10+1 Bars and Restaurants to Eat in Zamora

It's clear that one of the main attractions for visiting Zamora is its cuisine. Because yes, it may be the city of Romanesque architecture, but here you'll also find incredible food! In this post, we're going to recommend 10 bars and restaurants where you can eat in Zamora, with a special focus on its tapas (oh, how hungry I am!).

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Let's start with the bars where you can enjoy the best tapas in Zamora. But first, you should know that there are two areas where locals have been going for tapas since time immemorial: Calle de los Herreros, very close to Plaza Mayor in the heart of the historic center, and the Los Lobos area, on the popular Calle Santa Clara. Here are the bars and tapas you must try:

A place with a great atmosphere and simple food, where you'll probably feel like you're in the bar downstairs from your house. Don't leave without trying the grilled cachuelas (chicken gizzards), rooster combs, morcilla montaditos, chicken wings, and what they call 'bocadillos,' which are like sandwiches. If you really manage to try everything in one sitting, you are a champion!

What can I say? I can't resist a tapa of Zamora-style chorizo grilled to perfection. They specialize in them here, but they also have other tasty tapas.

It's one of the iconic bars in Zamora, and you can't leave the city without trying their pinchos morunos. It's not the original bar (the legendary one is nearby), but without a doubt this is the king of pinchos, as they like to call themselves.

They cook their pork pinchos in the traditional way: grilled, and you can choose between spicy and non-spicy ones. We recommend trying both and picking your favorite; we personally prefer the spicy one (don't worry, it won't set your tongue on fire).

Another stop that is a must on a tapas route in Zamora is El Caballero, a bar that doesn't particularly stand out but prepares the best patatas bravas in the city. Order the mixed ones, with a slightly spicy salsa brava and one with a mild aioli.

The last time I came here I was not hungry, I swear that the last thing I wanted was to eat potatoes, yet there was not a scrap left on the plate.

If you come here, it's only for one reason: Zamora-style callos (tripe). It's a traditional bar, small and run by super friendly servers (just like all Zamorans). They serve callos in clay pots that you'll probably not have to wash afterwards, because I assure you that you'll leave it spotless .

Just a few meters away, we have another iconic bar in Zamora. At Bambú, they specialize in tiberios, which are mussels in spicy sauce, mixed potatoes, and perdices, one of the most authentic tapas in Zamora, actually sardines seasoned and fried. A delicious bite.

Here, the star is the tortilla, served in a curious way: with tripe sauce. Sounds strange? It is indeed, but we assure you that you'll lick your lips.

There are approximately a million more tapas bars in Zamora, so it's a matter of trying them out. But if you want to eat a bit more seriously, we recommend these restaurants where you can dine properly with tablecloths and everything:

Their tapas are true delights; in fact, that's what they call them, and they are more creative dishes that combine traditional and modern cuisine. For those who want to give tapas in Zamora a new twist, this is the right choice. The prices are reasonable (1.5-3€).

The cod toast, the mini beef burger with foie, and the 'oreo' made with cod are delicious. You can stay in the bar area or move to the restaurant, which has a menu with heartier (and pricier) dishes (the tasting menu costs 45€).

In Zamora, there's life beyond tapas - and what a life! One of the typical dishes from the Castile and León region is lechazo, and this traditional roast house prepares it masterfully, in a wood-fired oven, juicy and tender.

They also serve cocido, pulpo a la zamorana, morcilla, bacalao a la castellana, and grilled dishes (among other things). Great quality and honest prices.

Another safe bet if you want to enjoy tasty dishes with traditional and modern twists. They have an interesting daily menu (13.5€) that includes a first course (the Sanabria stewed habones are recommended), a second (the stewed pork cheeks with mushrooms in wine and the tuna burger with mango and brie are good), and dessert (brownie all the way).

They also offer Italian dishes like artisanal pizzas, fresh/stuffed pasta, and a wide selection of burgers. In short, it satisfies everyone!

And lastly, to top off a fantastic meal in Zamora, nothing beats an ice cream from La Valenciana. And we're not talking about just any place; this historic Zamora ice cream shop (established in 1960) is among the best in Spain, with unique flavors among their cream and fruit offerings like cream with Chinese walnuts and caramel or Philadelphia with strawberries. They also offer gluten-free options.

They have two locations: the classic one across from Marina Española park and the Valenciana Shock in Plaza de Sagasta.

Here is a map with the locations of these bars and restaurants that we recommend for eating well and affordably in Zamora:

That concludes our recommendations for bars and restaurants where you can eat well and cheaply in Zamora, with a very interesting tapas route. If you know of any must-visit places... we're all ears!