Restaurants in Santiago

[JLV]

Hi @ivar,

I wanted to ask what your favorite restaurant is in SDC, and why?

Thanks JLV

 

[Grousedoctor]

A couple of excellent tapas bars/restaurants can be found along Rua do Franco just steps from the cathedral. In addition to an excellent selection of tapas, the camraderie with fellow pilgrims, locals, and visitors to SdC is great fun. Prices are reasonable and we’ve never walked away from either bar hungry or feeling that we had broken the bank just to eat there. Always must stop places for us when in SdC. Warning, they are popular places sometimes with a line of people waiting to get in.

 

[peregrina2000]

There are lots of threads that have recommendations, but I will add two caveats — recommendations are oh so personal and you may not like what others like and vice versa. The other thing is that restaurants open and close and change management frequently. For instance, two of my favorite places in Santiago — Bodeguilla San Roque and O Dezaseis — are now permanently closed.

I have never heard a bad word about the Mercado de Abastos. Reservations recommended for sure.

Anyway, take a look at some of these threads:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/santiago-for-dinner.64920/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/santiago-for-dinner.64920/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/top-10-list-of-restaurants-in-santiago.37960/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/restaurant-cafe-recommendations-in-santiago.30821/

 

[craiger1511]

There are lots of threads that have recommendations, but I will add two caveats — recommendations are oh so personal and you may not like what others like and vice versa. The other thing is that restaurants open and close and change management frequently. For instance, two of my favorite places in Santiago — Bodeguilla San Roque and O Dezaseis — are now permanently closed.

I have never heard a bad word about the Mercado de Abastos. Reservations recommended for sure.

Anyway, take a look at some of these threads:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/santiago-for-dinner.64920/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/santiago-for-dinner.64920/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/top-10-list-of-restaurants-in-santiago.37960/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/restaurant-cafe-recommendations-in-santiago.30821/

Abastos 2.0 was phenomenal (June 2022). Not only was the food extradinary but the staff were the lovlist people we met in our 3 weeks of touring Spain ... a very special experience.

 

[peregrina2000]

Abastos 2.0 was phenomenal (June 2022). Not only was the food extradinary but the staff were the lovlist people we met in our 3 weeks of touring Spain ... a very special experience.

Did you have a reservation? I was unable to get in on the spur of the moment, and I wondered about how far in advance I would have had to reserve. This was early October, so I imagine that in higher tourist times it can be a challenge.

 

[craiger1511]

No reservations. Just lucky, I guess. Really, LUCKY. For those following this thread, Abastos has an outdoor bar & dining option which is part of the SdC central market. We stumbled upon the indoor dining room and were thrilled to have been seated (OK, I had seen several very nice reviews on TripAdvisor).

 

[SabsP]

Guess I was always lucky finding a place at Abastos 2.0!

 

[Anhalter]

Been a couple of times to the Abastos 2.0 outdoor area and always been able to get a seat. Maybe with a minute or five of waiting. To my dismay i have to admit, i was not aware of the inside area having a different type of gastronomy going, but after hearing that, i know what i will aim for next time I'm around...

Another thing i would love to try is Casa Marcelo, just a few steps from the cathedral and recommended in this book from the rubberman. However on my first time in Santiago I did not know about it, and the second time i did not know the right people to appreciate it (it costs a bit more than the average place unfortunately). And I will under no circumstance have a sit down meal by myself if i can avoid it.

 

[SabsP]

Been a couple of times to the Abastos 2.0 outdoor area and always been able to get a seat. Maybe with a minute or five of waiting. To my dismay i have to admit, i was not aware of the inside area having a different type of gastronomy going, but after hearing that, i know what i will aim for next time I'm around...

Another thing i would love to try is Casa Marcelo, just a few steps from the cathedral and recommended in this book from the rubberman. However on my first time in Santiago I did not know about it, and the second time i did not know the right people to appreciate it (it costs a bit more than the average place unfortunately). And I will under no circumstance have a sit down meal by myself if i can avoid it.

Sorry to hear that you are not a fan of a sit down meal by yourself.
Of course company makes the food/ experience even more wonderful but eating solo in a resto is not that bad either. Of course no sharing of experiences nor ideas but it certainly does not have to be a sad affair. All comes down to mindset.
And as a woman I more often than not had small groups of people next to me who started a conversation with me.

 

[truenorthpilgrim]

The other thing is that restaurants open and close and change management frequently. For instance, two of my favorite places in Santiago — Bodeguilla San Roque and O Dezaseis — are now permanently closed.
mmunity/threads/restaurant-cafe-recommendations-in-santiago.30821/[/URL]

The last thread you linked was from 2019, so pre-covid. Maybe it's time for a fresh thread of restaurants! I've been planning my camino for February and would like to dive into restaurant scene more than I have before.

 

[peregrina2000]

The last thread you linked was from 2019, so pre-covid. Maybe it's time for a fresh thread of restaurants! I've been planning my camino for February and would like to dive into restaurant scene more than I have before.

That is a great idea. I will close this thread and start a new one, making the title clear!

 

[SioCamino]

Another thing i would love to try is Casa Marcelo, just a few steps from the cathedral and recommended in this book from the rubberman. However on my first time in Santiago I did not know about it, and the second time i did not know the right people to appreciate it (it costs a bit more than the average place unfortunately). And I will under no circumstance have a sit down meal by myself if i can avoid it.

I had a wonderful solo dining experience in Casa Marcelo when i was volunteering in SdC in 2019. After finishing my shift I decided to pop down and check out the place as had noticed queues out of the door most lunchtimes. I was awaiting about 20-30 minutes to be seated, reading the menu and had decided by the time they came to seat me that it wasn't a suitable place for a solo dinner. I explained this and they said it was absolutely no problem, they would tailor the servings for me. The chef came out to chat, checked did i have any good allergies /loathing (i eat almost everything, struggle with offal) and very memorably asked me did i trust him... I'm so glad I said yes! I was treated to a magnificence meal and i never knew what was about to be put in front of me. If i recall correctly, an oyster to start then the most zingy amazing tomato-y tomato salad, steak tartare, a fabulous dessert. It was absolutely fabulous, a great memory and dining solo allowed me to fully concentrate on the food. (and people watch/eavesdrop!! 😂)

It was a really wonderful experience and in the end i was glad I was on my own. I didn't have any idea of how much the lunch would be but I was happy and able to pay for it - if another volunteer had been with me i probably would have felt stressed or guiltily for costing them so much money. The bill came to less than €50 including 2 wines, dessert and i ate like a lord. (in a similar restaurant in Dublin it would have been at least twice that)

Not an everyday dining experience but one I would recommend if you can afford it and are into food.