Restaurant · Besalú
Restaurant Pont Vell
Choose a day and party sizeInformation
- Price
- €€€€
- With a dog
- In the dining room and outside
- Where
- Besalú
Carrer del Pont Vell 24 · closed Monday and Tuesday; lunches Wednesday to Sunday and dinners only on Saturday · 972 591 027
A house from 1981 facing the bridge
Pont Vell opened in 1981 under Núria Boleda and Artur Mercadé, at the foot of the Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià, and from the dining room you see the bridge head-on. Today it is run by the second generation: Anna Mercadé in the dining room and with the wines, and her partner, Robert Mora, in the kitchen. Núria, a ceramicist, makes a good part of the plates and bowls it is served in. The cooking starts from classic Catalan recipes, brought up to date, and from seasonal produce: the chef goes to the Banyoles market every week.
What to order
There is a seasonal menu with aperitif, starter, main course and dessert to choose from, and a short à la carte menu. On the autumn 2026 menu, the house speciality is sweet-and-sour rabbit with raisins, pine nuts and baked apple; there are also free-range chicken cannelloni with béchamel and roast jus, pumpkin and porcini cream, autumn rice with duck sweetbreads and mushrooms (minimum two people) and duck with medlars from its own tree. On the à la carte menu, chicken and Iberian ham croquettes, oxtail in Empordà red wine, oven-roasted shoulder of lamb for two and fish from the fish market. For dessert, bread with oil, chocolate and salt, floating island or plums in Armagnac. They have gluten-free bread. The wine list is chosen by Anna, with mid- and high-range wines by the glass.
When to go and how to book
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Open at midday from Wednesday to Sunday, with last seating at 15:00, and serves dinners only on Saturday, with last seating at 21:30. In October it closes for a few days' holiday. Book online from its website, by phone or WhatsApp on 972 59 10 27 or by email. At weekends and at the medieval festival at the end of August it is wise to book ahead.
Who it is for and how to get there
Dogs are welcome, inside and out. You enter by steps and the premises are not adapted for people with reduced mobility. The historic centre reserves parking for residents: leave the car outside and walk to the bridge.
What to order: the seasonal menu, with produce from the Banyoles market.
Practical details
- Phone
- +34 972 591 027
- Opening hours
Tips
- Ask for a table with a view of the bridge It is what makes this dining room different; say so when you book.
- Mention allergies before ordering The house asks to be told before you choose your dishes, so it can pass this on to the kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
Is it open for dinner?
Only on Saturday. From Wednesday to Sunday it opens at midday and on Monday and Tuesday it is closed.
Can I go with a dog?
Yes, the restaurant admits dogs both in the dining room and outside.
Are there gluten-free options?
They have gluten-free bread. For the other dishes, mention the intolerance before ordering and the kitchen will tell you what you can have.
With a dog
