Eating in Villafranca del Bierzo

Eating in Villafranca del Bierzo

Villafranca del Bierzo, in the Leon province, is a stop along the Way to Santiago route. Here you will find the Church of Apostle Santiago where travelers could earn their indulgence (exemption from the penalties of temporary sin). A visit here is worth it, especially if you stop to eat in Villafranca del Bierzo, where the delicious cuisine from the El Bierzo region will surprise you.

The high quality of Leon products and flavors to eat in Villafranca del Bierzo is due to its land and rivers that run through El Bierzo. The region enjoys a suitable climate for the slow curation of Leon sausages and game meat, which are very popular throughout the province.

Vegetables like the Roasted El Bierzo Peppers and meat products like the Botillo (meat stuffed with pieces of roasted pork – ribs and tail- and cooked after having I.G.P.), are some of the main dishes in the region, as well as breakfast since the consumption of jams and tomato or pepper preserves is widespread.

alubias villafranca bierzo
botillo villafranca bierzo
caldo villafranca bierzo

Regarding fish, the main product is the trout which, unlike in other areas, in Villafranca is cooked without bacon or ham and served fried or pickled. The cacheladas with sausage are also typical- due to the influence of the nearby Galician community- and the white beans from La Bañeza, stewed with bacon and sausage.

While all these dishes are exquisite, if you ask us what to eat in Villafranca del Bierzo we will tell you not to miss the empanada villafranquina which, unlike Galician empanadas, uses bread for dough and is filled with bacon and fresh sausage.

To accompany these dishes, you can enjoy the famous Bierzo or Tierra de Leon wines, both with certificate of origin. To finish your meal, you can choose some cheese or a manzana reineta, with D.O.P., appreciated for its intense flavor.

Eating tapas in Villafranca del Bierzo is a wise choice. The majority are located around Town Hall and Plaza Mayor, which is full of terraces. In this area we recommend El Casino, perfect for a few beers and delicious tapas like scrambled mushrooms, scrambled eggs with sausage and Russian salad.

Nearby, you can also find the restaurant Sevilla where you can eat octopus tapas. Finally, we recommend the bar La Alameda to order some delicious mollejas.

There are many bars and restaurants to eat at in Villafranca del Bierzo, which is stop 24 along the French Way to Santiago and a popular stop for many travelers.

La Puerta del Perdón offers main dishes like truffled cod, oxtail, and cod carpaccio.

La Pedrera is a restaurant where they pursue a unique cuisine without forgetting tradition.

In the restaurant Mencía in the Parador de Villafranca they serve traditional cuisine and have a menu for groups. Pay attention to the seasonal closings.

The Utreia hostel has a Vinoteca where you can taste the best wines made in the Villafranca del Bierzo wineries.


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