Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas Celebrates 30 Years

A special menu revisits emblematic recipes from the hotel’s history and will be available until March/April 2026 at the Arcadas restaurant, in a tribute to the three decades of gastronomic journey of this historic Coimbra hotel.

Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special menu that revisits flavours, products, and recipes that have marked its gastronomic trajectory. Developed by chef Vítor Dias, this offering is part of the Autumn/Winter menu at the Arcadas restaurant and will be available until March/April 2026, reinforcing the hotel’s position as a benchmark for hospitality, signature cuisine, and connection to the local area.

The menu highlights seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, from fish and seafood from the Portuguese coast to seasonal vegetables and mushrooms. The fish soup combines Algarve shrimp, fresh fish, and cuttlefish, finished with a crispy corn and seaweed topping that gives it texture and freshness. The C.L.P. dish combines shrimp, lobster, and turbot with a symphony of pumpkin and a butter and herb cream in a precise balance. The meat dish revives a house classic, with oxtail slowly braised to achieve tenderness and depth of flavour, served with creamy truffled potatoes, spinach, and a mushroom sauté that completes the ensemble.

The meal ends with Quinta das Lágrimas’ traditional crème brûlée, now accompanied by thyme ice cream and a poppy seed and sesame crumble, in an interpretation by chef Vítor Dias that maintains the essence of the original recipe and adds lightness. This special menu is available for 95 euros per person, excluding drinks. For those who wish to complete the experience, the menu’s specific wine pairing can be added for an additional 35 euros per person.

Together, these offerings reflect the evolution of Quinta das Lágrimas’ cuisine, preserving its culinary heritage while affirming the creativity of the current team.

A historical legacy that shapes the identity of Quinta das Lágrimas

Over the last few decades, this gastronomic identity has been influenced by chefs who have left their mark on the establishment, including Albano Lourenço and Joachim Koerper. This heritage continues in the commemorative menu now presented.

Located in Coimbra, in a former 18th-century palace surrounded by 12 hectares of historic gardens, the Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas is a five-star hotel and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The combination of history, nature, and elegance has established it as a benchmark in boutique hotels in Portugal and internationally, with a deep connection to the city and the famous legend of Pedro and Inês, maintaining a close relationship with the territory and the local community.

Miguel Júdice, manager of the Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas, states: “The 30 years of Quinta das Lágrimas represent a solid journey in the hotel and restaurant industry in Portugal. This menu reinforces the connection to our history and the city, valuing gastronomy as an essential part of the experience we offer. It is also a moment to recognise the contribution of the teams and chefs who helped build this establishment, including Albano Lourenço and Joachim Koerper, and who left a legacy that continues to inspire us.”

Chef Vítor Dias adds, “The basis of this menu lies in respect for the product and the culinary heritage I found in this kitchen. We selected dishes that have been part of our menus over the decades and reinterpreted them with current techniques, preserving the memory and flavour that gave rise to them. It is a way of honouring the history, tradition, and people who made Quinta das Lágrimas a gastronomic reference.”

In 2026, Quinta das Lágrimas will mark 700 years of documented history of the property, with records dating back to 1326, a milestone that reinforces the heritage and cultural value of this unique space, deeply linked to the city of Coimbra and its traditions.

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