Seeking albergues with communal meals

[Amy Noelle]

Hello there! I am new to this forum and am grateful to see that it exists. I am working on a documentary tv series that will feature the stretch of the Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela, and we want to feature the unique communal experience of eating on the Camino. Any recommendations for great albergues that offer food (or have communal kitchens) or special restaurants/taverns to visit? Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?
I should note that I also plan to hike the Camino Frances - separate from anything involving the series.

 

[alexwalker]

@Amy Noelle : On the Camino Frances, there is a small village called Granon, where the communal albergue is in the medieval belltower of the church. The communal dinner there, made by the staff + volunteer pilgrims, is most likely the most impressive in terms of cooperation and communality (is there such a word?) you can experience on the Camino. It is, however, located only a few days west of Pamplona on the CF, but if you want to record a communal dinner at its best, this is the place.

"Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?"

Same place. Not owners; hospitaleros/as

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/cam...ada-to-belorado/albergue-parochial-in-granon/

Good luck!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The Camino Frances does not go through Lugo, but it does go through Sarria. There are so many pilgrims and albergues in the last 114 km, that communal dinners have pretty much disappeared. I think there is a good one in Ligonde before Melide and San Xulian after Palas de Rei. Good luck.

 

[alexwalker]

The Camino Frances does not go through Lugo, but it does go through Sarria. There are so many pilgrims and albergues in the last 114 km, that communal dinners have pretty much disappeared.

Exactly. I think they have to backtrack a little to get "the real stuff". But then again, I suppose that @Amy Noelle & crew are mobile, and if so, it should be easy.

 

[Amy Noelle]

@Amy Noelle : On the Camino Frances, there is a small village called Granon, where the communal albergue is in the medieval belltower of the church. The communal dinner there, made by the staff + volunteer pilgrims, is most likely the most impressive in terms of cooperation and communality (is there such a word?) you can experience on the Camino. It is, however, located only a few days west of Pamplona on the CF, but if you want to record a communal dinner at its best, this is the place.

"Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?"

Same place. Not owners; hospitaleros/as

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/cam...ada-to-belorado/albergue-parochial-in-granon/

Good luck!

This looks amazing! Thank you, Alex!!!

 

[alexwalker]

This looks amazing! Thank you, Alex!!!

See my earlier post: I found another video. Search Youtube for the phrase "Albergue Granon". you will find many.

 

[Amy Noelle]

The Camino Frances does not go through Lugo, but it does go through Sarria. There are so many pilgrims and albergues in the last 114 km, that communal dinners have pretty much disappeared. I think there is a good one in Ligonde before Melide and San Xulian after Palas de Rei. Good luck.

Thank you for the recommendation, falcon269! I will look into Ligonde. I know what you mean about the Camino Frances not going through Lugo. Since the Primitivo goes through Lugo, though, and Lugo is such a beautiful town, we are going to feature it, too.

 

[Amy Noelle]

See my earlier post: I found another video. Search Youtube for the phrase "Albergue Granon". you will find many.

Will do! Thank you!

 

[peregrina2000]

The albergues in Ferreira, a day's walk out of Lugo, are not donativo like Grañón, but rather a private (for profit) albergue. That said, they do offer a communal dinner that pilgrims love, a big paella. The owners run two albergues about a half km from each other. One is an old stone house, lots of charm, and the other is a modern shed turned minimalist albergue, very modern and functional. Both offer the dinner and I have stayed in and enjoyed both very much. Their website:
https://www.alberguesdeferreira.com/

You can find lots of pictures by clicking around the site.

 

[alexwalker]

Since Granon albergue has instruments, they sometimes get lucky, when a good pianist walks in:

But most times, ordinary people, who can play a little guitar/piano, can also make it a very good evening. And the staff is very good at jazzing up the mood, with their attitude and welcomeness.

And it is always a good community. I have had some very good moments there. And this albergue prides itself of never refusing a pilgrim: Somehow, they will find a solution to the housing.

