Las Eras Restaurant

At the top of the village, beside the threshing floors

Las Eras is at Calle Azas, 29, in the upper part of Patones de Arriba, the area of the old threshing floors where grain was threshed, and so it has some of the most open views in the village: the black slate roofs below and the hills around. The terrace is the draw in spring and autumn, the months when most people come up to Patones; inside there is a cosy dining room with music.

Chargrill, vegetables and migas

The cooking runs to chargrilled meats, sautéed vegetables and migas with chorizo, with the odd dish that departs from the expected, and uses local produce. It has a vegetarian and gluten-free option, according to the official Sierra Norte tourism listing, which gives an average price of about €30 per person. It has no website of its own and does not publish a menu: what there is that day is asked at the table or when booking.

Hours, bookings and services

Open from 12:00 to 17:00, according to the official listing: it is a lunch house, not a dinner one. It accepts dogs, has wifi and is accessible. Book on 91 843 21 26, and it is advisable to do so on an autumn Sunday, when the village fills up. If you go on a weekday out of season, call first to confirm it is open.

Going all the way up

Reaching Las Eras means crossing the village uphill, because it is in the highest part. Car access to Patones de Arriba is reserved for residents and authorised vehicles, with a camera and a fine for anyone entering without permission. Leave the car in the free car park at Patones de Abajo and go up the Barranco Path, about 800 metres, or on the shuttle linking the two settlements at weekends and public holidays; the Patones tourist office explains how to book it. The path is not accessible for pushchairs or wheelchairs: with reduced mobility, ask the town council about the special authorisation to park up top.

Before sitting down, walk round Patones de Arriba and its ovens, wash-house and threshing floors. If you came to climb in the morning, the introductory climbing session at Patones ends in time for lunch here. To sleep in the village, the Hotel Rural La Fuente is a few steps away.