very traditional Portugese fare and we enjoyed the Cod and the variety plate appetizer. Service was exceptional and they had a good crowd even though this was a Monday lunch.

Solar do Bacalhau is a beautiful traditional Portuguese restaurant located in the heart of Coimbra’s old town. They specialise in Portuguese dishes, fish dishes and they also make very nice house pizzas.

The interior is spacious, there’s a ground floor and a upper lever, very nicely decorated with real plants and flowers, not the fake stuff, they also a big wine shelf that you look at and select wines.

I had the Solar signature pizza, which has olives, cheese, pepperoni, tuna fish, mushrooms, pepper, onions, ham and a egg.

The pizza was very delicious, with so many flavours at the same time. I had the house red wine to pair with the pizza.
For a dessert, I had the seasonal fruit which was a big slice of melon.

I definitely recommend locals and tourists to visit the Solar so Bacalhau.

Great quality food and service. The codfish in amazing, and this is a really hard to get as a review from someone that lives in a zone known for traditional codfish dishes... Well done!

We had a fantastic dining experience here with the services of Sergio. We asked for his recommendations and we enjoyed very much. So now I share with you: tres bagos sauv blanc, grilled octopus with garlic, bacalhau coimbra, and tiramisu. Very lovely evening dining outdoors. Highly highly recommend. 11/10!

Very nice restaurant with outdoor seating. Lovely in the evening, a little out of the way so not too many passers by. The food is excellent, and I can highly recommend the caipirinha.

My husband had the sea bass and I had pork medallions in a cream and mustard sauce. Both were fabulous and the service was impeccable! Plus it's a very pretty decor.

I came here for lunch and it wasn't too crowded on a Saturday but it started getting busy around 2PM. They had sections for groups and for individuals. The service was fast enough and the cod was great. The pork's ear salad was a bit different but it was worth trying if you're up for it.

This place did not disappoint. Highly recommend it

Probably the best Bacalhao we've had since arriving in Portugal. The place was busy but the wait staff was on point to make sure everything was running well. The almond cake dessert was devine. Can recommend.

Solar do Bacalhau is so far the best restaurant I have been to in Portugal! (not only Coimbra).
The staff are very professional and friendly. We really enjoyed being taken care of by Victor Miguel and Elisabete Olaio on the two occasions when we had dinner there.
The restaurant is spacious, clean and comfortable.
As for the food, it is simply delicious! Each ingredient is nicely cooked and fresh and the waiting time is very quick.
We just love this restaurant and it is well located walking distance in Coimbra.
We will certainely be back!

The food here is really good. We went based on the Michelin guide and had the guide's recommendations: the bacalhau (cod) cakes, house prawns and the duo of bacalhau. I can recommend all three dishes. For dessert we had the regional pastry which was delicious

Very friendly service and very tasty food. Almond pie so fantastic and have many choice of the menu👍😋