El Refectorio

The place

The dining room of the Hotel Convento de San Francisco, run by Tugasa, occupies the former refectory of the convent, a 17th-century building in La Plazuela, in the heart of Vejer's old town. It keeps walls, arches and the sober atmosphere of convent spaces. The hotel café, in the former chapel, serves breakfasts.

The cooking starts from the Vejer tradition and the produce of the La Janda district and the coast: fish from the shore, almadraba bluefin tuna, Retinta beef, seasonal vegetables and Cádiz wines.

What to order

The menu is published with prices. The traditional section opens with two recipes from Vejer: the papelón of pork loin in lard (€14.50) and the cone of chicharrones from La Janda (€15.95), alongside cuttlefish with chickpeas and king prawns (€11.50). To share, prawn and cuttlefish croquettes, seafood Russian salad with squid or Iberian ham with Payoya goat cheese; the website also mentions the Vejer blood sausage croquettes and the free-range eggs with glass prawns and Sanlúcar potatoes.

Almadraba bluefin tuna has its own section, with Asian-style preparations such as the spicy tartare (€20.95) or the tataki, and the griddled loin with pisto. There is fried fish (cuttlefish, squid or marinated dogfish, from €13 to €15.95), rice dishes such as the black rice with cuttlefish, squid and king prawns, and sea bass with vegetables. Among meats, Iberian presa or pluma (€26.95), the latter with Payoya cheese and cane honey, and Retinta beef entrecôte or tenderloin (€27.95 and €29.95). For dessert, cheesecake, coulant or fried milk, from €6.90 to €7.90.

It has children's dishes, from €8.45 to €9.50, and bread and breadsticks are charged at €1.50 per person.

When to go

It fits in the middle of a round of the old town and city walls, because La Plazuela is right in the centre. If you come by car, leave it in one of the car parks outside the old town and walk in. It is also a good lunch on the way back from El Palmar beach or Cape Trafalgar.

Tugasa does not publish the restaurant's opening hours. Book on 956 45 10 01 or with the booking button on its website.