Restaurant of the Parador de Puebla de Sanabria

What it is

The restaurant of the Parador de Puebla de Sanabria is in the lower part of the town, on Avenida del Lago de Sanabria, at the foot of the hill where the old town stands between the rivers Tera and Castro. It is the dining room of a 42-room Parador, but it is open to anyone, whether or not you are staying. Paradores presents it as the home of habones, trout and octopus, and describes its cooking as traditional Sanabrian, with Castilian, Galician and Portuguese influence and local produce.

What you eat

The specialities it highlights are Sanabrian-style octopus, habones and Zamora cheeses, together with cured meats from the region, trout and game dishes; among them it mentions a soupy venison rice. The full menu can be consulted on the Paradores website, which links it from the restaurant page. It is cooking in serious portions, meant for a long meal after a morning at the lake or in the sierra.

If you do not want a full meal, the Parador's café serves all day and is a quicker and cheaper way to have something. Prices are those usual in the Paradores network, higher than at the eating houses on the square.

Opening hours

Paradores publishes different hours for winter and summer:

• Breakfast: from 8:00 to 11:00.
• Lunch: from 13:30 to 15:30 in winter and from 13:30 to 16:00 in summer.
• Dinner: from 20:30 to 23:00 in winter and from 21:00 to 23:30 in summer.
• Café: from 11:00 to 23:30 in winter and from 11:00 to 0:00 in summer.

The Parador closes from 3 January to 1 March 2027, so during that period the restaurant does not operate either.

Booking and getting there

The dining room can seat about 180 people; even so, in summer and on long weekends it is wise to book on the Paradores website, on 980 62 00 01 or at [email protected]. Being in the lower part of the town, beside the road, it is the most convenient meal if you arrive by car and do not want to climb to the old town. The Parador has a paid garage.

What to combine

The Lake Sanabria Natural Park, the largest glacial lake in the peninsula, is about 12 kilometres away: a morning at the beach or walking along its shores and a meal here on the way back makes a perfect plan. You can also eat and then walk up to the old town to see the castle, whose keep has good views of the surroundings, and the Azogue church. If you prefer a more village atmosphere, La Posada is on the Plaza Mayor, and on the Rúa are the cellar dining rooms of La Cartería.