Santander
Gran Hotel Sardinero
Santander is the capital city of the Cantabria region on Spain’s north coast. The Palacio de la Magdalena, once the royal summer residence, lies at the mouth of the Bay of Santander on the rocky La Magdalena Peninsula. West, the city center is home to the Catedral de Santander, with its octagonal cupola and Gothic cloister. Nearby, the Paseo de Pereda promenade runs along one side of the Jardines de Pereda gardens. Here is our guide to Santander, Spain.
STAY
GRAN HOTEL SARDINERO Opposite Sardinero Beach along the Bay of Biscay, this grand, upscale hotel has an elegant restaurant and a chic cafe/bar. Plaza de Italia, 1; hotelsardinero.es
EUROSTARS HOTEL REAL This upscale 1917 hotel on a hill overlooking Santander Bay has an elegant, airy restaurant, and a cozy bar in a former library. Av. Pérez Galdós, 28; eurostarshotels.com
DINE | DRINK
BODEGA DEL RIOJANA Classic eatery with exposed beams and painted beer barrels preparing creative local dishes and desserts. Order the famous Rioja-style braised snails and Basque cheesecake for dessert! C. Río de la Pila, 5; bodegadelriojano.com
CAÑADIO A stylish restaurant with a busy pintxo bar perfect for ordering Spanish omelettes, Cantabrian anchovies, and Basque cheesecake. C. Gómez Oreña, 15; restaurantecanadio.com
CAFÉ DE POMBO An old school cafe and bakery. C. Hernán Cortés, 21
PANISTAS You will smell the bread before seeing this bright bakery making pastries by hand in the window. Try the typical sobaos and quesadas C. Hernán Cortés, 42; panistas.es
EL SERBAL Upscale tasting menus & wine pairings in a stylish, understated Michelin-starred venue overlooking the beach. Av. Manuel García Lago, 1E; elserbal.com
GALLOFA An authentic, artisanal chain of bakeries. gallofa.com
LITTLE BOBBY Dimly-lit 1920's hideaway with dark wood tones serving an array of craft cocktails, beer & wine. C. del Sol, 20; littlebobby.es
LA VENTANA Quaint setting for seasonal cooking with wines amid brick-lined walls with an outdoor terrace. C. el Somo, 114; restaurantelaventana.com
CADELO RESTAURANTE A restaurant on two floors with a striking façade and a contemporary yet informal decor, the name of which pays homage to a local poet who was renowned in Santander for selling his verses for just five pesetas! Here, you’ll find a concise, modern and fusion-inspired menu which is designed for sharing and supplemented by specials announced at your table. Save room for the unforgettable cheesecake! Calle Sta. Lucía, 33
AGUA SALADA A modest, friendly and authentic restaurant with no luxurious frills but plenty of charm. Its simple façade on the street corner conceals a welcoming dining room decorated in French bistro style and dominated by shades of green and white, with an old open-view bar, bare marble tables and other intimate and attractive details, such as the bright candles which add a romantic touch. San Simón 2; restaurante.covermanager.com/restaurante-agua-salada
UMMA A restaurant on two levels which we like both for its cuisine and for its informal, New York-style decor, featuring high ceilings adorned with surprising reproductions of cave paintings, and bright brick walls. Here, young owner-chef Miguel Ángel Rodríguez focuses on modern cuisine with a contemporary touch, which he makes accessible to all through delicious and harmonious creations that look to the future while still taking inspiration from the traditions of the past. Sol 47
DARÍA Located in the heart of the city’s Puertochico district, Daría (named after the grandmother of owner-chef Nacho del Corral) shows the utmost respect for top-quality ingredients, offering guests what it calls “cocina de sabor”, extolling the full virtues of culinary flavours. Bonifaz 19; daria.es
LA BOMBI The history of La Bombi, a classic address in Santander hospitality, is indelibly linked to the Puertochico district and the modest fisherman’s “taberna” (called La Bombilla, hence the current name) that opened its doors there in 1935. Casimiro Sáinz 15; labombi.com
LA MULATA One of the classic addresses in the Puertochico district of the city, La Mulata owes its name to a species of black crab that lives in the rocks dotted around its docks and jetties. Make sure you try the superb pan-cooked clams and also enquire about the fresh fish of the day. Andrés del Río 7; Restaurantemulata.es
ASADOR LECHAZO ARANDA This restaurant boasts an attractive Castilian decor and a menu featuring traditional cuisine, including the occasional seafood dish, top-quality meat and delicious roasts cooked in a wood-fired oven. Roast lamb is the house speciality. Tetuán 15
LA HERMOSA DE ALBA A restaurant with a fun, modern feel that is enjoying considerable success in the city. The menu here is contemporary in style with elements of fusion cooking and dishes designed for sharing. Tetuán 34
CASONA DEL JUDIO It’s not every day that you get the chance to enjoy a Michelin-starred experience in an authentic 19th-century colonial-style property. Here, chef Sergio Bastard impresses guests by shining the spotlight on local ingredients as well as algae and herbs from the Cantabrian coast. He offers two tasting menus (Festival and Chef’s Table) on which guests can savour dishes influenced by the sea, with a fusion of textures and a constant focus on pinpoint presentation (we especially enjoyed the starters, such as the Verdina beans with red prawns, and the brine-cured squid with a black garlic macaroon). Repuente 20; casonadeljudio.com
VERMUTERÍA SOLÓRZANO Vermutería Solórzano, the pioneer of its street since 1941, has evolved from serving simple seafood to offering a delightful array of creative pinxtos. C. Peña Herbosa, 17; barsolorzano.com
CASA LITA A huge array of northern Spanish pincho appetizers at a buzzing bar with a bayside terrace. P.º de Pereda, 37; casalita.es
TABERNA EL MACHI Cantabrian fish specials & seafood paella at a rustic, whitewashed tavern with a street terrace. C. Calderón de la Barca, 9; elmachi.es
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
CENTRO BOTIN A striking museum designed by Renzo Piano with rotating art exhibitions and cultural activities. Plaza Emilio Botín, P.º de Pereda, s/n; centrobotin.org
PALACIO DE LA MAGDALENA The Palacio de la Magdalena is a palace in Santander, Spain. Its construction was financed by popular subscription and given to the Spanish royal family for use as a summer residence. It was built by architects Javier González Riancho and Gonzalo Bringas Vega between 1909 and 1911. Av. de la Magdalena, 1; palaciomagdalena.com
CATEDRAL DE SANTANDER Santander Cathedral’s structure is mainly Gothic, although it has been extended and renovated in later times. Plaza Obispo José Eguino y Trecu, 1; catedraldesantander.es
PLAYA DEL SARDINERO El Sardinero's 1.5km-long strand of gorgeous golden sand faces the open sea, north of the Península de la Magdalena. Don’t miss the Los Raqueros sculptures.
MERCADO DE LA ESPERANZA The bustling Esperanza market is a lively slice of Cantabrian life. Shoppers throng two floors of stalls laden with seafood, meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and more. Pl. de la Esperanza, s/n