Schmap.com supports the following browsers:
PC
 For soccer enthusiasts |
Espoz y Mina, 17 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 7381 |
This bar's name, 1-x-2 (read, one-x-two), has to do with the Spanish soccer lottery, the quiniela, and it refers to three options the players can choose in order to make their bets. 1 means the home team will win, x is for a tie and 2 the visiting team. They are real experts in quinielas here, and will give you all their opinions while you have a snack. You can have fried food, pies, pork kebab or a montadito (like a canapé), while people make their bets individually and then comment on them as the matches are played. If you like soccer, the most popular sport in Spain, and you want to share your interest with other people, you can have a really good time at this bar. Drinks and snacks are very cheap (about 200 ptas), so the place gets packed on weekends, especially when games are on. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Delicious seafood |
Obispo Jarrín, 10 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 26 9387 |
This seafood restaurant is decorated throughout in oak and the three dining rooms hold 300, 150 and 80 people respectively. They operate their own fresh seafood reserve so you can be sure that your lobster, crabs, prawns, crayfish and clams are first-class specimens. They also serve fresh fish caught in the Bay of Biscay. One of the house specialties is the "Albatros Hake" (delicate white fish served on a bed of tomatoes and covered with an exquisite bechamel sauce). If you prefer meat, try some of the locally-cured hams or the restaurant's home-produced pork cuts. The homemade pine nut pudding is unusual. There's an area reserved for non-smokers. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Very popular with university students |
Compañía, 12 Salamanca 37008 Spain |
This is one of the most popular university coffee shops, located opposite the Universidad Pontificia and very near several faculties. Moreover, at this café they support young artists, giving them the chance to exhibit their works on the premises. This cafe could almost be two different places. On the ground floor, you can read the daily press and use the place for business meetings. On the first floor, you will find many students who go there to have a pincho (small portions of food) or some of their popular cakes. Also, you can see painted windows on the walls depicting the most interesting attractions in town. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Peaceful eating |
Felipe Espino, 6 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 2779 |
This restaurant in the old town is popular with staff from the nearby university. The two cozy dining rooms are decorated with the characteristic stone from the district of Villamayor. The emphasis is on regional cuisine with a few international dishes available as well. The house specialties include hake accompanied with leeks cooked in duck fat, the selection of cured pork products and the T-bone steaks. The homemade dessert called tocinillo de cielo (a type of creme caramel) with raspberry sauce is delicious. The local wines from Arribes and the Sierra de Francia complement these regional favourites perfectly. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Teresa Soto Marcos |
|
Bullfighting scene, great potatoes |
Dimas Madariaga, 30 Salamanca 37005 Spain +34 923 22 5020 |
You cannot leave Salamanca without trying their popular patatas bravas (fried chunks of potatoes served with a spicy tomato sauce), for their recipe is unique. Antonio Bar is surrounded by other restaurants and bars where they serve pinchos (canapés), and also by gardens and shops, which makes it the perfect place for a morning snack. You can eat here all day as they serve tapas, including fried chorizo (highly-seasoned pork sausage), paella, tuna pasties, croquettes and several kinds of fish, which customers usually wash down with their good house wine. The place is frequented by famous local cattle breeders and bullfighters. It is decorated with a great many photos showing matadors and ornaments related to the world of bullfighting. You can have a drink and a pincho for about 250 or 300 ptas (EUR 1.50/1.80). Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Top-quality ingredients |
Azucena, 5 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 7382 |
When you enter this restaurant, you will immediately see a huge oven in the coffee shop area. Inside there are two dining rooms. One of them is exclusively used for meetings and you will also find the Arandino shop, where you can buy many products ranging from the best caviar to the most expensive wine on the market. The decoration throughout is typical of old Castile, with wine cellars and glazed ceramic tiles from Talavera. On the menu, good options for appetizers include the "chanfaina" (stew made from lamb liver and lungs), potatoes "meneás", blood sausage or "farinato" (prepared with bread, lard, salt and pepper). For the main course, try the delicious young lamb sweetbread or a superb partridge salad. Lamb chops with vine shoot is another of their specialties, as are the Arandino crepes in the desserts category. All of this can be washed down with the best wines from around the world. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Affordable grilled meats |
Van Dyck, 33 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
Meat lovers have reason to celebrate. This is a famous and cozy restaurant, well-known by everyone in Salamanca for serving the best grilled meat at very affordable prices. The veal T-bone steaks and their delicious roast ham are also recommended. Moreover, all of their homemade desserts are exquisite. It is worth mentioning their crème caramel, their lemon mousse and their strawberry cakes. The house wine, a quality Rioja, is also recommended. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Generous helpings |
Prior, 4 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
Many people in Salamanca prefer eating pinchos (like tapas) to traditional three-course meals, and they often choose this place because their raciones (larger-sized portions) are very generous. At this bar, with the Plaza Mayor nearby and on a pedestrian street, you can enjoy pinchos morunos (pork kebab marinated in paprika and olive oil), grilled chops, cuttlefish, squid, omelettes, mussels, cheese, cured pork loin and anchovies at very reasonable prices. You can order some local wine and sit at any of their wooden tables in order to share several of these raciones and pinchos with friends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Wonderful charcoal-grilled meat |
Van Dyck, 9 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
Cozy restaurant, decorated with wrought iron and old farm tools, serving exquisite charcoal-grilled meat dishes and parrilladas (grills) to share. Some of their most popular dishes include grilled tenderloin, barbecued steak, cuttlefish and veal T-bone steak, as well as prestigious cold meats from Guijuelo. As for desserts, which are all homemade, their cheesecake, rice pudding and custard are all worth mentioning. If you plan on visiting this restaurant on the weekend, you should definitely book a table beforehand. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: laencinaweb |
|
In 15th century building |
Compañía, 8 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 9089 |
This beautiful building from the 15th century is located opposite the Clerecía, a beautiful church in the old city. Its interior is decorated with arches and fine Castilian wrought iron. It is a three-storey building with several cozy dining rooms and an old-style tavern downstairs. A wrought iron gateway welcomes visitors to this restaurant, where you can enjoy Spanish cold meats and "morucha" (beef) fillets from Salamanca, or their excellent codfish prepared with toasted garlic. The restaurant also has a daily vegetarian set menu, featuring delicious aubergines stuffed with vegetables. We recommend their house wine, called Tiriñuelo. As for desserts, their white chocolate mousse is noteworthy. The owners have another restaurant, also called El Bardo, which is suitable for large events and banquets (Avenida Portugal, 88; tel: +34 923 259 265). Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Specializing in local cuisine |
Plaza del Mercado, 8-10 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 9657 |
This restaurant is located next to the main city market and opened in 1902. They get first choice for the freshest local produce due to their location and serve traditional regional cuisine. They regularly participate in the most prestigious regional gastronomic and wine conferences and competitions. Try the bola, an exquisite cut of pork that's served in perfect condition. The other house specialties include the cured hams, the morucha (beefsteak) and the roast cochinillo (suckling pig). The restaurant holds 50 people and if it's full, the adjoining bar serves large portions (raciones) of regional products such as blood sausage and tasty lamb and pork dishes. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Jazz music and bohemian clientele |
Gran Vía, 5 Salamanca 37007 Spain +34 923 26 7499 |
If you want to listen to the latest jazz music in a place with an excellent atmosphere, you should definitely come here for a mid-afternoon coffee. If you prefer live shows, or to mix with artists and bohemians, visit Birdland after 11.30pm. It's surrounded by parks, so it's the perfect setting to explore your inner world and listen to great music. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Mike Slichenmyer  |
 Photo: Laurent Baillet |
|
Sardines, roast chicken and sangria |
Nenúfar, s/n Salamanca 37004 Spain |
At this unusual restaurant, located in an old wine cellar, you will see hundreds of steins with the names of customers that have visited it over the last four decades. Moreover, regulars usually write their names on the ceiling, a tradition that still survives to this day. As for food, they only serve roast chicken and sardines, and their typical drink is "sangría", while dessert options are either custard or ice cream. Despite this limited menu, it is still worth a visit, and it is very popular with locals, so much so that it is advisable to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Italian-style café |
Meléndez, 2 Salamanca 37008 Spain |
This cafe, located right in the university area, is a very cozy and quiet place with a distinctive Italian flavor. It is very near the Universidad Pontificia and several Salamanca University schools. They offer special breakfasts, all kinds of coffee, pastries and home-made cakes. It is decorated like a typical Italian coffee shop, both with natural wood and painted green. There are slates showing the daily or weekly specials and photos of internationally famous artists on the walls. Their sugar bowls, steins and the combination of different flavors in their cakes are interesting and pretty unique. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Decorated with works of art |
Rúa Mayor, 9 Salamanca 37008 Spain http://www.mmteam.interbook.ne... |
This is a cute coffee shop that was called 'Dacha' until some years ago when it took on this new identity. At present, it is a cozy place where you can have a coffee, play cards or board games and take in exhibitions by young artists. It is located right in the old city, which makes it very popular with tourists and people out for a walk, and is surrounded by souvenir shops and all kinds of restaurants. The place is decorated with the works by the artists exhibiting as it is a good starting point in their artistic careers. It is mainly frequented by university students, and they play rather soft music like boleros and ballads. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Specialists in hot and cold canapés |
Van Dyck, 16 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
This place is located near the Van Dyck cinema, in an area with a lot of tapas bars, which becomes one of the busiest and liveliest parts of town after 8pm. The specialties here are tostas (toasted canapés), both hot and cold; mushrooms with sauce and mussels, which can be spicy, with vinaigrette or tigres (breaded and fried). They have several large tables where you can comfortably sit at and eat some pinchos (canapés) or raciones (larger-sized helpings). Prices for raciones range from 250 to 400 ptas (EUR 1.50-2.40), tostas cost 250 ptas (EUR 1.50), and pinchos are served with your drink, which costs about 150-300 ptas (EUR 0.90-1.80). Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Top-quality regional products |
Ventura Ruiz Aguilera, 14-16 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 7239 http://www.elcandil.info/ |
This delightful restaurant has been serving the best local produce on the market from its city centre location for the last 60 years. The traditional interior decor features old photos of the city and bullfighting memorabilia. The house specialties range from assorted cheeses to the most exquisite meats from the province, like tender young lamb that comes with a guarantee of origin and quality, cured ham from Guijuelo and morucha (T-bone steaks). Try the thick ice cream with caramel-coated almonds to round off an exceptional meal. The restaurant prides itself on the wine cellar that contains a choice of over 80 superb wines, including fine examples from Ribera del Duero. They do not accept reservations on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
The best guacamole |
Obispo Jarrín, 14 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 27 1700 |
If you want something different and cannot afford an expensive meal, this Mexican restaurant is a good bet. It is decorated with photos of Zapatas revolution and colorful tables that will make you feel like you're in old Mexico. Try the delicious "nachos norteños", corn "tortillas" topped with cheese and beans, or the various "tacos". One of their most popular specialties are "fajitas", sizzling meat strips with vegetables eaten in a flour 'tortilla'. To round off your meal, order the "pañuelitos", crepes filled with either chocolate, apples or "cajeta", which is a Mexican word for 'caramel'. A shot of tequila or a margarita would be the most appropriate way to finish your meal. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
The most traditional dishes |
Pozo Amarillo, 5 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 2401 |
It seems incredible that such a small restaurant, seating only 20 people, is such a famous and popular place among locals. The reason is that they offer the most traditional dishes in Salamanca, such as tripe, "chanfaina" (a lamb stew made with liver and lungs) and Castilian stew, while the grilled mushrooms are another house specialty. Their homemade desserts are also recommended and will definitely leave you satisfied. However, if you prefer to just eat "raciones" (larger-sized tapas), there is a bar at the entrance to the restaurant where they offer other items such as meatballs, sweetbread, kidneys and marinated anchovies. The dining room is a cozy place with a great many photos hanging on the walls of local monuments. It is advisable to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
The best sangría |
Plaza Mayor, 15, 1º Salamanca 37002 Spain |
Famous for their sangria, which is prepared with local wines and fruit juice, and usually ordered to accompany the variety of pinchos on hand, everything from stuffed omelettes, mussels, pincho morunos (pork kebab), meat pies and patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce) to Iberian cold meats, such as ham and cured pork loin. Located right in the Plaza Mayor, through its windows you can see the beautiful monuments in the area. Its solid wood tables, the music they play and the food they serve attract both young and old. You can have a drink and a pincho for EUR 1.35. If you order sangria instead, it costs EUR 2.10. If you prefer to have some raciones (larger-sized portions) or a three-course meal, expect to pay around EUR 15. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Relaxed spot, popular with locals |
Pozo Amarillo, 23 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 26 0280 |
This restaurant is very close to the Plaza Mayor and is popular with locals. Here you will find the most typical cuisine and atmosphere from Salamanca. If you decide to visit it, you should also know that Cervecería del Comercio is renowned for having the best beer in town. At this restaurant, decorated with photos of famous bullfighters and local celebrities, you can enjoy their excellent oxtail or the delicious eggs with farinato, a typical product from Castilla y León made with bread, lard, salt and pepper. Other popular specialities include the flamenquín (a slice of ham, stuffed with cheese and then fried) or the asparagus stuffed with cheese. All of which are more delicious and unforgettable if you wash them down with the house wine, a red Toro. As for desserts, the yogurt cake with blueberries stands out. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Sergio Marcos |
|
High-flying restaurant |
Gran Vía, 20 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 26 5795 |
French cooking along with a selection of regional specialities includes the oxtail stew flavoured with honey and cinnamon, the steak tartar, the salad of smoked duck and foie gras and the hake in puff pastry accompanied by crab sauce. All are exquisitely prepared and presented. As for dessert, try the cheesecake with raspberry coulis. The dining room has been decorated in a mixture of rustic and modern cosmopolitan styles with some hunting trophies, bullfighting memorabilia, shelves filled with wine bottles and some personal curios belonging to the owner. There's a private dining room downstairs exclusively for business gatherings. It has has been in business for more than 20 years and is popular with local celebrities. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
For the discerning palate |
Espoz y Mina, 26 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 3123 |
This cozy restaurant has been awarded one star by the prestigious Michelin Guide. It is decorated in warm tones and rustic wooden furniture. There's also an interesting collection of bottles containing sand from all over the world. Its intimate atmosphere is ideal for romantic dinners, during which you can enjoy several seasonal specialties. As for starters, their slice of toast with foie and onion marmalade is noteworthy. For the main course, try the excellent roast monkfish with zucchini (corgette) spaghetti. Another of their specialties is the veal sweetbread cooked in cider and honey vinegar. Lastly, the chocolate "marquesa", a combination of bittersweet chocolate and coffee with a crunchy chocolate coating is the perfect dessert. You should not forget the house wine, a Rívola de Abadía Retuerta. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Original Chinese dishes |
Avenida Portugal, 93-95 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
This charming Chinese restaurant is just a stone's throw away from Plaza de España, and if you're looking for affordable Oriental fare, then this is the place for you. They have all sorts of set menus, with the unique feature that every menu has one surprise dish. If you happen to pick it, you can win things such as an "erotic glass" or a bottle of lizard liqueur. Keep your fingers crossed! Tasty food options include veal with spicy carrots or the "ku-bak" with shrimp sauce. Other recommended dishes are the veal with mushrooms or the breaded and fried frogs' legs. Try a cup of ginseng tea to round off your meal. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Perfect for wine lovers |
El Clavel, 6 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 6175 |
José Antonio Cabañas, the owner of this long-established restaurant, is a renowned authority on wines and wine-lovers will appreciate the selection he has made available. There are two large dining rooms, one of which is reserved exclusively for groups. The interior is decorated throughout in warm tones with paintings inspired by Goya's masterpieces which create an intimate atmosphere for the gourmets who come here. The house specialties include the fried clams with Pedrejas pine nuts and the artful arrangement of wild mushrooms covered with pate on a bed of sweet onions cooked in sherry. The homemade vegetable stew (pisto) with blood sausage from Burgos is pretty good too. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Homemade food for bullfighters |
Avenida de San Agustín, 8 Salamanca 37005 Spain +34 923 22 3057 |
This restaurant is usually frequented by people having something to do with the world of bullfighting. Their everyday dishes are simple and home-style, though they prepare a lot of food for customers who order it in advance. If you would like to try some delicious oxtail, this is the place to do it. Other recommended starters include the trout stuffed with ham or any of the various omelettes on hand. For the main course, you should definitely try the roast suckling pig or the kid. They also offer a wide variety of wines, ranging from a Rioja or Ribera del Duero to a Cigales, which is a top-quality wine from the Valladolid area. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Cosy, lively and versatile |
Meléndez, 14 Salamanca 37008 Spain http://www.cafecorrillo.com/ca... |
This is one of the most charming places in town, for it has a very special and cozy atmosphere. It is located near the Plaza Mayor, next to several university schools and surrounded by restaurants, souvenir shops and spots popular with street performers. Moreover, they organize their own shows with storytellers, jazz concerts and literary gatherings. The admission for some of the shows is free, but sometimes you have to pay to get in. Film cameras, armchairs in the shape of a woman´s legs and colorful paintings give this large two-story establishment a warm atmosphere. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Rafael Cid |
 Photo: Grace Meng |
 Photo: Alejandro Gutiérrez |
|
Best cold meats |
Obispo Jarrín, 14 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 26 7355 http://www.decuchara.com |
This inexpensive restaurant is deservedly popular among locals. In the classically decorated dining room, you can enjoy the best Iberian cold meats. You will definitely be satisfied with any of the house specialties, which include grilled Iberian pork bola (literally, 'ball'), veal tenderloin, codfish with honey or thistle with almonds. Their legumes, such as the famous lentils from Armuna are also recommended. As for desserts, their fantastic tocinillo de cielo (a sweet made with egg yolks and syrup), their leche frita (literally, 'fried milk', made from milk and flour fried in egg), the rice pudding or the custard are all outstanding. The house wine is a wonderful and local Toro wine. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Distinguished downtown restaurant |
Compañía, 50 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 5750 |
This restaurant is regularly frequented by university lecturers, people working at several local institutions and even by some important figures such as the Duchess of Alba. There are two dining rooms, decorated with hardwood in a classical style, one of which is usually reserved for business gatherings. This is a good place to try some exquisite Iberian cold meats (including the acorn-fed varieties) and their unforgettable "morucha" (beef) T-bone steak. Some of their other specialties include the suckling pig, roast lamb shoulder and boneless fish covered in garlic. As for desserts, their homemade pudding is delicious. They also serve top-quality wines from Cigales and Arribes. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Gastronomy as an artform |
Plaza de El Ángel, 1 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 27 1010 |
This is a rustic-style though stately restaurant located right in the old city. Its predominate feature is a huge wood oven used to cook almost all their dishes. It is regulary frequented by politicians and people working at nearby institutions, who come for some of best roast meat and baked fish around. The roast suckling pig, the roast suckling lamb and their 'Oso y Madroño' fish, served with a delicious sauce prepared with butter and shrimp, are their most outstanding items. As for desserts, we recommend their 'Oso y Madroño' pineapple, served with custard and then flambé. Wine is another important feature of this restaurant, not surprising as the owners here are also partners in the Garci-Grande wine cellar, which produces the best wines from Rueda. It is advisable to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Lovely decor and quality meat |
Van Dyck, 8-10 Salamanca 37004 Spain |
This is a cozy and lovely restaurant decorated with ceramic tiles from the area and pictures showing local monuments. Here you can enjoy the best roast meat platters, and assorted meat dishes, which also include cold meats and some delicious accompaniment. They also offer fish and seafood platters. The sirloin with ementhal cheese is also one of their most popular dishes. As for desserts, their cheesecake is remarkable. The house wine is a wonderful Toro wine. All of this makes for an unforgettable dining experience, but you should not forget to book a table beforehand if you are visiting it on a weekend. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Home-style specialties |
Pozo Amarillo, 5 Salamanca 37001 Spain |
At this tastefully decorated and cozy restaurant, located in one of the most popular streets in town, they have almost forty years' experience behind them. They have many regular custumers who come for the house specialty, the cabrito cuchifrito (well-seasoned roast kid). This is a classically decorated place where you will particularly enjoy meat dishes, such as roast lamb or morucha (beef) chops. The latter is a typical dish in Salamanca and one of the best kinds of local meats. If you prefer fish, try the hake prepared in their own style with a special sauce that is the chef's pride and joy. All their desserts are homemade. Their leche frita (literally, 'fried milk', made from milk and flour fried in egg) is the most popular one and will also satisfy the most discerning palates. It is advisable to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Delicious fondues and imported beer |
Meléndez, 7 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 26 5742 |
This multipurpose establishment is decorated in a typically Dutch style. Here you can spend some time seeing the bikes on display or listening to jazz musicians who perform from time to time. Customers are generally young and liberal and enjoy imported beer, the house specialty when this place also becomes a pub at nightfall. On the menu, try the hot goats milk cheese or the wild boar and venison pâté. The one-kilo "morucha" (beef) T-bone steak, which clients prepare on hot plates, is also recommended. They also serve great meat or cheese fondues. As for dessert, you should try their brownie with raspberry sauce, a delicious chocolate fondue that you eat with fresh fruit. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Top-quality cold meats |
Plaza Mayor, 3 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
They serve the best Iberian cold meats in the region, including ham and cured pork loin and hornazo (a kind of pasty filled with Iberian cold meats). In spring and summer, you can enjoy a light meal at the outdoor terrace while admiring the beautiful monuments in the area. It's a little expensive, but it's worth a visit because of the quality of their products and their service. A drink and a pincho (canapé), including Iberian cold meats, costs about 550 ptas (EUR 3.30); the hornazo is 250 ptas (EUR 1.50). There are eight Los Escudos bars throughout the centre of town, and this one, located in Plaza Mayor, was the first to open. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Carlos Usano |
|
Downtown and inexpensive oriental restaurant |
Rúa Mayor, 35-37 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 1810 |
Its exotic decoration turns this restaurant into the perfect setting for you to enjoy the best Peking duck or veal with almond sauce. Their 'ku-bak' with seafood and the duck flambé with Chinese sauce are also some of their most popular dishes. As for dessert, they prepare an innovative and popular fried ice-cream with honey. To finish off your meal, be sure to try either the flower or lizard liqueur, complements of the house. It is advisable to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Delicious roast suckling pig |
Rúa Mayor, 29 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
At this restaurant seating 60 people, they often organize temporary photo and painting exhibitions. It is located right in the old city, and it's a good place to savour delicious Iberian cold meats and the best wines from the area. As for their specialties, noteworthy items include the roast suckling pig, the grilled cuttlefish, the Castilian soup and their peppers stuffed with seafood and fish or with red and white meat. For dessert, perhaps their best option is crepes filled with ice cream and coated with hot chocolate. Order the house wine, from Arribes, for the perfect accompaniment to your meal. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Affordable and good quality |
Pozo Amarillo, 17-19 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 26 2848 |
The friendly waiters here are a great source of information about the city. The restaurant itself is located right next to the Plaza Mayor in an area that's full of other eating places. The interior is attractively decorated with local motifs. They serve a range of regional dishes and some staple Spanish favourites at very reasonable prices. The house specialties include baby cuttlefish cooked in their own ink, roast suckling pig, clams in a tomato and garlic sauce and Basque-style hake. Try the homemade desserts too, like the creamy egg custard, chocolate mousse or assorted ice creams. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
The most popular ice-cream parlour |
Toro, 13 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
They are famous for delicious cream, strawberry, peppermint and chocolate ice-cream scoops, served in the largest cones in town. Coffee, pastries and freshly squeezed fruit juices are also available. They have a large bar and a few tables and chairs. The decor is quite simple, but they do not need any fancy stuff to attract customers, since the quality of their products is remarkable and well known. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Excellent and affordable meat dishes |
Los Ovalle, 29 Salamanca 37004 Spain |
This is a cozy restaurant, decorated austerely and in the purest Castilian style, where you can enjoy all kinds of Iberican pork products, including 'morcón' (a type of blood sausage) and cured tongue. Other recommended options include the goat and sheep's milk cheeses, 'rabas' (fried strips of cuttlefish), fried squid and blood sausage from León. The restaurant is also well-known for its meat platters. These can be either lamb, pork or chicken, accompanied by a side-order (normally potatoes), and at very reasonable prices. As for dessert, creme caramel with cream and custard stands out. You will enjoy your meal even more if you wash it down with a good Toro wine. It is best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Specialized in Iberian cold meats |
Pozo Amarillo, 18 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 26 7973 |
This establishment, decorated with bricks and glazed ceramic tiles from Talavera, has a dining room at the entrance where you can enjoy delicious raciones (larger than tapas) of Iberian cold meats, chanfaina (a stew made with lamb liver and lungs) and oxtail. There is another small dining room at the back where they offer dishes such as roast suckling pig, charcoal-grilled morucha (beef) and monkfish in the barquera style, which is prepared with clams and a special sauce. The restaurant also has a very extensive wine list, though the house wine, a young Toro crianza, is recommended. Crianza wines are red and have been kept for a minimum of 12 months in an oak barrel. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Sophia Wong |
 Photo: Gabriel Lorenzo |
 Photo: Little Raining |
 Photo: GroovyNomad |
 Photo: Shehani Kay |
|
Basque, French and local specialties |
Meléndez, 11 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
Specializing in French Basque country cuisine, it also offers a selection of excellent regional dishes. The house specials include the ham of acorn-fed pigs, scorpion fish paté, monkfish with shrimp sauce and gilthead bream with fried onions and tomato. If you prefer meat, try the selection of morucha beef dishes. Last but not least, for dessert, don't miss the homemade tocinillo de cielo (a sweet made with egg yolks and syrup) or the delicious cheesecake with pine nuts. It's located right in the heart of the old town so you can enjoy views of the impressive historic buildings as you eat. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Quality, home-style cooking |
Avenida Portugal, 79 Salamanca 37005 Spain +34 923 25 7806 |
This restaurant is found halfway between the Plaza de España and the famous Van Dick area, full of bars serving 'pinchos' (like canapés). José Angel serves home-style and exclusive dishes, and it has two dining rooms. For starters, try the anchovy salad on top of an avocado pear, for example, the scorpion fish pudding or the warm quail salad. These can be followed by tasty options like the oxtail stew with port wine. Their house wine is local, specifically from Toro. As for dessert, their homemade fig cake is noteworthy. If you're going with a fairly large group, then you should definitely book a table beforehand. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Cocktails and peanuts |
Plaza de San Boal, 8 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 26 9979 |
This place became a model for many other bars when it first opened due to its exemplary lighting, decoration and service. At that time, it broke all the established molds with its very soft lighting and because it was arranged around a staircase. Both its interior and exterior are a good place for peaceful chats and romantic nights out. Moreover, the play soft music, though at nightfall, it becomes a bit livelier. A stately descent down a grand staircase will take you to a lovely, charming place full of old furniture, old portrait photos and large chests that are filled with peanuts at coffee time. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: kafeole |
|
Grilled meat and fish |
Gran Vía, 64 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 9668 |
This restaurant is located next to one of the most beautiful monuments in Salamanca, the Dominicos or San Esteban Church. Inside the restaurant, you can enjoy all kinds of red meat and Iberian cold meats. A large iron wrought gateway opens on to a cozy dining room decorated with "Villamayor" stone, rustic-style brick arches and posters of bullfighters which date from 1800. The specialties of the house include sirloin, red bream and sea bass, all of them grilled. The house wine is an Arribes, and it is the perfect accompaniment. As for desserts, all of which are homemade, the rice pudding is noteworthy. There are eight Leonardo restaurants in Salamanca. All of them are hamburger joints except for this one. It's best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Inexpensive, home-style food |
El Mirto, 5 Salamanca 37004 Spain |
This restaurant is frequented by the local football team's players, and it's a nice place to enjoy all kinds of home cooking, Spanish style. Their Castilian stew and soup are worth mention, as are the paella and seafood soup. You could also try the meat a la Lord Uno, prepared with a secret-recipe sauce. There's also a bar at the entrance where you can order all sorts of pinchos (similar to tapas and canapés), such as chanfaina (lamb stew made from liver and lungs), a typical dish from Salamanca. All of the desserts are made on the premises, and the crème caramel and egg custard are a good bet. It's best to book a table beforehand if you are visiting Lord Uno on a weekend or public holiday. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Quality seafood and wine |
Van Dyck, 30 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
Everyone in Salamanca knows this restaurant, which serves all kinds of seafood dishes from around Spain, from Galicia in the north to Andalusia in the south. You can try some delicious octopus, for example, cooked with garlic or in the Galician style (steamed and sprinkled with paprika and olive oil). Any of their various mussel dishes is another good option as well: steamed, with alioli (garlic and olive oil mayonnaise), stuffed, with celery or with traditional vinagrette. Then there are the chopitos (baby octopus), squid, rabas (strips of cuttlefish), etc. Whether you order these by the ración (large-sized tapas) or as a main course, you will definitely like them. As for the wine list, they have a good selection of Albariño and Ribeiro wines from Galicia. They also stock some local wines from the area, including a few from Salamanca province. The restaurant does not take reservations on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: SalamancaBlog.com |
|
Medieval decor & ambience |
Ventura Ruiz Aguilera, 8 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 9553 |
La Mesta's medieval atmosphere and decor are noteworthy: chairs upholstered with plush red velvet, suits of armors, shields and a large fireplace. Though it's not King Arthur's roundtable, it is regularly frequented by important local politicians. It's very near the Plaza Mayor and its cuisine stands out for its somewhat French style. Among the various specialties this restaurant is known for, the Iberian ham and duck foie salad, the baked sea bass with vegetables and clams, and the morucho (beef) entrecote with port wine and foie sauce are the most outstanding. The wine list is very extense with great quality wines to choose from. Moving on to desserts, try the soft ice cream, made with real cream and slightly bitter Seville oranges. It's best to book a table on weekends. They have another restaurant called Pucela on Carretera de Béjar (Tel: +34 923 192 095). Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Great specialties and quality ingredients |
Plaza de Poeta Iglesias, 10 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 7222 http://www.portalsalamanca.com... |
This old-style restaurant, located near the city's most important monuments, has been open more than 50 years. The place is decorated in typical Castilian style, with glazed ceramic tiles from Talavera and pottery from Alba de Tormes on the walls, where you can also admire portraits of various bullfighters. The food on offer is equally old-style and delicious. Try the 'morucha' (beef), a local favorite, or the young lamb and sea bass prepared with 'cava' (Spanish sparkling wine). Another tasty option is the stuffed peppers filled with monkfish and shrimp. The house wine is a decent Torremorón. When it comes time for dessert, you'll be hard-pressed to make a choice. The 'tocinillo de cielo' (made with egg yolks and syrup), the truffles, and the leche frita (literally, 'fried milk', made with milk and flour fried in egg) are all very good. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Cold meats and roasted meat |
Van Dyck, 55-57 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
This traditional-style restaurant is decorated with ceramic tiles from Talavera and posters of bullfighting scenes. This is probably one of the best places for meat-lovers in town. Some of the best dishes are the roasts, though they also have a very good selection of Iberian cold meats made from acorn-fed pork. Good starters include the assorted Iberian cold-meat platter, any of the revueltos (vegetables sautéed with egg) or the El Mesón salad, made according to a secret recipe. As for the main course, you should try the T-bone steak or the morucha (beef) tenderloin. The house wine is the Señorío de Nava from the Ribera del Duero region. If you still have room for some more food, the flan or the rice pudding are the best desserts. It's best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Delicious charcoal-grilled meat |
Condes de Crespo Rascón, 11 Salamanca 37006 Spain +34 923 21 3962 http://usuarios.iponet.es/cord... |
This restaurant is divided into two parts. At the front bar near the entrance, you can enjoy the best grilled-sausage pinchos (like tapas), including chorizo, farinato (prepared with bread, lard, salt and pepper), fatback, blood sausage or simply pork loin. Further back, there are two more dining rooms, one of which is set aside for special occasions and can be reserved. The entire restaurant is decorated in typical Castilian fashion, with "Villamayor" stone, wooden coffered ceilings and wrought iron lamps and other ornaments. The menu varies depending on the season. If you get the chance, you should try the oxtail, the Barco de Ávila alubión or the fish and seafood salads. As for desserts, the yogurt and cheese with pine nuts is extremely popular with the regulars. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Good food on clay dishes |
Sánchez Barbero, 5 Salamanca 37001 Spain |
In spite of the fact that this old-style restaurant has only four wooden tables, it is one of the most famous in Salamanca. This small and cozy place is decorated with wood, wrought iron and even the fresh vegetables, etc., which will later be used to prepare your meal. Antonio and Julio have been serving some of the best local food and dishes for decades. One of their specialties is their own marujas (local herb) salad. Their meat a la espada, prepared with marinated products from the slaughter, their sardine loin with garlic, the grilled peppers or any of the wild mushroom dishes are all very recommended. All the food is served in clay dishes, which apparently helps keep in the food's flavor longer. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Good traditional cuisine |
Plaza de Barcelona, 30 Salamanca 37004 Spain |
