# El Restaurante de Pilar

Restaurant en Santoña · Santoña and Laredo

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/where-to-eat/el-restaurante-de-pilar · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Precio: €€€

Seafaring cooking in the Mirador de las Marismas building, above Santoña's fishing harbour: fish by weight, shellfish and the town's anchovies. Lunch only.

From Argoños to the Mirador de las Marismas
The restaurant began in 1999 in Argoños, the neighbouring municipality, and on 14 July 2010 it opened in Santoña. It later moved to the Mirador de las Marismas building, in the fishing harbour, where it is today, with the dining room looking out over the water. The house presents itself as traditional seafaring cooking, with seasonal produce from the region and buyers in the ports of Cantabria, Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country.
The menu: fish by weight and house anchovies
The cook's suggestions open the menu: Pilar's croquettes (€12 for a portion of six), a tuna casserole (€18.70), bluefin tuna with burrata (€22) or cuttlefish caught on a guadaña line with poached onion (€28). Among the starters are Santoña anchovies in arbequina oil (€19.70), fried cuttlefish (rabas), gratinated king prawns and Iberian ham.
The fish is mostly sold by weight, and it is worth asking how much the piece weighs before ordering it: black monkfish at €49.50 per kilo, sea bass at €56.50, wild turbot at €85, longline sea bream at €89 and longline viceroy at €150. Tuna belly is priced by portion, at €30. For shellfish there is grilled lobster at €89 per kilo, Cantabrian spiny lobster at €150, queen scallops at €4.50 each, Huelva white prawns and Isla Cristina king prawns; goose barnacles depend on the market.
The rice dishes with lobster or with carabinero prawns cost €35.50 per person and must be ordered in advance. For anyone who does not want fish, there is Tudanca beef chop at €65 per kilo. The desserts are homemade, between €5.75 and €6.50: baked cheesecake, torrija with citrus ice cream or egg flan with almond. Bread is charged at €1.30 per person.
Lunch only, and two days' notice
From 1 September to 30 June it opens at midday only, from 13:00 to 16:00, Wednesday to Sunday; it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. The website does not publish July and August hours, so ask if you are going in summer. They ask you to book at least two days in advance, on their website or on 942 62 64 48, and there is a cancellation policy published on the website. The terrace is closed for now and pets are not allowed.
Before or after, the anchovy
The meal fits in the middle of a day of canneries: in the morning, the visit to Conservas Emilia, a factory in production, and in the afternoon the ferry to Laredo. It is the route of the plan Anchovy Day in Santoña.

Qué pedir: Pilar's croquettes and Santoña anchovies to start; then longline fish by weight or the tuna casserole

## Practical details

- Address: Edificio El Mirador de las Marismas, Puerto de Santoña, 39740 Santoña, Cantabria
- Phone: +34 942 626 448
- Opening hours: Mon y Tue closed; Wed–Sun 13:00–16:00
- Hours from 1 September to 30 June; closed Monday and Tuesday. Book two days ahead
- Cuisine: Cantabrian, fish and seafood
- House specialities: Pilar's croquettes, Santoña anchovies, Tuna casserole, Longline fish by weight, Cantabrian spiny lobster
- Details checked on 13 November 2026.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Web: https://elrestaurantedepilar.com/
- Coordenadas: 43.444, -3.459

## Cerca de aquí

- [Anchovy Art Gallery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/things-to-do/anchovy-art-gallery), a 201 m
- [Visit to the Conservas Emilia factory](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/things-to-do/emilia-cannery-visit), a 248 m
- [Conservas Emilia Shop](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/where-to-eat/emilia-shop), a 262 m
- [Boat trip to the Caballo lighthouse](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/things-to-do/boat-to-caballo-lighthouse), a 493 m
- [Fort of San Martín and the canning history museum](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/things-to-do/fort-san-martin), a 1.1 km
- [Monte Buciero lighthouses trail](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/things-to-do/monte-buciero-lighthouses-trail), a 1.1 km
- [Asador El Tiburón](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/where-to-eat/asador-el-tiburon), a 1.9 km
- [Puntal ferry, from Laredo to Santoña](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo/things-to-do/puntal-ferry), a 1.9 km

## Consejos

### Ask the weight before you order
The fish and a good part of the shellfish are charged by the kilo.

### Order the rice in advance
The lobster and carabinero ones are only made to order.

### Book on Wednesday for Saturday
They ask for at least two days' notice.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does it cost to eat at El Restaurante de Pilar?
It depends on the fish: starters cost €12 to €20, the cook's dishes €18 to €28 and fish is charged by weight, from €49.50 to €150 per kilo.

### Is it open in the evening?
No, from September to June it serves lunch only, from 13:00 to 16:00.

### Which days is it closed?
Monday and Tuesday.

### How far in advance do I need to book?
At least two days, on their website or by phone.

### Can I go to Pilar's with my dog?
No, pets are not allowed.

Destino: [Santoña and Laredo](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/santona-and-laredo.md)