
Zé Manel dos Ossos
A beloved Coimbra 'tasca' serving traditional Portuguese dishes with a unique, poem-adorned ambiance and exceptional value.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Zé Manel dos Ossos

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved Coimbra 'tasca' serving traditional Portuguese dishes with a unique, poem-adorned ambiance and exceptional value.
Arrive Early to Beat the Queue
The restaurant is small and popular; expect to wait. Arrive before opening to minimize wait times.
Consider Half Portions
Servings are large, so opting for half portions allows you to try multiple dishes.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Traditional Portuguese
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+351 239 823 790
Address
Beco do Forno 10 122, 3000-192 Coimbra, Portugal
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Portuguese Tasca Ambiance
Walls covered in customer poems and art create a unique, lived-in atmosphere. Feels like visiting a friend's home.

Exquisite Traditional Dishes
Must-try Chanfana (she-goat) and Feijoada de Javali (wild boar stew) offer rich, comforting flavors.

Generous Portions and Great Value
Hearty meals at affordable prices, with half portions available for those who want to sample more.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Arrive Early to Beat the Queue
The restaurant is small and popular; expect to wait. Arrive before opening to minimize wait times.
Consider Half Portions
Servings are large, so opting for half portions allows you to try multiple dishes.
Be Patient with Service
Service can be slow due to the restaurant's size and popularity, but the food is worth the wait.
Cash is King
This is a cash-only establishment, so come prepared to pay with cash.
Tips
from all over the internet
Arrive Early to Beat the Queue
The restaurant is small and popular; expect to wait. Arrive before opening to minimize wait times.
Consider Half Portions
Servings are large, so opting for half portions allows you to try multiple dishes.
Be Patient with Service
Service can be slow due to the restaurant's size and popularity, but the food is worth the wait.
Cash is King
This is a cash-only establishment, so come prepared to pay with cash.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Zé Manel dos Ossos is lauded for its authentic Portuguese cuisine, particularly dishes like Chanfana and Feijoada de Javali, served in a charming, uniquely decorated 'tasca' setting. Diners praise the great value and generous portions, making it a must-visit in Coimbra. However, be prepared for significant queues due to its small size and popularity, and note that service can be slow and the restaurant is cash-only.
"Very small restaurant with a special charm to it. We queued for 30 plus mins and it was totally worth it. Their boiled pork bone, bbq pork are so amazingly good. Their rice with beans are very delicious. Lamb stew was done very nicely too. Dessert is a must!"
Byron Tan
"Be aware that the restaurant is quite small and popular. They also have a weird system of letting people in, which is like in batches, so you may need to wait some time, which I did for 45 mins.
Also, portions are huge so consider half option.
I couldn't understand what the soup was, but I enjoyed it too much!"
Mert Tunc
"I don't even know how to describe this place other than wild! There are only a few small tables. The wait was 3 hours in a small alley, although we did get wine and beer while waiting! We shared a table with a couple from Italy and a solo Portuguese businessman in town for work. The meal was as if my grandmother had cooked it. Flavorful. Classic. Perfect. We all ordered different dishes, from seafood to steak, to dessert. Everything was shared. Everything was savored. It's totally worth the wait... if you can make friends while in line :-)"
David Exelbert
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Customers highly recommend the Chanfana (she-goat dish) and Feijoada de Javali (wild boar stew). The 'Ossos' (pork bones) are also a signature dish.
No, Zé Manel dos Ossos does not accept reservations. Expect to queue, especially during peak hours.
The wait can be long, often 30 minutes to over an hour, due to the restaurant's small size and popularity. Arrive early.
There is no specific dress code, but it's a casual 'tasca' atmosphere. Comfortable attire is recommended.
While the food is comforting and traditional, the small space and potential for long waits might be challenging with very young children. However, families are welcome.
Zé Manel dos Ossos is a cash-only establishment. Be sure to bring enough cash for your meal.
The menu primarily focuses on traditional Portuguese meat dishes. Vegetarian options are limited.
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Coimbra, Portugal
If you have to order one thing off the menu from Zé Manel dos Ossos Tavern downtown it has to be Chanfana (an exquisite she-goat dish).
