Pamplona - Food and Swimming

[LesBrass]

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

 

[mspath]

Les,
Here is an earlier list that you might find helpful.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/places-to-swim-along-camino-frances.18258/

..
In Puente La Reina October 2015 I enjoyed a GREAT menu del dia at the La Conrada restaurant at 17 Paseo de los Fueros, which parallels the camino on the south. For 10 euros seated in the comfy bar the meal included pasta salad, fresh octopus with aioli mayonaise and saute potatoes, lemon sherbet, and a glass of wine. Read more on their web page.

Viana has many very good restaurants. One favorite and nearby the municipal albergue is the restaurant in the Palacio de Pujados hotel where local vintners seem to enjoy eating well. In 2015 the menu del dia was roughly 15 euros including 3 courses, a bottle of local Rioja wine and coffee; all were superb! Here is their TripAdvisor citation.

Enjoy! Buen camino to all your group.

 

[LesBrass]

Les,
Here is an earlier list that you might find helpful.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/places-to-swim-along-camino-frances.18258/

..
In Puente La Reina October 2015 I enjoyed a GREAT menu del dia at the La Conrada restaurant at 17 Paseo de los Fueros, which parallels the camino on the south. For 10 euros seated in the comfy bar the meal included pasta salad, fresh octopus with aioli mayonaise and saute potatoes, lemon sherbet, and a glass of wine. Read more on their web page.

Viana has many very good restaurants. One favorite and nearby the municipal albergue is the restaurant in the Palacio de Pujados hotel where local vintners seem to enjoy eating well. In 2015 the menu del dia was roughly 15 euros including 3 courses, a bottle of local Rioja wine and coffee; all were superb! Here is their TripAdvisor citation.

Enjoy! Buen camino to all your group.

THANK YOU! that's really useful xx

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

I don't remember it as a restaurant or what the price was or even the name (a moderately long Basque name) but I can tell you how to find this place where we had tapas a few times. It is on a corner across the road from the bullring. The bust of Hemingway is looking right at it. If that isn't enough Spain/Pamplona for you there was some matador decor (that's a catchy phrase) and (warning) mounted bull heads inside.

Since it is not far from the Cafe Iruna you might be able to check it out before the meeting.

 

[Darby67]

I can't help with the swimming. But do not swim in the Ebro.

In Pamplona, Iruñazarra, on Calle Mercaderes. Not inexpensive but it hopefully won't break the bank either. Fantastic food. Their Gallina guisada con arroz is great and if they are serving migas in the bar ask if you can have it as a starter. Migas are my ultimate comfort food...the best I've had, and I've had them a lot in Spain over the years, is in the hilltop village of Ujué (Navarra)...but you'll have to leave that for another time.

And then their is a pinxto crawl. Honestly, it is hard to go wrong in Pamplona with pinxtos. Not quite as eclectic as San Sebastian, but wonderful nonetheless. If the place is full, it's good. If it's empty, be wary. And keep your toothpicks as depending on the bar that is how they will charge you.

Los Arcos has a few nice little spots but my most memorable dinner was early this year with the Cofradia de San Blas at a small hermitage just outside of town for patatas con bacalao.

There are some really good restaurants in Viana but sadly I haven't eaten dinner there in 20 years and I just can't recall any of them or spark a memory looking at a map.

Logroño is pretty easy. Calle del Laurel and the sadly overlooked Calle de San Juan are a great place. It has changed a bit since I lived their in the late 90s but the old guard is still king to me. Bar Soriano and Bar Sebas have been my favorites for years. But don't discount El Soldado de Tudelilla (Calle San Agustín), Bar Angel (I prefer Soriano) and Bar Torres (Calle San Juan). The full vs empty rule applies here as well, and honestly in most towns that aren't overrun with non-locals.

