Restaurants in Santander

The decor of this restaurant in an ancient wine cellar could not be more fitting. The walls are covered with the ends of wine barrels that have been signed and decorated by contemporary Spanish artists. The wines may be, as the name suggests, mostly from La Rioja, but the cuisine is…

This accomplished bar-restaurant has been around since 1981, but its owners have kept pace with the Spanish gastronomic revolution. Witness the rockfish pudding that’s a homage to legendary chef Juan Marí Arzak. The chefs are equally beholden to the local fishing fleet. The menu has…

Right on the beach in El Sardinero, this elegant contemporary restaurant is a top spot to enjoy fine food paired with fine wines. The wine cellar features about 500 bottles from 15 different countries and the menu is short and sweet. Cod a pil pil is found all along the coast, but El…

Spaniards rate the seafood of Cantabria as somewhere this side of paradise, and La Gruta de José shows the local finfish and crustaceans at their best. A little hard to find from the main drag, the restaurant is in a hollow (hence the name “grotto”) near the harbor in the traditional…