Onde comer em Coimbra: dez restaurantes a não perder
Vá cedo se não pretender ficar muito tempo à porta, uma vez que os famosos “Ossos do espinhaço” já atingiram fama além-fronteiras. Na fila de espera, qual Babel de outros tempos, são várias as línguas ouvidas para provar esta especialidade, além dos locais que não passam sem o tempero acertado que acompanha esta especialidade na panela. Mas há ainda "Feijoada de javali", “Arroz de feijão com costeletinhas grelhadas na brasa”, “Cozido aldrabado” ou a “Rapsódia à moda antiga”.
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Portugal é conhecido pelas suas tascas e Zé Manel é tão autêntico como a tasca . Especialidades particulares incluem os pratos de cabrito e javali, particularmente a feijoada , melhor servida ao lado de um vinho frutado e encorpado das colinas que rodeiam Coimbra. Não só é a sua comida e bebida famosa em todo o país, mas esta tasca tem uma característica única, tornando-a verdadeiramente especial: as paredes são revestidas com poemas escritos por clientes satisfeitos.
Commercial properties for long-term rentals in Coimbra (District), Portugal
É com grande entusiasmo que apresentamos uma oportunidade imperdível para empreendedores no ramo da gastronomia!. Este restaurante, localizado estrategicamente em Penela, está agora à venda, oferecendo a chance de possuir um estabelecimento único e próspero. Características Destacadas: Localização Privilegiada: Situado a escassos minutos da Vila de Penela, nosso restaurante aproveita uma localização privilegiada, atraindo tanto moradores locais quanto visitantes.
COIMBRA, Portugal | Tourist Guide and Coimbra University Information
A memorable place to eat is "Zé Manel dos Ossos." Entering this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in a back alley (Beco do Forno, 12) close to the landmark Astoria Hotel, feels like invading someone's home. There are just a few simple wooden tables and chairs, but the inexpensive home-style food seems to please everyone. The walls are plastered with the odd and eccentric, including messages in different languages written by visitors from around the world.
The Passion of Portugal
In comparison, we had tried to get into Ze Manel dos Ossos twice in the time we were in Coimbra and both times were ignored and disregarded after waiting more than half an hour in line over Portuguese people behind us. In contrast, when we arrived at Toca do Gato, we were offered wine and a table outside was wiped down for us while we waited for an indoor seat. So forget what Lonely Planet says and head to Toca do Gato for a more local experience.
Is Coimbra worth visiting?
Some of my favourite restaurants include Solar de Bacalhau (speciality codfish dishes), Toca do Gato (Traditional Portuguese home cooked food) and Ze Manel dos Ossos (including the delicacy of wild boar!) There are also plenty of pastelarias where you can try local pastries such as the ‘Pastel de Santa Clara’. My favourite pastelarias include Briosa, Cafe Visconde and Pastelaria Venus (in Celas).
Eating in Coimbra - Restaurants and Hamburgers
This restaurant has existed for over 50 years in a narrow alley in Baixa and is one of the best known and traditional taverns in Coimbra. It’s a small and picturesque space whose walls tell its story: they are decorated with drawings and messages from customers and friends who pass by, pieces of covers and robes from students and some other objects. Good atmosphere, excellent food.
5 unique restaurants in Coimbra -
Zé Manel dos Ossos”, one of the most well known and traditional taverns in Coimbra. A small and picturesque space whose walls tell their story: they are decorated with drawings and messages from customers and friends that pass by, pieces of “capas and batinas” of students and some others various objects. Know more: https://www.hoteloslo-coimbra.pt/en/restaurant-ze-manel-dos-ossos/
What to Do in Coimbra, Portugal – Best Attractions and Travel Tips
For an authentic experience, head to Zé Manel dos Ossos, a small but famous eatery known for its delicious slow-cooked meats and rustic atmosphere. If you prefer seafood, Restaurante Piscinas do Mondego offers fresh fish dishes with stunning views of the river. Solar do Bacalhau is another excellent choice for those wanting to try Portugal’s beloved codfish dishes.
Best restaurants in Coimbra | Erasmus tips
If you want to go here you have to keep in mind that it is a very popular place in Coimbra, and also a very smallplace. Along with its policy of not taking reservations, you therefore have to go early. It opens from 7:30pm until 10pm at night, and opens from 12:30 until 3pm for lunch, so you have to go with plenty of time to spare.
Coimbra - StudentVille
For those going to Coimbra it is almost certain that the recommendation for dinner is "Zé Manel dos Ossos". There are those who get scared by the name because eating bones does not look like much said like that all of a sudden. The two dishes stayed on the menu and turned into good obligations for those who sit in this house.
mmm-yoso!!!: Coimbra
Up the stairs of the building that faces John III and down the hallways called the "via Latina" you'll find Sala dos Capelos - The Grand Hall. You'll look down upon what used to be the palace throne room and became an examination room. You can get some great views looking out the windows of the catwalk above the room.
