Eating and drinking

This is a list of suggestions for places to eat and/or drink in Alcalá.  It isn't comprehensive and it isn't particularly objective.   Please leave a comment if you have any updated information or if I've got something wrong.

The distinction between bars and restaurants is blurred so I haven't attempted to separate them.  All places will serve drinks without food, and most places serve breakfast and tapas.  Those with an asterisk also do full meals.  

Paseo de la Playa and nearby

*Bar Los Morenos:  Busy local bar serving snacks and meals, with outdoor seating area under canvas.

Los Morenos

5Mentario: Popular bar with tables outside on the Paseo, serving breakfast, drinks and snacks. The name (say it cinco-mentario)  is a pun on "Sin Comentario" - no comment.

5Mentarios

Limbo: Opened summer 2024, on the Paseo next to 5Mentario.  Evenings only, cocktails and basic tapas available.

See you in Limbo!

*Restaurante Pizarro: Open every day of the year except the evenings of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Outdoor seating under canvas (heated in winter), plus a comedor (dining room) inside for more formal meals.

Pizarro bar and restaurant

Siroco Bar y Copas: Located in the park next to Pizarro's. Occasional live music and good mojitos. No food.

Siroco on a summer evening

Bar Los Pollos: Friendly little bar at the end of the Paseo, at the bottom of Calle Rio Verde. Only open Fridays and Saturdays, when you can order spit-roasted chickens and pork loins to take away or sit down and enjoy a roast pork sandwich (montadito de lomo) with a beer.

The "Chicken Bar"

La Tabarra: Alcalá's newest bar, opened July 2024. Located by the roundabout next to the sports hall. Specialising in tapas and fancy wines.  Open 8 pm till late every day except Tuesday and Wednesday.

La Tabarra

*Bar Jamón: Basic but friendly (and air.conditioned dining room), menú del día very good value.

*La Cabaña:  Popular bar with a glass-walled cabin at the front.  Extensive dinner menu from 8.30 or 9 pm, excellent tapas.  Good value 3-course menu del día on weekday lunchtimes.

La Cabaña

*Pizzería Palermo: pizzas, snacks and burgers, fully licensed, open from 8 pm Wednesdays to Sundays.  Located next to Burguer Donald.

*Burguer Donald: Not only burgers, but kebabs, pulled pork, fried chicken KFC style ... Open in the evenings, in a side street next to the park.

Burguer Donald

*Los Ponis: Comfortable and friendly bar near the Hotel San Jorge. Famous for its home-made croquettes, good quality seafood and charcoal-grilled Iberian pork - and Alhambra beer on tap.

Bar Los Ponis

Cafetería la Bahia: Small, friendly bar known locally as Las polacas because it's run by two Polish women. Just round the corner from the Playa towards the waterfall.  Open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cafetería la Bahia, a.k.a. the Polish bar

Calle Juan Amador

*Peña Madridista: the official Real Madrid supporters club bar is tucked away behind the rocks known as Las Peñas. A good place to watch football, or sit outside in summer and enjoy some tapas (it is famous for its caracoles, tiny snails served in broth). Menu del día served weekday lunchtimes.

Peña Madridista

Calle de San Antonio

*Restaurante El Campanero:  Covered terrace at the front for drinks, large comfortable restaurant inside. Specialises in quality beef and other meats.  Closed Monday and Tuesday. Tel. (+34) 956 42 06 40

Restaurante El Campanero

Plaza Alameda de la Cruz

Taberna el Garito: Tiny but picturesque bar inside the church wall.  Unofficial HQ of the local football team. Tables outside on the Alameda in summer, when tapas are available Thursday to Sunday.

El Garito

La Reinventá: Beautifully restored old local with antique ebony fittings inside. Reopened under new management July 2023 and has already acquired a reputation for excellent food.

La Reinventá

Plaza Alta (Plaza San Jorge)

*Mesón Territorio Flamenco:  The owner, Jorge, is an excellent flamenco guitarist and if you are lucky you can sometimes hear him practising.  Good food (weekend lunchtimes only) and range of local wines.

Flamenco Bar

La Coracha (near the castle)

CURRENTLY CLOSED - EXPECTED TO RE-OPEN SEPTEMBER 2024

*Suber Espacio Gastronómico: Alcalá's newest gastronomic experience, opened December 2023, located at the highest part of the town with stunning views over the countryside. The name comes from Quercus suber, the Latin name for the cork oak.  For opening hours and reservations contact 621 68 05 70, email suber.restaurante@gmail.com.

Suber

Poligono La Palmosa (service area by the A381, 3 km from town centre)

*Venta El Gamo: Restaurant and tapas bar with creatively-prepared local produce.  Excellent value menú del día (three course lunch including drink for less than €10) on weekdays.   Open daily from 6 am to 6 pm, tel. 695 83 45 65.

*Los Corzos: large, popular restaurant attached to La Palmosa Hotel. Huge dining room, glazed terrace and new outdoor seating area. Open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Los Corzos

*Venta Restaurante la Parada: another popular eating spot on the polígono, specialising in local produce. Open 6 a.m. to 10.45 p.m (closed Tuesdays).  Huge dining room, outside area and shop attached.

La Parada

Patriste (5 km from town centre along the CA4291, signposted to the campsite)

*Camping los Gazules - campsite bar and restaurant, very good value, open to the public. Open-air swimming pool in summer.

Campsite bar and restaurant

*Venta Patrite - Next to the campsite.  Good range of local specialities including gazpacho caliente. .Lunchtimes only, very popular with locals on Sundays and public holidays.

Venta Patrite

El Prado

*Terraza El Jardín, a bar/restaurant serving the outdoor swimming pool, open during school summer holidays (late June till mid-September).  Hot food served every afternoon except Mondays, when the pool is closed..

Terraza el Jardín la Piscina

Centro de Visitantes (just off the A381, on A-2228 Benalup road)

*Restaurante el Alibe: located inside the Alcornocales visitor centre. Take a stroll round the botanical gardens first, to work up an appetite for lunch.  CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT (Nov 2023)

Restaurante el Aljibe

Caracena (take the Paterna road (CA-3052) and turn right as signposted after a couple of km)

*Venta Caracena: traditional Andalucian produce, very popular with the locals especially for family celebrations, so reservation essential at the weekend.  Open September to April, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed Wednesdays).

Venta Caracena

*Venta Cruce de los Santos; On the road to the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Santos. Excellent reputation for good food, large dining room and a pleasant terrace at the back.  Closes around 4.30 pm.

Venta Cruce de los Santos