And if it is still open, Don Chufo (about 10 min on foot from Calle Laurel, Calle Guardia Civil). Small, small, small. One table that will accommodate the 6 of you and a few smaller ones and the bar. Typical food of La Rioja. It was my local bar when I lived there and I go and say hello to Abel and Rosa whenever I'm in town. But when I visited in Feb this year they were getting to retirement and looking for new owners. I translated their menu back in 1998 and I give Abel a hug each time I see him because it is still the same menu.

I'm sure I can think of a bunch of others, but just keep to the guidelines and I think you'll be happy with whatever you find/fall into! Salud!

 

[VNwalking]

restaurant recommendations

Pinxos at Bar Gaucho (Edit - in Pamplona ).
Unbelievably wonderful.
May your group's entire camino be just as wonderful as that!

 

[Scotty100]

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

Hi LesBrass
We’ve just left Pamplona and discovered an amazing place that sells the best croquettes you’ve ever tasted. Perfect to pop in if walking around the old city.
What we did was to order a selection of 5 croquettes between 5 of us and everyone had a taste with a beer. And then we moved on.
That’s all they sell, croquettes.
Café Roch. Every pintxos bar sells croquettes, but not like these
Buen Camino
Have fun.

 

[Former member 49149]

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

I have some recommendations from someone who is from Pamplona( I ought to add that my question was about cheap/ reasonable places to eat in city centre)
“On week days many places will do Menu del Día, (no menu del peregrino), but stlll cheaper..
I’d say the best option would be CATACHU, (the cheapest) a bar de toda la Vida, they never did any refurbishing of the place and thus it looks old fashioned, even a bit decayed, but they are very nice people and certainly their food will be home made and nice. It is in calle LINDATXIKIA

Another option can be IRUNAZARRA round the corner from the town hall

Still another very famous LA MANDARRA DE LA RAOS in calle San Nicolas, very well known and always packed. Also a bit more expensive.

Finally some of the places in plaza del Castillo would certainly have menu del dia on week days, even el casino Iruna, although not as cheap either.”

 

[JennyH94]

Hi Les -

Meson del Caballo Blanco at Calle Redin s/n in Pamplona is great for either a light lunch or a more substantial dinner. It’s up by the Cathedral ... just walk through the square on the left hand side of the Cathedral to the end of the square and follow the street on the left. A moment or two’s stroll will have your group at the restaurant.

This restaurant was the location when Tom first met Joost from Amsterdam in the movie ‘The Way’ - a small fact that your group might find interesting.

The food is great! On my recent camino with my family we ate there three times. Prices are very reasonable. Lots of the menu choices are suitable for sharing.

Here’s a photo of some of the tostadas we enjoyed one lunchtime.



Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

 

[K Turner]

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

I went to Saint Wich more than once in Pamplona last week!

 

[MarkyD]

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

Albergue Santiago de Apóstol, it's about 400m up the path after crossing the bridge at Puente la Reina has a large outdoor swimming pool with a lifeguard.

 

[Robi Diaz De Vivar]

Hello folks - I'm looking for recommendations... I know you'll all have answers

I'm walking with a group of 6 pilgrims in a few days time... we're walking from Pamplona to Logrono... a little taster for them which I hope will encourages them all to go back and walk some more at another time.

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Pamplona. We're meeting at Cafe Iruna so not there... what other really great restaurants would you recommend that will introduce my group to Spain and pilgrim life? (Not too expensive please )

Also, are there any river/lake/pool opportunities for swimming between Pamplona and Logrono? I know it's crazy... I've walked through this section 4 times and yet I cant remember... nor can I think of a restaurant?

Thanks in advance for your ideas

I am not going to recommend a particular restaurant in Pamplona but a whole street. 100 metres away from Cafe Iruna across the Plaza del Castillo is the entry to Calle San Nicolas which is party central in Pamplona. There is a similar hot spot in Logrono - it is called Calle Laurel and is just west of the Cathedral. Sorry can't help you with the swimming thing although rivers at Puente La Reina and Estella looked swimmable.