Mesón Leandro

Mesón Leandro, also called Mesón Asador Leandro, is at Calle Hoz, 3, in the historic centre of Cazorla, beside the ruins of Santa María and at the foot of the Castillo de la Yedra. It is a grill house serving popular mountain cooking, with seasonal produce from the market, and its speciality is meat cooked on the hot stone. The house says it appears for another year among the restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide. It also has rural apartments for up to six people in the same district.

Deer and Wild Boar, Grilled or on the Hot Stone

The menu revolves around meat from the sierra. Over the charcoal grill there is fillet of deer, of wild boar and of veal or ox, veal entrecôte, ox or veal chop, Segureño lamb chops, deer chorizo with egg and chips, and Iberian secreto pork. From the oven come shoulder of suckling lamb and suckling pig. The hot-stone meats are dishes for two, with the hot stone on the table: ox, chop, fillet of deer, wild boar or veal, with vegetables and potatoes.

To share first, there is a selection of Iberian ham and deer cecina, partridge croquettes, lamb sweetbreads with mushrooms and huevos rotos, grilled cheese or white prawn carpaccio. There are also ox burgers, fresh fish from the fish market, and homemade desserts, and a wide wine list with which the staff help you choose. The website does not publish prices.

A Table Every Day

It opens Monday to Sunday, at lunchtime from 13:30 to 16:00 and in the evening from 20:00 to 22:30, with no weekly closing day. Book on 953 720 632, at [email protected] or with the form on its website. For the hot-stone meat, which is for two, say so when booking if you are a group.

In the Santa María District

Calle Hoz is beside the ruins of Santa María, so the meal fits between the Cerezuelo river vault and the climb to the Castillo de la Yedra. The tourist train leaves from the same square. If you come by car, leave it in one of the town's car parks and walk down, because the streets of the old town are narrow.