Cafe Martinho Da Arcada
This business is unclaimed.
Owners who claim their business can update listing details, add photos, respond to reviews, and more.
Claim your free listing now
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Cafe Martinho Da Arcada
Review
About
Features
CUISINES
Mediterranean, European, Portuguese
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Baixa, Rossio & Restauradores
Is this restaurant good for brunch?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 12:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
Monday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Contribute
3.8
1,206 reviews
Excellent
386
Very good
433
Average
207
Poor
93
Terrible
87
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.
Skybird2015
33 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
We visited this restaurant based on the reviews and were disappointed.
The meal was well presented but the beef was really full of sinew and impossible to cut through. The portions were also on the small side.
We ate inside a fairly large room with another table occupied meaning that there was very little atmosphere and with the waiter hanging around us it felt a little over bearing.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patxi P
Pamplona4 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
The food is good (except the cod croquettes which were made at the beginning of the week at least), it is not exceptionally expensive and the service is correct; So far the good part, the not so good: they serve starters that you have not ordered (and in normal restaurants it is considered a courtesy of the house, they do not charge you a doubloon) and they charge you 3 euros per diner for cover, which means The food may not be expensive but if you pay 12 euros for 4 covers and 7 for some cheese loaches, then the bill goes to Chimbambas. Furthermore, it is quite inelegant that they remind you that you can leave a tip (apparently 19 euros for the cover/starter pairing is not enough). Ok, it's in the Plaza del Comercio and certain costs are assumed, but I think it would be more serious if they raised the prices of things and didn't go around with trilerism charging you everything imaginable). We will return to Lisbon without a doubt, I doubt it to this restaurant.
Written August 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dream14597096356
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
This cafe is famous for its pastel de Nata. And they are really good.
But sadly I succumbed to a little dishonesty by the waiter keen to exploit unwary tourists. I asked for two bacalhao balls and some meat based pastries. He offered to bring us a mix plate. I agreed. He then brought us some samosa, beef pastry, omelets, beef croquette, but NO bacalhao balls.
Then I ordered two pastel de nata. He offered to bring me the two house deserts. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that but he dashed off before I could question him. He then returned with a madeleine cake and semolina cake. In all we paid €38 for some snacks that we never really wanted to eat.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan Sear
13 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
Beautiful old restaurant overlooking the main square in Lisbon. Real olde worlde charm. Serves traditional Portuguese food, beautifully cooked, also has a very good wine list of local wines. Not the cheapest meal you'll ever eat (ours came to 75 Euros) but that was with a bottle of wine, cheese to start, I had octopus served with fresh vegetables and potatoes and my husband had an enormous salad with local sausage. Definitely worth it for a treat.
Written June 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flexible82
20 contributions
Oct 2023 • friends
Terrible, the location and the history invite you to enter, but once the amazement at the beauty and photos of Pessoa is over, the nightmare begins, jamon serrano already cut and presented on the plate with cling film, appetizers and pâté and butter with packs of large-scale distribution. Terrible value for money! To be avoided, luckily there are better restaurants in Lisbon.
Very bad experience
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LellaVarese
Besozzo797 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
During our week in Lisbon we had dinner three times as we enjoyed the tranquility of the place, the very professional and friendly waiters, the quality of traditional Portuguese dishes. Environment of the past, very retro but neat, clean. Well cooked, not greasy dishes well digestible
Recommended
Automatically translated
Written February 16, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony W
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Called in here for a beer and snacks having been here twice before when visiting Lisbon. It was very good previously but this time a nightmare....The waiter recommended tapas for two at €15.50 and so we ordered that. We were very disappointed when it consisted only of 3 small rolled up cold pancakes with a sliced hotdog sausage in 2 of them, a tiny pot of tuna pate, 2 small chunks of bread and a small cheese round. When we asked for the bill there was a separate charge for the cheese (which was presented as part of the 'tapas' for 2) and also a cover charge which was not mentioned anywhere on the menu. I raised this with the waiter but he wasn't interested and simply tried to explain away these extra charges. We just paid the bill without leaving a tip as we were limited for time and so were unable to take it further. We will not be returning here and would recommend this place is avoided. Attached is the bill on which only the beer and 'tapas' are valid charges.
Written October 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smudgekins
Bristol34 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
It was the last port on our 14 day cruise and luckily we stayed overnight in Lisbon. Husband and I both fancied a fillet steak so we decided to go here. It is a very well run traditional family restaurant, oozing character. The waiters were very helpful and told us it was better to eat indoors, much more ambient. We ordered the fillet steaks which came with a worrying coffee sauce ............ but to say it was absolutely delightful (wish I had the recipe). The breads were fresh and came with various pates or butter, very moreish indeed. We also had a nice bottle of wine and coffee after. Unfortunately no room for dessert ......... but I am sure it would have been freshly home made. Well done team Martinho - as promised I have given you our review. If we are in Lisbon again we would definitely come back.
