If you arrive in Salamanca by train the Bus 1 takes you to the Plaza Mayor, the heart of the city, from the Coach Station Bus 4 also takes you to the Plaza Mayor. There is a great local bus service in the city if you want to go the the new part for shopping or to try the fantastic tapas bars in Calle Van Dyck.
Hotel Torre Del Clavero, C/Consuelo 21, is a boutique hotel just five minutes from the Plaza Mayor. The rooms are small but well appointed, the only downside is that Salamanca is a very studenty city and they go out at nights till 6 or 7 in the morning and the route home for most of them is past the hotel – take earplugs and you will be fine.
For a city that is a World Heritage Site and full of tourists from all over you might think that it would be expensive however most places in the old part do a small beer and a tapas for 1.80 Euros (2 Euros if you have a wine). There are time you just want a refreshment without the food !
There are loads of bars in the old part some of which I will list below but if you are staying in that part, take a Bus 3 to Calle Van Dyck in the new part, this is a street full of great tapas and full of locals, the visitors don’t seem to make it that far.
Barbacoa La Encina, C/Van Dyck 9, this looks nothing, is packed, but elbow your way in grab the menu and order one of the dishes with Patatas Pandera, this is Salamanca fast food at its best.
Degustacion, C/Van Dyck 8, chalk and cheese from the one above, choose a couple of the tapas cooked to order and prepare for works of art, The food and the wine is fantastic.
Bar Acedos, C/Van Dyck 19, this is probably between the two above. Local good tapas.
El Churascco, is at the far end on a corner and close to 55/57, they do amazing ribs and other grilled meats, again looks nothing but give it a bash.
Bar Chico, in the middle again on a corner, does not do tapas only raciones, it is a Galician place doing amazing fish and seafood, and you can stand at the bar and watch them cook.
El Café De Chinitas, C/Van Dyck 18, popular place but quality perhaps not the best in the street.
Back in the old part
Meson La Dehesa, C/Prior 11, specialises in cold meats and cheeses
Bambu, C/Pior 4, go down the stairs into a modern bar, packed out with people taking advantage of the incredible range of one tapas and a small beer for 1.80 Euro, hot, cold, grilled, you name it they have it.
Mater Asturias, C/Conjeo 3, Asturian Cider bar, cheap if you stick to the cider and tapas offer
Plaza 23, Plaza Mayor, smart modern place, one of many round the square tapas looked good but quite pricey
Café Novelty, Plaza Mayor, old fashioned bar and café, reasonable if you want to drink in the square
Café Bery, Plaza Mayor, have a drink in the square at least once and this place is very reasonably priced
Montero, Plaza de Corrillio 12, this looks old fashioned but inside very modern with really unusual tapas to order.
Doze, Plaza Isla de la Rua, very smart modern bar with great terrace, unusual food, cocktails and very popular late at night
Momo, C/San Pablo 13-15, this is a very smart modern bar and restaurant, doing good pinxtos, the staff are very attentive
Café de Colon, C/San Pablo, incredibly popular locals bar with a speciality of puff pastry cases with anchovies and red peppers
Delicatessen, C/Melendez, this is a modern smart bar and restaurant, that later becomes a late night trendy haunt but go earlier try the tapas or other dishes
Casa Paca, Plaza del Peso 10, try the bar and enjoy the a tapas and small beer for 1.80 Euros, some of the dishes on offer include small casseroles of meat and potatoes, it can be very busy (see below for comments on the restaurant)
Meson La Conchas, Rua Mayor, looks very toursity but again huge selection of small tapas to have with your small beer or wine for 1.80 Euros
Meson El Candil, C/Ruiz Aguilera 14-16, old fashioned bar and restaurant, they have a great selection of small casseroles to have with your beer or wine again for 1.80 Euros
Vinodiario, Plaza de los Basilios 1, just on the other side of the Gran Via, away from the crowds, this is a locals wine bar doing excellent food – not the place for a quick snack - more a leisurely relaxing place
La Audiencia, C/Calderos, just round from the Torre del Clavero a modern bar with a good range of tapas again away from the tourist hordes
El Patio Chico, C/Melendez 13 & Plaza de los Bandos, the two branches do an excellent menu del dia, with a huge choice, both have terraces where there is a surcharge but worth the additional cost
Casa Paca, Plaza del Peso 10, apparently where the King eats when he is in town, a Salamanca institution book and go for lunch to sample the fantastic roast suckling pig, or roast kid, the wine list is the size of a paperback, it’s worth every euro.
Salamanca has loads of late night haunts for the huge student population, more difficult to find a bar for the older person however
El Café Alcaravan, C/Compania 12, is an exception, very popular, good staff, and enormous drinks, it stays open very late
There is just so much to see as befits a city that is a world heritage site, the Plaza Mayor (the finest in Spain, the Cathedral (look for the Spaceman on the facade), the University main building (look for the Frog), the Casa de la Conchas, the Roman Bridge and all the other fabulous buildings.
Last Updated September 2009
