Restaurants in Salamanca

Although Salamancan cuisine is similar to Segovia and Avila, the university city does have a few distinctive specialties: the thinly sliced dry mountain ham from Guijuelo; a spicy, crumbly sausage called farinato that is more bread crumbs than meat; and a pastry stuffed with cheese, sausage, and ham, called hornazo. Students traditionally feasted on these meat pies during Easter week to celebrate the return of prostitutes to the city after Lent, but the dish is now available year-round and is no longer consumed only by young men with raging hormones.

Tourist restaurants along Rúa Mayor offer acceptable if uninspired meals at slightly inflated prices, and the restaurants lining Plaza Mayor attract tourists and locals alike. On hot summer nights, you’ll find as many people eating ice cream as dining on Plaza Mayor. If you want a cone, join the line outside Café Novelty (Plaza Mayor, 2; tel. 92-321-49-56; daily 8am–midnight); even in colder months, an artsy crowd convenes in its Art Nouveau interior. Local specialty cold drinks can also be refreshing; we like the plaza tables of Cafetería Las Torres (Plaza Mayor, 26; 📞 92-321-44-70; daily 8am–midnight) for sipping leche helada (a smooth concoction with hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus rimmed with whipped cream) or blanco y negro (vanilla ice cream melting in a double shot of espresso).

To join Salamantinos in a more tranquil setting, walk up to Paseo Carmelitas between calle La Fuente and Puerta de Zamora. The leafy green park that lines the street is full of terraces that are popular for afternoon snacks.