Discover the Best Restaurants in Coimbra for Traditional Dining
Ze Manel dos Ossos is a hidden gem among restaurants in Coimbra, known for its authentic Portuguese cuisine and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant’s walls are adorned with quirky memorabilia that tell the stories of countless visitors. The intimate setting makes it a perfect spot to savor traditional dishes in Coimbra.
Restaurants in Coimbra
Head to the hole-in-the-wall establishment of Ze Manel dos Ossos Restaurant for some gastronomic delights and excellent value for money, or the A Taberna Restaurant, on Rua Combatentes da Grande Guerra, close to the New Cathedral, for traditional cuisine from regional Portugal cooked with unique style and flair.
15 restaurantes que não pode perder em Coimbra
No Beco do Forno e com mais de meio século de existência, encontra-se a tasca de Coimbra. Quem passa pela Cidade dos Estudantes, não parte sem antes apreciar o que de melhor se faz.Local de comida tradicional, caseira, saborosa e a preços acessíveis. Morada: Beco do Forno 10 122, 3000-192 Coimbra
Where To Eat In Coimbra: 9 Best Places To Experience Portuguese Cuisine
Ze Manel dos Ossos is a friendly and local restaurant with typical interiors and a menu of Portuguese culture. The restaurant is popular and high rated for its fresh and delicious food. The menu offers various Portuguese dishes such as cod fish, grilled fish or traditional Portuguese plates.
Restaurants in Coimbra
As a student town for centuries, Coimbra is filled with backstreet taverns serving hearty, cut-price cooking. This is perhaps the most famous, serving up the likes of roast baby goat (cabrito asado no forno), bean stew with wild boar (feijoada de javali) or ribs with beans and rice…
Coimbra, Portugal: Beautiful the first time, perfect the next
There's the Passaporte Lounge Terrace for drinks, with its view across the Mondego, the hidden gem of Ze Manel dos Ossos Restaurant or Restaurant Solar do Bacalhau. We end our visit with a terrific meal at Tapas nas Costas. Marcelo has advised booking – tables are like hen's teeth.
What to See and Eat in Coimbra, Portugal
This gem of a restaurant makes up for its peculiar décor with some must-try delicacies. Don’t come expecting the works because what you see is what you get. And what you see are five tables, wooden stools, and walls covered in hand-written notes, poems and scribbles.
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Some of Sequeira’s favorite restaurants here include Zé Manel dos Ossos, Zé Neto, Cozinha da Mari and Tapas nas Costas. Refeitro da Baixa is a fun, and swank, dining experience in located in a renovated 100-year-old pottery factory in the center of town.
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Even if you only have a couple of hours to visit Coimbra, I strongly recommend that you spend them soaking up the Coimbra bohemian life of Zé Manel dos Ossos and eating your way through this cornerstone of Traditional Portuguese Cuisine.
Open restaurants Coimbra
Viemos informar os nossos clientes e amigos que nos dias 1,2,3 e 4 de Dezembro estamos encerrandos.. Muito obrigado a todos Com os melhores comprimentos. For more info visit the website or checkout Google Maps.
Zé Manél dos Ossos | Where to eat in Coimbra
In Coimbra the best tasca is Zé Manél dos Ossos, a little restaurant that has more than 60 years of tradition. It is the most reccomended restaurant if you look online, and it indeed is great.
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Grab a fantastic piece of pizza (or several – you’re on vacation, after all) at Italianino Coimbra, or grab a seat at Ze Manel dos Ossos and enjoy some top-notch regional cuisine.
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If you want a peculiar place to have a meal in Coimbra, your choice is Zé Manel dos Ossos, Rua do Beco, 12, a small nice restaurant with traditional food and nice staff.
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When you order this dish you receive a small silver tray loaded high with the spine bones of a pig that have been simmered and stewed in a peppery broth.
Best restaurants in Coimbra
Discover authentic Portuguese cuisine at Restaurante Zé Manel dos Ossos in Coimbra - a must-visit for food lovers seeking traditional flavors.
4. EATING IN COIMBRA
Zé Manel dos Ossos (Beço do Forno, 12): the very best, extremely fine culinary experience. Closed Saturday nights and all day Sunday.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit