L'Avet de Sant Maurici

In the Espot square

L'Avet de Sant Maurici is the restaurant of the Hotel Saurat, in plaça de Sant Martí, in the centre of Espot. It is part of one of the oldest hospitality businesses in the Pallars Sobirà: the Saurat family began in the nineteenth century with a three-room inn, built the present hotel between 1932 and 1934 and today it is run by the fifth generation.

It has two dining rooms and a peaceful terrace beside the River Escrita, in the shade of a hundred-year-old cherry tree: in summer it is the place to eat outdoors after an excursion in the national park.

What you eat

Traditional cooking with local produce, giving priority to suppliers from the area, according to the house. At midday and in the evening the restaurant serves, with a menu of elaborate dishes; outside those hours it works as a bar, with snacks and vermouth, and in the afternoon with hot chocolate and sweets. The menu can be viewed on its website; ask when you book which dishes are available that day.

Before you go

The website does not publish opening hours or closing days: call 973 62 41 62 or write to [email protected] to book a table, especially in the ski season and in August. You do not need to be staying at the hotel. Restaurant customers have free private parking for about 30 cars.

What to combine it with

In the morning, Espot Esquí, two kilometres from the village and a few minutes by car, or the guided snowshoeing to the estany de Sant Maurici, which leave Espot in the park taxi and return at about 16:45: a good time for afternoon chocolate. If you stay overnight, the Hotel Roya is also in the village and only serves dinner to groups of guests, so L'Avet is a good choice for dinner if you sleep there.