Opening in 1782, Restaurant Café Martinho da Arcada, located in the corner of the Praça do Comércio 37 near the Tagus river, is one of the oldest restaurants /cafés in Lisbon.
The restaurant’s terrace under the beautiful arcades, Praça do Comércio
YouTube about this square Praca do Comercio. Situated downtown, this cafe was once the ideal setting for the so called ‘tertúlia’s‘ (café talks). Well known names from Portuguese life, such as Bocage, Amalia Rodrigues and Portugal’s most famous 20th C. poet Fernando Pessoa, were some of its usual customers.
Owner of café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada’, senhor Antônio Barbosa de Sousa.
Portugal’s famous poet and writer Pessoa
Pessoa (1888-1935), worked and lived in the Baixa area in Lisbon, he wrote pieces of his work in this restaurant after closing time.
Restaurant Martinho da Arcade Lisbon: Pessoa’s table is still there…
Fernando Pessoa’s favorite dish: juliana soup, cod and fried eggs with cheese. Until the autumn of 1989 the cafe was retained in the style in which Pessoa enjoyed it. Meeting him for coffee….
The inside dining room
These days mainly employees of the surrounding ministries and business people meet here for lunch. The staff is very friendly. Prices: not cheap, but the quality is excellent.
Café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada Lisbon
Beautiful antique tiles (azulejos)
Café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada’Lisbon 2016, senhor Antônio Barbosa de Sousa & my good friend Margarethe de Vrieze
In the afternoon this wonderful traditonal Portuguese place is worth a visit for tea and applepie ( 7.50 euro).
Clam stew 17.00 euro, veal medallions 18.50 euro, small bottle of Rimor white wine euro 9.00.
The menu lists regional Portuguese cuisine; try a amijoa cataplana (clam stew)!
More about Fernando Pessoa on this website
Café/restaurant ‘Martinho da Arcada Lisbon & very friendly waiters 🙂
Restaurant Café Martinho da Arcada, located in the corner of the Praça do Comércio 37 near the Tagus river . Website
Open: Monday to Saturday 7am – 11pm (not open on Sundays)
Lisbon Praça do Comércio , February 2011
Are you a wine lover? You can taste a selection of fine Portuguese wines for free at Sala Ogival, also located at Praça do Comércio, Lisbon
Is the restaurant open on Sunday?
Thank you, Fran Huang, Restaurant Café Martinho da Arcada is not open on Sunday.