Café Santa Cruz

Visitor's Guide

Café Santa Cruz, Coimbra

The exterior of the café

A former chapel of the Monastery of Santa Cruz next door is one of Portugal’s most beautiful cafés since 1923. It’s a Coimbra landmark, with the atmosphere expected at a monumental and classic European café.

Café Santa Cruz, Coimbra

The interior of the café maintains the architecture of the former monastery

With an architecture dating back to 1530, it’s one of the most unusual coffee shops you’ll see anywhere. It preserves the original high-vaulted Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) ceiling of the chapel, stained-glass windows, wood paneling, marble-top tables and leather chairs. It was a meeting place for intellectuals and Coimbra University students, but is now more frequented by locals and tourists who stop for coffee, a traditional Portuguese pastry or a light snack.
Tables are also placed outside on the terrace facing the square, turning into a stage for fado performances and other cultural events at night.


Praça 8 de Maio


Opens every day, from 8am to midnight.