Cañadío

Right in the centre of Santander, you'll find Cañadío, one of Santander’s most renowned restaurants, which specializes in Cantabrian cuisine. There is also an array of mouth-watering tapas and pinchos at the bar.

• Web:

  www.restaurantecanadio.com

• Address:

  Calle Gómez Oreña 15, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 31 41 49

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat noon–1am, Sun closed

Casa Lita

Casa Lita is a popular tapas bar offering a huge array of northern Spanish pincho appetizers –approximately three hundred different types–made daily and with the best quality produce. Plus, a selection of cheeses, Iberian sausages, tuna from the north, and some artisan anchovies from Santoña to be enjoyed in a lively atmosphere, with a bayside terrace.

• Web:

  www.casalita.es

• Address:

  Paseo de Pereda 37, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 36 48 30

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Sun noon–midnight, Mon closed

Casa Mariano

Casa Mariano is an off-the-beaten path, hugely popular with locals, homely restaurant serving traditional dishes such as stews, sausages, and so on. It is especially known for its good-value fixed daily lunch menu, which includes two courses and a glass of wine.

• Address:

  Calle de Vargas 23, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 23 00 24

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Sun 10am–midnight, Mon closed

El Serbal

El Serbal is an elegant restaurant overlooking the beach offering northern Spanish food with a modern touch. Dishes are prepared with market-fresh ingredients to satisfy the most discerning of palates. Try the tasting menu with wine pairing.

• Web:

  www.elserbal.com

• E-mail:

  elserbal@elserbal.com

• Address:

  Avenida Manuel García Lago 1E, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 22 25 15

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Sat 1:30pm–3:30pm / 8:30pm–11pm; Sun 1:30pm–3:30pm

Frida Street Food

Frida Street Food serves creative Tex-Mex cuisine, gourmet burgers, and cocktails in a very casual setting and at very decent prices.

• Address:

  Calle Santa Lucía 5, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 634 41 73 90

La Bombi

La Bombi is a long-standing, upscale restaurant serving seafood dishes and regional Spanish classics in a stylish setting. Reservations are highly recommended.

• Web:

  www.labombi.com

• Address:

  Calle Casimiro Sainz 15, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 21 30 28

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 1:30pm–4pm / 9pm–11:30pm; Sun 1:30pm–4pm

Bar Canela

One of the little bars in the oh-so-popular-by-night Plaza de Cañadío, Canela is one of the best spots to grab a drink and take your place by one of the tall standing tables in the square. If the pub proves too crowded, there is no need to look too far for a watering hole.

• Address:

  Plaza Cañadío 5, Santander

• Opening hours:

  Daily 6:30pm–4am

Bar Caribe

A local bar scene classic, Caribe is a great spot for a very low-key evening drink. Its location in el Sardinero just behind the Casino is hard to miss. Choose from the multiple varieties of gin on display behind the bar, or order one of the many "copas" with snacks to go along.

• Address:

  Calle Joaquin Costa 47, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 78 54 11

• Opening hours:

  Daily 12:30pm–midnight

Discoteca Amarras

The Amarras disco is popular with the local 40-and-above crowd. Nights here are filled with Latin beats and couples livening up the dance floor with salsa, rumba, and cha-cha moves. Events such as dance shows and live music performances are often hosted.

• Address:

  Calle Joaquín Costa 28, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 667 43 85 72

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Thu 8:30pm–1:30am, Fri 8:30pm–4:30am, Sat 11:30pm–5am, Sun 7pm–midnight

Gran Casino del Sardinero

If trying your luck at roulette or one of the card games sounds more like your kind of fun, do check out Cantabria's finest casino located right across from the city beach. The elegant venue offers not only endless gambling but also excellent dining at the in-house restaurant.

• Web:

  www.grancasinosardinero.es

• E-mail:

  info.sardinero@grupocomar.com

• Address:

  Plaza de Italia, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 27 60 54

• Opening hours:

  Daily 2pm–4am

La Barruca de Calderón

Bar and grill known for its juicy burgers offered at very reasonable prices. La Barruca de Calderón is, perhaps, more of an eatery than a watering hole, but it is certainly fit for a pleasant evening drink.

• Web:

  www.labarruca.com

• E-mail:

  info@labarruca.com

• Address:

  Calle Calderón de la Barca 10, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 07 85 85

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Thu 7am–11pm, Fri 7am–midnight, Sat 9am–midnight

La Rana Verde

This is not a place to go for a formal meal, but a lively joint that is popular with a young clientele grabbing a bite before embarking on a long night out. La Rana Verde is famous for its patatas bravas, but also serves hamburgers and sandwiches. Located in the Cañadío bar district.

• Address:

  Calle Daoiz y Velarde 30, Santander,

• Phone:

  +34 942 22 24 02

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Fri 6pm–11:30pm; Sat & Sun 1pm–1:30pm / 6pm–11:30pm

Café Suizo

Located directly on the city's main promenade, Café Suizo is a local institution and longstanding cafe with a view. It offers outdoor seating and serves great value breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and very decent coffee.

• Address:

  Paseo de Pereda 28, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 21 58 64

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Fri 7am–1am, Sat & Sun 9am–1am

Chocolatería Valor

To enjoy a quintessential Spanish dessert, try the very popular waterside Chocolatería Valor. The menu features, of course, freshly-made churros (long, deep-fried sticks of special dough) with hot chocolate to serve as a dip. The menu also features other desserts, such as pancakes and tea cakes.

• Web:

  www.valor.es/en/valor-chocolate-shops

• E-mail:

  chocolaterias@valor.es

• Address:

  Calle Castelar 27, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 94 65 80

• Opening hours:

  Daily 8:30am–9:30pm

Gallofa&Co

Gallofa&Co is a wildly popular local bakery offering an overwhelming array of tasty bread, pastries, and cakes.

• Web:

  www.gallofa.com

• E-mail:

  info@lagallofa.com

• Address:

  Calle Hernán Cortés 7, Santander

Heladeria Via Mazzini 43

Popular ice cream shop in central Santander offering artisanal ice creams and mouthwatering crepes.

• Address:

  Calle Castelar 9, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 94 17 15

Mercado del Este

This market isn't known for its shops as much as its selection of pleasant cafes ideal for a short break or a people-watching session. Sit down and enjoy authentic tapas with a nice glass of wine — get a bottle from one of the wine shops to bring back with you if you wish.

• Address:

  Calle Hernán Cortés 4, Santander

• Opening hours:

  Daily 8am–11:30pm

Siboney

This cafe/restaurant in Puerto Chico is a good choice for lunch or dinner. With its outdoor seating and a great array of delicious foods —pizza, patatas bravas, meat and chicken skewers —Siboney is a great pick for those looking for sit-down dining in the area.

• Address:

  Calle Castelar 7, Santander

• Phone:

  +34 942 22 14 83

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Thu & Sun 8:30am–midnight; Fri & Sat 8:30am–2am