La Pradera Restaurant

Eating on the grass

La Pradera is on the outskirts of Rascafría, next to the M-611 road that climbs to the La Morcuera pass and Miraflores de la Sierra. It opened in 1978 and has since fed locals, families and walkers. Its hallmark is the meadow: wooden tables and benches spread over the lawn, in the shade of the trees, a terrace with a vine arbour and a glazed dining room for when it turns cool. While the grown-ups linger over coffee, the children have plenty of room to play.

What to order

Home-style mountain cooking: raciones to share, spoon dishes and Sierra de Guadarrama meats with Protected Geographical Indication, bought from local farmers and suppliers.

To share, the most requested are the torreznos (€10), the chorizo picadillo (€9.80), the homemade ham croquettes (€11.20), the chopitos and the bravas (€5.80). There is also Segovia black pudding, Spanish omelette, squid, battered cod or cured sheep's cheese. In July and August they serve their summer speciality, grilled sardines (€12.60 for six), and in winter, tripe (€12).

For a first course, Castilian soup (€6.60), cocido broth, La Granja judiones, green beans with ham or piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and prawns. For a main course, the Sierra de Guadarrama meats: chuletón (€31), entrecôte (€27) or veal fillet (€13.80), suckling lamb chops (€20), and pork tenderloin with mushroom sauce (€14). Fried eggs with black pudding, chorizo or pisto and chips are the simple option. Main courses come with chips or salad, your choice.

Desserts are made at home every day: rice pudding, custard, cheese or egg flan with cream, curd with honey, lemon mousse and cheesecake with raspberry jam. They also have a wine list. Bread is charged separately (€0.70 per person). These are the prices on the menu published on its website.

When it opens and how to get there

Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 18:00. At weekends and public holidays in good weather they recommend booking on 91 869 17 24, for the dining room or the terrace.

From the centre of the village you can walk there, and by car there is room to park next to the restaurant. It fits after a morning in the valley: the El Paular Monastery, the Perdón Bridge and arboretum or the route to the Purgatorio Waterfall. For eating in the centre of the village, Casa Briscas is on plaza de España.