Eating out in Ronda and surrounding villages
There are some great places to eat in the Serrania de Ronda, and below is a list of our favourites. We are not paid for those listed, and give just an honest opinion.
More formal meals:
Tragabuches , Calle Jose Aparicio 1, Ronda
Tel 952 19 02 91
Having been Michelin starred a few years ago, Tragabuches has lost this accolade with changing chefs over recent years. However it remains the most innovative of places in the Ronda area for gourmets with deepish pockets and an interest in experimental cuisine. They offer two desgustación (tasting) menus with a wide variety of small mouthfuls to savour always reflecting what is best in the local markets, as well as a more traditional a la carte menu. Interesting decor and huge attention to detail but perhaps not the place to go after a heavy day’s walking when you’re really hungry.
Price: Desgustación menus at 75 and 85 euros per person , a la carte about 65 euros. Drinks not included.
Open: Every day except Sunday evenings and Mondays.
Parador Ronda Restaurant : Plaza de España. Ronda
Tel 952 87 75 00
For value for money and quality of preparation and interest, this is a real favourite. The atmosphere is a little « hotel » formal but there are great views from the huge windows and the food is always interesting. Excellent, and often very reasonably priced, wines complement a variety of dining options including tasting menus, as well as tapas and lunchtime specials. We especially recommend the partridge paté, the venison, bull´s tail and pargo, a fish from the Atlantic fishing town of Conil as well as the olive oil ice-cream..
Price: Desgustación menu 40euros, Lunch menu 22euros, Parador menu 29 euros, a la carte approximately 40 euros. Drinks not included.
Open: Every Day from 13.30 to 16.00 and 20.30 to 23.00.
Restaurante Pedro Romero,Virgen de la Paz 18, Ronda
Tel 952 87 11 10
Run by the Mayo family and honed by many years of experience, Pedro Romero has a special atmosphere based around the bullring opposite and the many famous aficionados who have graced its tables. The decor is fascinating and the food based on good quality local products prepared mostly in traditional ways. Especially recommended is the first course of fried goats´cheese with apple compote and, to follow, classic dishes such as bull’s tail, partridge with haricot beans and a rabbit casserole.
Price: 30-40 euros per person (without wine).
Open: Every day except Christmas and New Year´s Eves.
Tapas Bars:
Bodega la Esquina, Calle Los Remedios 24, Ronda
Sherry barrels and quails’ eggs. That will do nicely.
El Porton , Pasaje Pedro Romero, Ronda
Good variety of tapas from a tiny kitchen. Excellent ham cut before your eyes.
Tragatapas, Calle Nueva, Ronda
Same management as Tragabuches restauarant but with an unusual variety of treats to try at reasonable prices. Closed Sunday lunchtimes and Mondays.
Bodega Socorro, Calle Molino, Ronda
When asking local restaurant owners above for their favourite tapas bar, this was the winner. Just off the tourist trail and it shows.
Ventas:
Ventas are larger establishments in the countryside or outlying villages offering simpler fayre but very good value for money especially if you have hungry folks along with you. Not likely to speak much English.
El Muelle .... estación de Benaoján.
Another old railway depot put to good use. Good meat cooked in wood oven. Gina is a very friendly hostess.
Venta Cueva del Gato, Carretera Ronda to Benaoján.
Franci and his family provide good honest dishes in a friendly environment. Rabbit casseroles including all of the bits are a speciality.
Venta La Polvorilla. Llano de la Cruz
Small from the outside but capable of seating well over 200 in the main room. Steady weekday trade but unbelievably busy at the weekends. Try to work out what has been home made for the best treats.
Venta la Venta Carretera Ronda to El Burgo Km 5
Roadside smaller version of most ventas but with good honest local dishes.
Less formal meals:
Hotel Molino del Santo, Bda Estación s/n, Benaoján.
Tel 952 16 71 51.
The pioneer of rural tourism in the serrania, and still the benchmark against which places are judged, this very busy hotel has outstanding riverside terraces for dining when the weather allows. Although British owned, the menú is very Spanish and is hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. Specialities include locally-raised roast kid, excellent beef, lamb and pork and fish such as sea bream, squid and tuna as well as vegetarian options. Menus change with the seasons and desserts are all home made and interesting. Service is especially friendly. Great walks, some using the local train, are possible nearby to build up your appetite.
Price: 30-40 euros per person (without wine)
Open: Every day during season , February to December.
Hotel Alavera de los Baños, c/San Miguel s/n, Ronda
Tel 952 87 91 43
On the edge of Ronda is a well-established small hotel offering a restaurant menu prepared with lots of care. There is an interesting variety of salads and some excellent tajines, as well as more Andalucian dishes. Eating on the candle-lit terraces from May to September is a delight.
A selection of tapas is available at lunchtimes.
Price: 25-35euros per person (without wine).
Open: Every day except Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Casa Maria: Plaza San Francisco, Ronda
Tel 952 87 62 12
Nothing to look at from the outside, Casa Maria has been offering excellent quality food in a compact restaurant for many years to local rondeños and a few visitors in the know. The menú changes with what is good but will always include excellent quality beef and fish, prepared relatively simply – all that is needed when the raw materials are carefully selected. A great choice of wines is available and it is well worth trusting Elias’s advice although as prices are not always made clear, ask if your budget is limited. Home made desserts and fresh salads are on offer and in the summer eating in the square as the staff weave between the traffic to serve you is a pleasant experience.
Price: 30 euros without drinks
Open: Every day except Wednesdays
Bar Moreno, Avenida Ricardo Navarrette 4, Ronda.
Tel: 952 87 58 88.
Juan has run this very successful bar with food near to the railway station for many years and it is always busy with locals offering very good value. Informal but buzzing, the bar produces great salads as well as fish and meats of high quality ; all is well prepared. There is a large cabinet where most of the wares are on display but take advice on what is good and trust the kitchen to do it justice. Can be noisy but always fun.
Price: 20-25 euros per head.
Open: Every day except Tuesday nights and Wednesdays.
Meson La Molienda Calle Moraleda 59, Benalauria.
Tel: 952 15 25 48
Established for many years in a great spot overlooking the chestnut trees of the Genal valley, La Molienda offers interesting local food at reasonable prices. One of the first houses in the village, with a pretty patio, here you will find four separate dining areas where you can sample traditional recipes based on local products. Hearty meat dishes predominate but there are also some delicious salads that grandmothers made and many vegetable offerings; chestnuts rightly feature highly on the dessert menu.
Price: 20-25 euros per head
Open: Every day except Monday.
Restaurante Quercus, Estación de Jimera de Libar
Tel: 952 18 00 41
Don't be put off by the knowledge that you will be eating in a railway siding’s storage depot: Quercus is a charming spot with friendly owners and an interesting menú that brings people back time after time. The menú changes with the seasons but includes imaginative salads and a range of starters based on local produce and main courses include rabbit casserole and grilled pork and steaks. Desserts are surprisingly varied with a touch of English influence from a previous member of staff.
Price: 25-30 euros without drinks.
Open: Friday and Saturday evenings and every lunchtime except Monday.
Pizzeria Nono Pepe, Just off Plaza de Socorro, Ronda.
Owned by an Italian and all bases made by hand. Excellent within the variable genre...