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gourmet_HunterX
6 contributions
Apr 2022 • business
Tourist trap, avoid at all costs. Below average food for outrageous prices in the Portuguese context. This restaurant tries to present itself as an elegant location, but then they greet you with paper tablecloth and an embarrassing starter with small tuna and sardine tin cans like the ones you get at a B&B for your breakfast jam. I guess it's my fault for falling for such an obvious tourist trap, but the current 4 star rating just does not hold up. The coffee was good at least.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JudithL
Mount Juliet136 contributions
Jun 2022 • none
I always research the oldest restaurants in a city when I travel to Europe so this cafe was on my radar. I was delighted when my husband and I just happened to wander in the arcade and into this restaurant. A waiter serving outdoors saw that I was curious and showed us the restaurant explaining its history. We decided to have a late lunch at 3 in the afternoon. This was a good choice as there was only one large Portuguese family inside having a celebration of sorts,
The staff was friendly, the food was tasty and authentic. I had a pork stew with tiny clams and my husband had a recommended fish that had shrimp, mussels, clams and potatoes. Before the meal, the waiter served tinned fish (a Portuguese specialty), butter and bread. After that and the entree there was no room to finish our meals, much less to have dessert. The wine that was recommended was the best, but not the most expensive, wine I had in the ten-day wine focused trip. The meal and the location were memorable.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan G
Crawley164 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
Discovered this restaurant on our first evening in Lisbon after a long day.
We all had a variety of fish with some being very fresh straight out of the iced fridge where the fish was on display. All very tasty with good wine - service was good too!
Written March 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia P
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • family
Worst place to visit in Lisbon!! Waiter will force you to buy things you didn’t order because he accidentally brought it to you. Pushy and they will rob you by taking your money before you can even finish counting it to pay the bill! Food and drinks are terrible. Do not recommend.
Written September 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siobhan C
Dublin301 contributions
May 2022 • friends
This is a lovely, friendly restaurant serving large portions of tasty food in a great central location.A group of 7 girls had a lovely lunch here , the portions were very big and you won’t leave hungry. We ate a variety of dishes including, fish stew, grilled sardines and octopus which were substantial. We shared the seafood stew as one portion was enough for two people and was full of grouper, prawns, mussels , other seafood and potatoes.Denes our waiter was so kind and friendly.
Written May 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heli P
Helsinki7684 contributions
Oct 2023 • solo
The business dates back to 1782 and has remained unpretentious and friendly though catering mainly for tourists. I just dashed inside from the pouring rain and was quickly served a hot coffee with tasty orange pastry. Even the terrace outside filled rapidly with other sheltering guests.
Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeremyridley
Farnborough110 contributions
May 2022 • couples
We had a wonderful dinner last week at this historic cafe.
Having reserved a table, we sat inside and were treated to a fabulous meal, with exceptional service.
Our waiter recommended we started with the clams with coriander, which were so tender in a wonderful sauce that needed the additional bread we were given - too good to waste.
For our mains, we had sardines, just in season, which beautifully grilled, and cod with rice and prawns with such a large portion that gave 3 plates of food.
The attentive, but not overbearing, service was just right and we will happily return. This was great value for such a superb meal. Thank you !!
Written May 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Showing results 1-15 of 379
Related Stories
Best moderately priced restaurants
See all
Best nearby
We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Baixa, Rossio & Restauradores
A pending candidate to become a World Heritage Site, Lisbon's downtown (the "Baixa Pombalina", or simply "Baixa") is a perfect example of anti-earthquake construction, having been rebuilt following the 1755 earthquake by the famous Marquês de Pombal (hence its name). Its offer is vast: restaurants and cafes in Rossio and Restauradores, outlets and shops in the Áurea, Augusta, Prata and other famous streets, the imponent Praça do Comércio and its Arch, the luxury shops along the Avenida da Liberdade, this is the beating heart of the city center. The Baixa also grants easy access to trains leading to Sintra, the trams that go around the Castle hill, old neighborhoods or even take you to Belém, and Lisbon's traditional restaurants and cafes. Considering a visit to the Fashion and Design Museum (free entrance) and don't forget to try the famous liquor, "ginjinha"!
Best nearby hotels
See all 
Best nearby restaurants
See all 
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing