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El Palo de Avellano sells the dinner ticket separate from the price of the bed, so I think that it's possible. But go there and buy your ticket when you arrive in town. Don't wait until dinner time.Being a vegetarian I like to plan ahead a little bit where my next meal is concerned. I notice that Albergue El Palo de Avellano in Zubiri is meant to do a nice vegetarian pilgrim's meal but I've booked a room in a different albergue for the night that doesn't do evening meals. Do albergues only provide meals for guests or can others pay for a meal even if they're not staying there?
Most of the albergues that I've stayed at don't offer dinner, and the breakfasts are usually not worth having.Thanks guys, I'll pop in and ask when I get there. Walked from Logrono to Leon last year and mostly ate where I stayed barring the odd day here and there but I booked a place for Zubiri and only belatedly realised it didn't do meals, only breakfasts. Thanks again.
I must have been lucky with the albergues I stayed at but I wholeheartedly agree about the breakfasts. After the first couple of days of paying for old bread, jam, and weak coffee I just went out and walked till I found a cafe.Most of the albergues that I've stayed at don't offer dinner, and the breakfasts are usually not worth having.
Apparently not all of them are delighted to sell meals. We were refused a dinner at a vegetarian albergue even with plenty of notice.I am sure if you let them know a couple of hours in advance about your case, they will be delighted, they are a private business and their purpose is to sell products/meals, only you might want to warn them a couple of hours in advance about your interest and about being vegetarian
Interesting point... I have been to El Palo, and I understand the mean BUSINESS in the way they treat pilgrims, they are not a charity, that I can tell, they have a professional kitchen and feel like a small (overpriced) hotel to me - again, this is my personal impression, they are kind and clean too.Apparently not all of them are delighted to sell meals. We were refused a dinner at a vegetarian albergue even with plenty of notice.
Perhaps they are not supposed to sell meals to non-guests when they are not registered as a restaurant? I think they may need a special licence if they want to serve and sell food to clients who are not staying at their albergue.Apparently not all of them are delighted to sell meals. We were refused a dinner at a vegetarian albergue even with plenty of notice.
I can see some places like Albergue Verde which reliesoon volunteers, and obviously the parochial donativo albergues not offering meals to those who stay there, but El Palo de Avellano is definitely more businesslike, so I think that there's a good chance to buy the dinner thereApparently not all of them are delighted to sell meals. We were refused a dinner at a vegetarian albergue even with plenty of notice.
As I recall, the dining room at El Palo de Avellano was rather separate from the dorms.There's also the issue of security. Some albergues, the CSJ run albergue in Rabanal springs to mind, won't allow any non-resident to enter their albergue, even if you have friends staying there who will vouch for you.
This may explain it although they may have had other reasons, of course: An albergue in Uterga/Navarra - Camino del Perdón - points out on their website that they are the only albergue in town that has a bar licence and people can drink and eat there if they are just passing through town. They add that if you do this in albergues without such a licence, you are supporting the shadow economy and the laziness of the administration who "do not enough to end this scourge".Apparently not all of them are delighted to sell meals. We were refused a dinner at a vegetarian albergue even with plenty of notice.
Apparently not all of them are delighted to sell meals. We were refused a dinner at a vegetarian albergue even with plenty of notice.
I wouldn't get bent out of shape because of something like that. As @Kathar1na points out, an albergue is not a restaurant, unless they have a license to be one. So no doubt the place that turned you away buys ingredients and plans meals only around the numbers of people who stay there in order to reduce both expense and waste.they said reserved their food for those who stayed there
Just to follow up, I emailed them and they said it would be fine so long as I booked it before 6pm. Seems the Ogi Berri cafe in Zubiri also cater to vegetarian/vegan too so Zubiri's already looking like a good stop.I can see some places like Albergue Verde which reliesoon volunteers, and obviously the parochial donativo albergues not offering meals to those who stay there, but El Palo de Avellano is definitely more businesslike, so I think that there's a good chance to buy the dinner there
Is that a recent rule? I recall a group of local dignitaries being given a guided tour which included the two dormitories! Mind you one of them was a representative of the Bishopric of Bierzo and they do "own" the building.There's also the issue of security. Some albergues, the CSJ run albergue in Rabanal springs to mind, won't allow any non-resident to enter their albergue, even if you have friends staying there who will vouch for you.
Is that a recent rule? I recall a group of local dignitaries being given a guided tour which included the two dormitories! Mind you one of them was a representative of the Bishopric of Bierzo and they do "own" the building.
"This is not the refugio you are looking for . . . "Well it's possible they just didn't like the look of me and introduced a temporary byelawThis was in 2017. I can confirm that I am yet to have a bishopric bestowed upon me.
I don't see what's "bent out of shape" by pointing out that not all abergues are delighted to sell meals to anyone.I wouldn't get bent out of shape because of something like that. As @Kathar1na points out, an albergue is not a restaurant, unless they have a license to be one. So no doubt the place that turned you away buys ingredients and plans meals only around the numbers of people who stay there in order to reduce both expense and waste.
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