My hometown, Leon, is a hidden gem in northern Spain famous for its monuments and amazing food. It's Spain's best city for free tapas and it's perfect for a short weekend getaway. From high-end restaurants to gastro-bars and tapas spots, there's no shortage of eating options. On this blog post you are going to find a food guide to the best restaurants and tapas bars in Leon. For more information to plan your trip check out
The Complete Guide to Visiting Leon.
WHERE TO EAT IN LEON: THINGS TO KNOW
Leon was named Gastronomic Capital of Spain in 2018 for good reason. Leon has a great variety of local dishes like
cecina (dry meat),
Valdeon cheese or
botillo. The city’s slogan for the competition was ‘Manjar de Reyes’, which means ‘Food of Kings’, giving a nod to the city’s royal history. Since then, swarms of foodies and tourist fill the city every holiday weekend to try the delicacies the city is known for.
Leon is one of the few cities in Spain where
tapas are free. You can go out for drinks with friends and end up having dinner for free without even realizing. Bars are pretty competitive about offering the best tapas because they know that if tapas are bad or they don't offer them, people won't go there.
The best areas to find tapas bars are
Barrio Humedo and
El Cid. These two quarters are
full of bars and restaurants and are packed on weekends. Traditionally, Barrio Humedo (which literally means "Wet Quarter", referring to the amount of drinks served in this area) has been the most popular one but in recent years El Cid or Barrio Romantico has stepped up the game and become pretty popular too. By night these narrow streets are full of people, it's
the most bustling area in town.
WHERE TO EAT IN LEON: THE BEST RESTAURANTS
BY VAMUCA
This restaurant and hotel group runs some of my favorite eateries in Leon: LAV, Casa Mando and NiMu Azotea. They have just opened a new one:
Marcela Brasa y Vinos which I can't wait to try.
CASA MANDO
A traditional restaurant with a modern twist. I love the impeccably designed space, the delicious food and professional staff. They use seasonal products, the best meat and legumes in the region of Leon and fresh fish from Galicia and Asturias. Book as soon as possible because it's always full. I had been trying to celebrate my birthday there for three years with no luck until this one when we booked one month in advance.
Address: Calle General Lafuente
Phone: +34 987 798 188
LAV
In my opinion this is the coolest and most modern restaurant in Leon. The name is an acronym for
Laboratorio Alfonso V, and if you pronounce it in Spanish it sounds like "lab", short for laboratory. The tasting menu costs €35 and includes six different courses.
Read all about this unique dining experience here.
Address: Avenida del Padre Isla 1, Leon
Phone: +34 987 79 81 90
NiMu AZOTEA
NiMu is a very popular rooftop restaurant with excellent city views. It's the type of food and ambiance we always look for in a restaurant. We loved every single dish we tried but the most spectacular thing were the desserts, the assorted ice-cream is adorable, isn't it? Their signature dessert is called "the fish bowl". It is literally a fish bowl with an amazing mixture of flavors: nuts, chocolate, lemon...one of the most delicious and original desserts I've ever had.
Address: Calle General Lafuente s/n, Leon
Phone: +34 987 79 81 92
CAMAROTE HOTEL
Hotel, restaurant, tapas bar and rooftop all in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Their specialty is fresh fish and seafood. My favorite part of this place is the rooftop, it's very close to the cathedral and offers unbeatable views to this stunning monument and other parts of the city.
Address: Calle Damaso Merino, 1.
Phone: +34 987 79 82 34
EL PATIO
Located in El Cid quartier, El Patio -Spanish for "courtyard"- is a a cozy little restaurant where the dining area is a library. Food and books, two of my favorite things. There's also a cute outdoor eating area which gives the name to this place.
More pics and info here.
Address: Plaza Torres de Omana 2, Leon
Phone: +34 987 03 33 55
LA MARY RESTAURANT
Combines traditional Spanish food with modern touches. The daily lunch menu here is great value. As a decor enthusiast, I love the white walls, great light and china that decorate the restaurant.
Address: Plaza Don Gutierre 5, Leon
Phone: +34 987 04 34 47
EL PARADOR DE SAN MARCOS
You already know about my love for Paradores hotels. They are our home away from home. There are only two five-star Paradores in Spain and one of them is the one in Leon. Unfortunately, The place is currently closed for renovations, but I still recommend you add it to your list. I can't wait to go there as soon as they open again.
Read all about Paradores here.
WHERE TO EAT IN LEON: THE BEST TAPAS BARS
Because tapas are free, tapas bars are even more popular than restaurants in Leon. They are concentrated in three main areas: Plaza San Martin and Plaza Mayor -both part of Barrio Humedo- and just a few steps away El Cid.
Order your drink and you will get the most delicious tapas with it. To give you an idea, these are some of the most popular ones: Spanish potato omelette,
croquetas, fried egg with
chorizo or
morcilla and little sandwiches. It may not be the healthiest choice but it sure is comfort food.
For croquetas,
El Rebote is the most famous bar. Go to
Ezequiel for the best cold meat: ham,
chorizo, cecina, etc. For chips -not your average ones, these are thicker and tastier-
El Flechazo is your best choice. If you like
jamon,
Four Lions Brewery serves a full plate as a tapa.
Morcilla, a.k.a. blood sausage is very typical from Leon and
La Bicha is very popular for their morcilla tapas. Finally,
La Compatencia serves Leon's most famous pizzas and they serve a slice with your drink.
WHERE TO EAT IN LEON: MAP
To take this map with you, simply click on the star next to the title and it will be saved to your maps.
WEAR THIS HERE
Liked this post? Pin and share it!
