La Reunión, mountain bar and restaurant

The climbing party's belay stance, on the square

Erika and Fernando opened La Reunión in the summer of 2015 on Plaza del Pueblo, 12, in Manzanares el Real, the village that serves as the gateway to La Pedriza inside the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park. The name comes from climbing: the 'reunión' is the point on a long route where the rope team gathers to rest before the next pitch. And that is what the place is for many people: where climbers, mountaineers and hikers meet before or after the sierra, with sierra information to hand. On its website they link the Peña el Gato weather station, the council's webcams, a PDF with 24 routes in the Sierra de Guadarrama and the topographic map of La Pedriza.

Bar, dining room and terrace

It works at once as a café-bar and as a restaurant. At the bar there is draught Estrella Galicia bodega beer, a selection of wines, teas from around the world, coffee and tomato toast for breakfast. In the dining room, simple cooking from fresh produce, often seasonal and local, Mediterranean with international touches. What they themselves highlight: the croquettes, the barbecued Sierra de Guadarrama chuletón and the Angus burgers. They have a dining-room menu and wine list on their website; prices are checked there.

The terrace takes over the square, with no cars, and is the place for raciones in the sun, especially on festival days and on medieval or craft market days. They currently have no special menus, although under services they mention menus for groups: if there are many of you, ask.

Wednesday to Sunday outside summer

According to its website, from September to June it opens Wednesday to Sunday (Sundays from 12:00 to 22:00; Fridays and Saturdays until midnight) and in summer Tuesday to Sunday; it closes for some days in January for holidays. Outside summer it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. As the published hours may be out of date, confirm them on 918 53 03 17. Book online with CoverManager from its website or at [email protected].

Before and after the sierra

From the square, the Manzanares castle is a stroll away, and by car you reach in a few minutes the La Pedriza visitor centre and Canto Cochino and El Tolmo, the route of the Sunday in La Pedriza. If you sleep in the village, the Hostel La Pedriza is on Calle Real.