© La GallinetaRestaurant · Cabo de Gata
La Gallineta
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- Price
- €€€€
- Where
- El Pozo de los Frailes
La Gallineta is in El Pozo de los Frailes, the Níjar hamlet you pass on the road from Níjar to San José, at number 20, about four kilometres from the coast. It is a house with whitewashed walls, wooden beams and hydraulic-tile floors, with an open-air terrace and a patio. Its cooking is traditional and mostly from the sea: seafood, rice dishes and fish stews, with some meats, salads and desserts, and a simple presentation.
Casserole rice dishes
The rice dishes are the reason people come. The Macarfi guide cites the classics, a banda and del senyoret, alongside more personal ones, such as a rice with kaffir lime and marinated tuna, and starters that blend local cooking with cooking from elsewhere. The house website publishes no menu or prices; the same guide puts the average spend at about €50 per person without drinks, so it is a restaurant for an unhurried meal, not for a quick bite between beaches.
A season that begins in spring
La Gallineta closes in winter. Its contact page still said, in November 2026, that it was preparing the season and opening in March 2026, so the notice is not up to date: before going, call 646 51 58 68 to find out whether it has already closed this autumn or until what date it serves. In high season it fills up, and the house itself recommends booking in advance, by phone or with its online booking system.
Why eat in El Pozo de los Frailes
The location is practical. El Pozo de los Frailes is on the way between the motorway and San José, so you can stop on the way to or from the beach without looking for parking in San José, which in summer is overwhelmed. From here, San José, with the track to Genoveses and Mónsul, is a few minutes by car, and so is Los Escullos, where the coastal walk to La Isleta del Moro starts.
If you want something simpler and open all year in San José, Casa Miguel has rice dishes and a set menu on weekdays.
What to order: a rice dish to share, a banda or del senyoret, or a fish stew
Practical details
- Phone
- +34 646 51 58 68
- Opening hours
- Cuisine
- fish and seafood, rice dishes
House specialities
- Arroz a banda
- Arroz del senyoret
- Fish stews
- Seafood
Tips
- Check the date Out of season it is closed: call before making a detour.
- Always book In summer and at weekends it fills up.
- Rice to share It is the speciality: order one for the table and starters in the middle.
Frequently asked questions
Where is La Gallineta?
On the Níjar to San José road, number 20, in El Pozo de los Frailes, a few minutes from San José.
Is it open in winter?
No. It closes in winter and opens in spring; confirm the date by phone.
What is there to eat at La Gallineta?
Rice dishes, seafood and fish stews, with some meat, salads and desserts.
How much does it cost to eat at La Gallineta?
The Macarfi guide gives an average spend of about €50 per person without drinks.