 

[grayland]

I am of mixed emotions about yet another documentary that will attract even more crowds.
The camino is suffering from over exposure right now and is rapidly evolving...which way it is evolving is open to the opinion of the observer.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Tincatinker]

I'm with you Grayland. Happy, happy people noshing down on happy happy food on a happy happy camino...
And if the locations make a narrative thread it won't matter that the geography is a bit screwed. Or that the best communal meals on the camino are the spontaneous ones that happen when people talk to each other rather than their guidebooks and their apps and scurry around some benighted Pueblo in search of something that passed when everyone started demanding ketchup and more wine.

So I'll add Como Sapiens to the possible locations. A restaurateur who really understands pilgrims. Unfortunately located in Atapuerca rather than anywhere near Lugo.

 

[alexwalker]

I am of mixed emotions about yet another documentary that will attract even more crowds.
The camino is suffering from over exposure right now and is rapidly evolving...which way it is evolving is open to the opinion of the observer.

Just my opinion, of course.

Yes, we can agree on that. On the other hand, oldtimers as we are, who are we to deny the next generation of pilgrims/wannabies access to the same experiences we cherish? I must say, I am very ambivalent on this issue. Hopefully, the Camino will grow with the demand and cater for it. I for one really want more people to experience the magic of The Camino, in a good way, of course.

And yes, @Tincatinker , those are the best meals; spontaneous, and with good will from all participants, sharing and cooperating. Magic moments..

 

[Dorpie]

In defence of Amy this is at least a slightly different take on the Camino than I've seen before and I don't think we can be too selfish about keeping these experiences to ourselves.

Agree with you Alex, I was accosted by two TV crews last year and while I do have fears about the camino reaching over saturation I also can't be greedy about something so wonderful. While I love the CF I'll be taking the path less travelled next time to make some extra room for new pilgrims.

Tincantinker I also 100% agree with you that self made meals with camino family are the really special ones.

Amy I'd be grateful if you could let us know when this is due to be on TV and what country? If you were prepared to go a little west Albergue Verde in Hospital de Órbigo is interesting. Home made and grown communal meals.

 

[alexwalker]

@Tincatinker : This great photo comes back to me time and time again as the (one of many...) spirit of The Camino:



Edit:

Agree with you Alex, I was accosted by two TV crews last year and while I do have fears about the camino reaching over saturation I also can't be greedy about something so wonderful.

I hope that when the day I lay my staff down, there will be many persons continuing to walk The Camino and have the same eye-opening experiences I had on my first Camino. From another place, I will envy them, but at the same time, encouraging them. Past pilgrims encouraged me.

Edit II: But we are completely hijacking the OP's thread...

 

[bmcbride]

Hello there! I am new to this forum and am grateful to see that it exists. I am working on a documentary tv series that will feature the stretch of the Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela, and we want to feature the unique communal experience of eating on the Camino. Any recommendations for great albergues that offer food (or have communal kitchens) or special restaurants/taverns to visit? Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?
I should note that I also plan to hike the Camino Frances - separate from anything involving the series.

Again nowhere near Lugo but 2-3 days out of Pamplona in the parroquial albergue in Estella there are sometimes communal dinners. It depends upon the hospitalero/a.

 

[naplesdon]

I must say I agree with Tincatinker and Grayland, but to answer your question about communal meals on the CF; there are the ones done spontaneously by a group of pilgrims and the ones served by the albergue kitchen sometimes enlisting the help of pilgrims to prepare, serve and clean-up. Here is a short list from memory: Orisson, Roncevalles which sells tickets for communal tables at 2 restaurants, Palo de Avellano in Zubiri, municipal in Zalbaldika, Camino del Perdon in Uterga, Casa Magica in Villatuerta, Pedro's albergue in Ciruena, muni in Granon, El Afar in Hornillos, Monastery at San Anton, Ermita de San Nicolas, La Mochila in Itero de Vega, En el Camino in Boadilla, Peaceable Kingdom in Moratinos, Benedictine Monastery in Sahagun, Albergue Tio Pepe in Vilar de Mazarife, Alea in Ponferrada, Albergue de Ferreiro, Albergue at Santa Irene.
Some may argue that these aren't truly communal meals but the albergue maybe is situated in a village with no other place to eat, so one may be forced to dine at shared tables with a fixed menu of salad, bread, wine and either pork, chicken or fish.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

will feature the stretch of the Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela, and we want to feature the unique communal experience of eating on the Camino