This is a lovely and cozy old-style restaurant decorated with arches and the typical coffered ceiling found in Salamanca. The food is equally traditional and good. Try the delicious peppers stuffed with codfish, for example, or the excellent peppered tenderloin. Another specialty, though served only on weekends, is the olla podrida (rotten stew, literally), a typical dish from Castilla y León made with blood sausage and chickpeas. It is anything but 'rotten'; it's fantastic. Their house wines are from Toro and the best dessert is the cheesecake, though the various items on offer are all made on the premises. You must book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Remarkable grilled cuttlefish |
Jacinto, 6 Salamanca 37004 Spain +34 923 24 0885 |
This is a nice restaurant, decorated austerely in the Castilian style, where the proprietor, Santiago, treats his customers like one of the family. Their best specialty is the grilled cuttlefish, though you should also try other dishes such as their young roast lamb, their grilled veal T-bone steak and their grilled fish and seafood. Moreover, they offer some excellent Iberian cold meats and a more than acceptable house wine. As for desserts, the specialty of the house is crème caramel prepared with orange, cheese or egg, which is absolutely delicious. If you are planning to visit this restaurant on a weekend, it is advisable to book a table beforehand. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Reasonably priced specialties |
Avenida Portugal, 65-67 Salamanca 37005 Spain +34 923 12 2166 |
This is a lovely old-style restaurant decorated with both Castilian and modern ornaments where you can try some delicious wild mushrooms with blood sausage and pine nuts, morucha (beef) or huevos rotos (broken eggs, literally), which is prepared in front of the customers and involves fried eggs and other ingredients like potatoes. However, their best specialty is the reasonably priced Tabla del Mesón, a dish for two or three people that includes seafood, meat, potatoes and salad. As for desserts, their tiramisu is delicious and their cheesecake with blueberries is very good. The house wine is a wonderful Rioja. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Home-cooking, popular with tourists |
Paseo Canalejas, 10 Salamanca 37003 Spain +34 923 26 6859 |
At this restaurant, frequented by national and international tourists and decorated with bricks and wrought iron, you can enjoy some excellent grilled lamb chops, which is one of their best specialties. It is also worth mentioning their San Jacobo, their veal T-bone steak, their paella, their exquisite stewed tongue and, of course, their select Iberian cold meats. As for desserts, you can finish your meal with their tasty crème caramel or with rice pudding, both home-made. Their house wine is a good vintage from Castilla y León. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
The best grilled meat |
Fernando de Rojas, 18-20 Salamanca 37004 Spain |
This restaurant, located in an area renowned for the best pinchos, is rustic in style and popular among bullfighting enthusiasts. At the bar they offer tostas and in the dining room you can have meals, such as a roast meat platter for two. All the platters are served with a side order of potatoes and appetizers, including Iberian cold meats. The grilled meat dishes are the most popular among their customers - veal T-bone steak is recommended. They also offer chanfaina (lamb stew made from liver and lungs) on Sundays. Their house wine is an excellent Cigales, from the Valladolid area. It is advisable to book a table beforehand on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Pioneer in home-style tapas |
José Jáuregui, 7 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 26 0021 |
This is probably the most famous, popular and busy bar in town. It has been open for ages and was the first place to serve home-made pinchos (canapés). The entrance is very well known: its door handles are shaped like a man and woman in traditional costume. The decor is inspired in the world of bullfighting. After about 1pm, they start to prepare pinchos, such as traditional montaracitas, fillets with bechamel sauce, mushrooms, pig's snout, potato omelette, etc. You can have any of these and a drink for 250 ptas (EUR 1.50). If you prefer raciones (larger portions) instead, it'll come to about 350 ptas (EUR 2.10). La Montaraza is also a prestigious restaurant occasionally frequented by Spanish celebrities. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Affordable Chinese specialties |
Avenida Portugal, 90 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
This is a small Chinese restaurant decorated in oriental style and located very near the Plaza de España. The items on offer are all very affordable. Some of the most popular dishes include the grilled baby cuttlefish with shrimp, the Nan King chicken (prepared according to a secret recipe known only by the chef), the cuttlefish kebabs and the spicy tofu. As for desserts, we recommend the fried banana, apple or pineapple, coated with honey and flambéd with different kinds of liquor. To round off your meal, try the flower liqueur; it's supposed to have digestive properties and it's tasty. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Downtown oriental restaurant |
Las Eras, 3 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
This small Chinese restaurant is only a minute away from the Plaza de España. It is decorated with wood and typical Chinese ornaments, creating a cosy atmosphere especially suited for those looking for a bit of privacy. Their best dishes include the shrimp with mushrooms, chicken with almonds, Peking duck and the spicy squid, the latter being very popular with regulars. As for dessert, their flambé cake and the delicious orange-flavored ice cream are noteworthy. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Mediterranean atmosphere |
Rúa Mayor, 12 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 2389 |
This city centre restaurant has been in business since 1985, serving top-quality Italian staples like ossobuco, Sella tostas and carpaccios (thin slices of cured meat dressed with pepper, olive oil and cheese). For dessert, try the tiramisu, a deliciously moist sponge cake soaked in rum and coffee. These dishes are best accompanied by an Italian wine like Chianti and followed by strong Italian liqueurs like Grappa or Amaretto. The interior is like a warm Mediterranean cave and the walls are covered with photographs of famous local and international celebrities. The owners award an annual prize to whom they consider the most popular local personality. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Douglas Favero |
|
In the heart of the old city |
Ventura Ruiz de Aguilera, 7 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 5149 |
In addition to the excellent food, this restaurant also offers an unbeatable location in the heart of the old town, just a minute's walk from Plaza Mayor. It serves authentic regional dishes including a wide range of morucha beef specialities and cured Iberian hams. House specials like tender roast suckling pig and hake stuffed with eels are worth a try. As for desserts, the homemade fruitcake is delicious. The house wine is a fine Sangre de Castilla and there 100 other varieties of wine to choose from. There are five dining rooms, including a small one used for private gatherings, as well as a lovely outdoor terrace decorated with climbing plants and flowers. Inside, the decor is pure Castilian, with ceramic tiles from Talavera and a wood-fired oven. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Specialized in beef dishes |
Íscar Peira, 23-29 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
This restaurant is very near the Plaza Mayor, and serves only the best Iberian cold meats and morucha (beef). It is decorated in the purest Castilian style, featuring plenty of "Villamayor" stone. Other good options on the menu, apart from those listed above, are the turbot cooked in Galician style, stewed partridges or the Pata Negra veal tenderloin, with a wine and garlic sauce. Another good fish dish is the 'Pata Negra' hake, cooked with shrimp and ham cubes. When it comes time to order dessert, try the strawberry and cheese cake; it's absolutely delicious. You should book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Paulo Rugani B |
 Photo: Juan-Luis |
|
Varied charcoal-grilled meat dishes |
Meléndez, 13 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 26 8616 |
This restaurant is located in the heart of the old city, and it has an informal and absolutely local atmosphere, there are very few tourists. The first room is a bar where they serve traditional pinchos (like tapas), such as chanfaina (lamb stew made with liver and lungs), Iberian cold meats and farinato (prepared with bread, lard, salt and pepper). The pretty back dining room is decorated with stone, wrought iron and wood, and it has a typical courtyard from the Late Middle Ages. Meat dishes are definitely the best specialty on the menu back here. Try the grilled T-bone steak or an unforgettable tenderloin with pepper. Their most popular dish is the parrillada (grilled meat platter), which includes several kinds of meat for two people to share. The house wine is a good Ribera del Duero, while the rice pudding is the star dessert. It's best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Javier Sánchez Egido |
 Photo: TopRural |
 Photo: Pablo |
 Photo: David García Cerdán |
|
Exquisite Iberian ham |
Filiberto Villalobos, 1 Salamanca 37007 Spain |
This restaurant, known throughout the city for offering some of the best ham in the city, is located halfway between the Plaza Mayor and the bus station. Other good options on the menu worth mentioning include the revueltos (variety of vegetables sautéed with egg), the paella or the mariscada (grilled seafood to share). They also prepare good red meats, such as the veal T-bone steak or roast suckling pig, lamb and kid. Order the custard or the yoghurt mousse, their most popular dessert, to round off your meal. You should book your table beforehand, especially on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Grilled meat and fish platters |
Espronceda, 42 Salamanca 37003 Spain |
You can have a proper meal here just by ordering their pinchos (canapés), since they are particularly generous and reasonably priced. Peña de Francia also prepares some special mixed tablas (platters), including meat and fish, which many other restaurants have tried to imitate. It is a simply decorated place with just a few tables and a long bar. The most popular tapas include grilled meat or fish, served with different sauces, while their tablas include squid, ribs, baby cuttlefish, tenderloin steaks and other ingredients, served with a secret sauce. The fact that the waiters are young and nice and that their prices are really reasonable makes it a very popular place. You can have a couple of drinks, a tosta (toasted canapé) and a swincrab for only 600 ptas (EUR 3.60). A couple of drinks and any of their tablas cost around 1000 ptas (EUR 6.01). Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: j0s3 |
|
An old tradition |
Concejo, 4 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
Every local knows this place, because it has traditionally been one of the most popular bars to go for a snack before lunch on Sundays, and it is always packed. The favorite tapas are the tripe, pinchos morunos (pork kebab), pig snout, mushrooms, fish, grilled meat, paella, chanfaina (lamb stew made from liver and lungs) and many other pinchos (like tapas). It is one of the most expensive bars in the area, next to the Plaza Mayor, but their outdoor terrace is still one of the busiest and most popular in summer. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Charcoal-grilled meat |
Fernando de Rojas, 8 Salamanca 37005 Spain |
This restaurant has two charming dining rooms, decorated in a modern, Castilian style. In the dining room at the entrance, you can enjoy all kinds of pinchos (similar to tapas), ranging from vegetable options to typical sausages and more. The back room is for sit-down dining with a complete menu. Their charcoal-grilled meat, particulary the morucha (beef) and T-bone steaks are worth noting. The roast suckling pig, grilled kid or tenderloin with roquefort sauce are also good options. They even have a good selection of cheese. It is best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Great roast meat and fish |
Aire y Azucena, 1 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 7251 http://www.laposada.net |
This restaurant is located in an old, stately mansion with two large halls holding more than a hundred diners each. It is rustic in decor, with whitewashed walls and portraits of famous local bullfighters. If you're looking for a lot of roast meat, fish and fresh seafood options on the menu, then this is the right place. Some of the restaurant's most popular dishes include the beans with clams or the alubias charras, beans with pig's ears and tail. For iron-cast stomachs, try the lomo Salsa Diabla (pork loin covered in a sauce made with tabasco, pickles, vinegar and Perrin's sauce), though you have been warned. A healthy and tasty dessert option is the Posada, a cup of flan ice-cream with fruit salad on top. Reservations are an absolute must on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
'Pinchos' in the Plaza Mayor |
Plaza Mayor, 9 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
If you want to go out for some tapas in the historic part of town, then you should definitely visit this bar in the Plaza Mayor. There's a huge bar topped with a great many varied pinchos (like tapas) to choose from. El Real specializes in pinchos morunos (pork kebab) and crab muslitos (literally, small thighs) coated in batter and fried. Their meat pie is also a good option. It's not all that unusual to find local politicians enjoying some paella, squid or their montaditos with pork loin and peppers. Even though it is in an unbeatable and exclusive setting, everything is still very reasonably priced. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Back to the 19th century |
Espoz y Mina, 19-21 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 12 3230 http://www.iponet.es/laregenta |
This cafe is located near Plaza Mayor, and it will make you feel as if you have travelled back to the times of La Regenta (a classic character from the book by the same name written by Leopoldo Alas in 1884-85). The place is lit only by candles, and the decor has been carefully selected down to the last detail, including the chairs, tables, curtains, lamps and even the paintings hanging on the walls. It is a well-known spot because it organizes literary gatherings and period parties or parties related to the occult sciences. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Traditional, creative and inexpensive |
Ventura Ruiz Aguilera, 10 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 7329 |
This restaurant is found on one of the liveliest pedestrian streets in Salamanca. It's a pretty place, full of "Villamayor" stone arches, though it was once a shop where locals came to buy oil for their lamps. They serve the typical and traditional roast suckling pig and kid, though they also serve chanfaina (lamb stew made with liver and lungs), a classic dish in Salamanca. Their specialties also include the potatoes meneás, prepared with rashers of bacon, and the hake in puff pastry with crab sauce, the restaurant's best dish. There are more than 120 different wines to choose from, and you should round off your meal with the delicious candied chestnuts with toffee. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Traditional dishes and decor |
Plaza del Corrillo, 20 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 1323 |
Río Tormes, located in a downtown historical building, has been open for more than one hundred years, formerly known as La Viuda del Fraile (The Friar's Widow). It is extremely popular with locals, and it features a pretty coffered wooden ceiling, with classic "Villamayor" stone and iron wrought ornaments throughout. They serve delicious meals, but their most famous dishes include the roast suckling pig, the mixed paella, the duck micuit, the aubergines stuffed with meat and the onion soup with breadcrumbs and cheese. As for dessert, the popular creamy cheese is worth trying. Reservations are a must on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Award-winning restaurant |
Plaza del Peso, 1 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 9005 |
You get nothing less than excellent homemade Castilian cooking in this traditional restaurant. Choose from a menu featuring roast suckling pig, baked goat's meat, tender lamb chops or beef from Ávila. As for fish, there's grilled turbot, monkfish and hake. And don't forget the panaché of fresh vegetables. Rice pudding, chocolate truffles, lemon mousse or apples soaked in cognac are just some of the delicacies on offer. There are over 200 different varieties of wine available and you'll not be surprised to hear that it has won many gastronomic prizes since it opened in 1966. Many of the rich and famous staying at the nearby Gran Hotel enjoy eating here. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Luxury restaurant with international dishes |