Here is a short list from memory: Orisson, Roncevalles which sells tickets for communal tables at 2 restaurants, Palo de Avellano in Zubiri, municipal in Zalbaldika, Camino del Perdon in Uterga, Casa Magica in Villatuerta, Pedro's albergue in Ciruena, muni in Granon, El Afar in Hornillos, Monastery at San Anton, Ermita de San Nicolas, La Mochila in Itero de Vega, En el Camino in Boadilla, Peaceable Kingdom in Moratinos, Benedictine Monastery in Sahagun, Albergue Tio Pepe in Vilar de Mazarife, Alea in Ponferrada, Albergue de Ferreiro,

The scope of the project is probably subject to change, but none of those is anywhere near the Lugo to Santiago stretch!

 

[naplesdon]

I know but the OP said she was planning on walking CF and was looking for information. I totally agree with "subject to change" for example I have stayed at Casa Magica 3 times and it was never the same dinner service.

 

[owms2323]

Hello there! I am new to this forum and am grateful to see that it exists. I am working on a documentary tv series that will feature the stretch of the Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela, and we want to feature the unique communal experience of eating on the Camino. Any recommendations for great albergues that offer food (or have communal kitchens) or special restaurants/taverns to visit? Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?
I should note that I also plan to hike the Camino Frances - separate from anything involving the series.

Villares de Origo-great!

 

[tpmchugh]

The Camino Frances does not go through Lugo, but it does go through Sarria. There are so many pilgrims and albergues in the last 114 km, that communal dinners have pretty much disappeared. I think there is a good one in Ligonde before Melide and San Xulian after Palas de Rei. Good luck.

Both of these albergues offer excellent communal meals. Fuente del Peregrino in Ligonde offers free coffee to passing pilgrims. Sometimes, when the projector is working, there is an afternoon movie with popcorn followed by an optional prayer group. The evening meal is excellent with the usual vino tinto, and when I stayed there in 2013, there was after dinner liquours. In the morning there is an excellent breakfast and the whole experience is donativo. The only problem is when it is wet, the smell of cow dung over the whole village can be a bit strong

 

[mdelag]

Hello there! I am new to this forum and am grateful to see that it exists. I am working on a documentary tv series that will feature the stretch of the Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela, and we want to feature the unique communal experience of eating on the Camino. Any recommendations for great albergues that offer food (or have communal kitchens) or special restaurants/taverns to visit? Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?
I should note that I also plan to hike the Camino Frances - separate from anything involving the series.

Hello...my Camino started in Leon...there are 2 special albergues for me...NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PILAR in Rabanal del Camino, they had a great host, a man called Lobo (his real name was Wolf) who was so nice to us. Told us a lot of stories...etc. And A PEDRA just at the entrance of Sarria, next to a OFICINA DE TURISMO, we had a CENA COMUNITARIA (group dinner), lots of stories, great moment. And delicious dinner. Hope I could help you a bit. Just remember, you make your own camino, you stop when you feel like stopping, everyone has a different perspective, because we all have our personal issues (great ones and a little bit less than graeat ) SO ENJOY YOUR MOMENTS AND BUILD YOUR CAMINO !!!!!! Buen Camino

 

[mdelag]

Hello there! I am new to this forum and am grateful to see that it exists. I am working on a documentary tv series that will feature the stretch of the Camino from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela, and we want to feature the unique communal experience of eating on the Camino. Any recommendations for great albergues that offer food (or have communal kitchens) or special restaurants/taverns to visit? Any places where the owners are particularly welcoming or feel passionate about the Camino?
I should note that I also plan to hike the Camino Frances - separate from anything involving the series.

There is also one very cute between AIREXE and PALAS, called “la (hormiga)”...BUEN CAMINO

 

[habanerocat]

Iglesia de Santiago El Real Logrono is a must for a communal meal and a mass next door if your interested.

 

[Nigel Clark]

can I suggest : Alb Parroquial in Bercianos del Real Camino where we all shared a very large paella and later had to sing for our supper !! also Alb Casa del Pescador in Ambasmestas - excellent meal and the lady did all our washing.

 

[DreamHiker2]

Thanks Nigel, I have made a note of this one. Cheers.

 

[Caminobiker]

Casa rural la Pearla negra Azqueta, about 7kms past Estella. Most amazing food. Lovely hosts, communal table.