Espoz y Mina, 20 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 26 2952 |
This is a charming and classically decorated restaurant where waiters speak French, English, Dutch and, of course, Spanish. If you like lush, international food, then this is the place for you. Try fantastic dishes like the bird liver parfait with cognac, steamed sea bass with lemon-scented oil or the 'Le Sablón' veal tenderloin, with port wine sauce. Depending on the season, the restaurant offers other dishes, including game, such as partridge, pheasant, venison, hare and wild boar. As for desserts, their biscuit with orange glacé and hot chocolate is remarkable, and the house wine is a wonderful Somontano crianza. It is best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Downtown restaurant frequented by tourists |
Sánchez Barbero, 9 Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 21 8140 |
This restaurant is popular with tourists from Madrid and abroad mostly, and you can have a good meal at a very reasonable price. At San Ricardo, they serve several kinds of meat dishes, such as grilled kid, veal chops, Iberian pork tenderloins and veal fillets. Their desserts are all made on the premises, and good options include fresh cream with walnuts, crème caramel or a fruit salad with ice cream and whipped cream. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Inexpensive Castilian cuisine |
Paseo de Carmelitas, 3 Salamanca 37002 Spain +34 923 21 6100 |
This restaurant, with two classically decorated and charming dining rooms, is located in one of the most central areas in town. Apart from the traditional chanfaina (lamb stew with liver and lungs) and farinato (prepared with bread, lard, salt and pepper), you will also find Castilian soup or excellent Iberian cold meats for starters. The house specialties include the roast lamb and suckling pig, stuffed meat or the young lamb chops. As for dessert, their delicious homemade lemon sherbet will leave you wanting more. It is best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Inexpensive seafood restaurant |
Plaza de Poeta Iglesias, 10 Salamanca 37001 Spain |
You can also enjoy good seafood and fish in a town found hundreds of kilometers from the coast. At this seafood restaurant, decorated with ceramic tiles from Talavera, you can order either grilled or boiled spider crabs, spiny lobsters, goose barnacles, prawns or velvet swincrabs, for example. Prices in this downtown restaurant are generally affordable. Customers often order mariscadas (grilled seafood platter) for two people, costing less than 3000 ptas. You can also savour quality Galician wines, such as an Albariño or a Ribeiro. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
The best 'tostas' in town |
Alfonso de Castro, 19 Salamanca 37004 Spain |
This restaurant is very well-known in Salamanca. It is located in the Van Dyck area, the best part of town for tapas. This tavern is frequented by local cattle (bull) breeders, bullfighters and other people related to the world of bullfighting. It has been open for a very long time and is decorated in typical Castilian style, with bullfighting posters and bottles of wine on the walls. It specializes in tostas (toasted canapés) with shrimp, salmon, codfish and even foie, though the house specialty is the Tosta del Peregrino, made with duck tenderloin and slightly spicy red peppers. Their Iberian cold meats are also very popular. As for drinks, they offer more than 300 different kinds of wine, including local vintages. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Fantasy decor, tapas and dancing |
Isla de la Rúa, 3 Salamanca 37008 Spain |
If you like Tintin, the famous comics character, this place is for you. In the daytime, you can have breakfast for (EUR 2.10) and all kinds of pinchos (canapés) such as Spanish omelette, patatas bravas (sautéed potatoes served with a spicy tomato sauce), meat with potatoes, meat pie and many others. In the afternoon, they offer the best coffee in Salamanca and, in the evening and night, they play good music and offer long drinks for (EUR 3.60) in a lively atmosphere. It is located right in the old city and it is carefully decorated. You will see all the characters that appear in the comics placed in strategic places on the premises. In summer, their terrace is one of the most popular in town. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jose M Ballesteros |
|
Affordable and quality food |
Pollo Martín, 34 Salamanca 37005 Spain +34 923 25 3081 |
At this huge and classically decorated restaurant, they have many years of experience behind them. Tobogán has four dining rooms, though the smallest one is only used for private gatherings. The restaurant serves excellent Iberian cold meats and morucha (beef), but their best dishes include the roast suckling pig, the turbot with almond sauce or sliced monkfish with lemon sauce. To round off your meal, try the delicious lemon cream, which is one of the house specialties. It's best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Best place to meet up |
Puerta Zamora, 88 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
If you want to meet up with someone, this is the perfect place because it is located on an important crossroads in town. Early in the morning, they offer quick breakfasts, and later on you can choose from among several kinds of pinchos (like tapas), which they serve with your glass of wine or beer. There are two bars with stools and no tables. There are windows all around and it is always crowded. They also serve ice-cream and have a famous outdoor terrace that is ideally located. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Home-made and traditional delicacies |
Plaza de San Marcos, s/n Salamanca 37002 Spain |
It is usually packed with people all the time, particulary at the weekend, because they offer a great variety of tostitas, shrimp, anchovies, ham, cheese, scrambled eggs, pork loin, etc. Moreover, they offer a good selection of wines. All of this will definitely make you want to come back. Although it is a little expensive, a tostita costing between EUR 1.50-2.40, a glass of wine EUR 1.20 and a soft drink, EUR 1.50, it is still worth a visit because of their home-made specialties. Located in the centre of town, behind San Marcos Church, also known as the iglesia redonda (round church). Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Downtown Italian restaurant |
Plaza del Mercado, s/n Salamanca 37001 Spain +34 923 26 0847 |
This is a cozy family restaurant, only twenty meters from the famous Plaza Mayor. It is decorated like a cave and strategically lit. In fact, its decor is similar to Paladini's, another Italian restaurant in Salamanca. If you love Italian food, their 'osso buco', homemade pizzas and their leek, shrimp and monkfish cake -one of their specialties- will definitely win you over. The green pepper tenderloin or the canneloni stuffed with meat and liver paté are other good options. The desserts are worth leaving room for: an unforgettable cream pear or the chocolate fondue, which is served with profiteroles (cream puffs). They have another restaurant called Mesón Taberna Típica found nextdoor. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Quality and refined |
Concejo, 15 Salamanca 37002 Spain |
This restaurant has been open for several decades now, so they have a lot of experience behind them. It is beautifully decorated with pottery from the area and paintings depicting bullfighting scenes. There are two cozy dining rooms, one of which can be reserved for special occasions. The restaurant also has a wine expert on hand to help customers choose just the right wine to accompany their meal. Their stews (the partridge variety in particular) are the house specialties, though you won't be disappointed by the parrilladas (grilled meat to share), featuring morucha (beef). Their sangre encebollada (blood fried with onions) and their tongue with pine nuts are also quite good. Curiously, Valencia the restaurant promotes local food from Salamanca province (as opposed to Valencia on the coast). It is the perfect place for those who already know and love this cuisine or for those who want to try it out. As for dessert, the Valencia cheesecake sobre espejo (literally, "on mirror") and their baked apples are delicious. The house wine is a good Rioja cosechero. It's best to book a table on weekends. Review © 2007, Wcities |
