Vejer's Restaurants
Vejer de la Frontera, rightly known as a 'foodie paradise,' offers some of the best gastronomy in Andalusia. Whether you are in the mood for tapas or fine dining, the many cafes, bars and restaurants offer a wide range of delicious dishes, all made with local produce, using traditional recipes... with a touch of nouvelle cuisine.
Here are our top-ten restaurant recommendations. All are within a five to fifteen-minute stroll of your Vejer Casas holiday home.
Corredera 55. This chic village restaurant offers elegant, Andalusian-inspired gastronomy with a modern, international flair… and its vegetarian-friendly. Dine alfresco on the terrace facing impossible-to-match views, or inside, in the cosiest of dining rooms. Be sure to try the mushroom pot, croquetas of goat's cheese with harissa jam, or Oloroso marinated pork cheeks with apricots.
El Central. This is a restaurant and bar with modern decor and spectacular ambiance. Outside the tables sit on cobbled steps that are pure Vejer. Try the Tostas con Anchoas y Boquerones (toast wrapped in fresh anchovies), I promise it works. Or, if you are vegetarian, you must try the sensational Alcachofas a la Parrilla (grilled artichokes with garlic dressing on a bed of mash). You will not be disappointed.
La Judería de Vejer. A rustic-chic tapas bar/restaurant, with tables under the Arco de las Monjas, and stunning views (all the way to Morocco) from the upstairs balcony. Try local favourites such as Arroz Negro con Calamares y Alioli (squid ink rice with garlic mayonnaise) and Ventresca de Atún Quemada con Mayonesa (blackened tuna belly with soy mayonnaise).
Viña y Mar Sherry Bar-Restaurante. Vejer is sherry country, and with forty types of sherries offered by Viña y Mar’s menu, it’s a great way to become acquainted with the wonderful Finos, Amontillados, Olorosos and Manzanillas the area has to offer. The restaurant specialises in beautifully cooked and presented, locally sourced meat and fish dishes, which of course are perfectly accompanied by one of the many to choose from sherries.
FEZ. With its Moroccan/Lebanese street food menu, FEZ serves the best breakfast/brunch in town. The interior décor is bright and nostalgic, but we’d recommend you wait for a table on the street and soak up the Vejer buzz. Try the Beirut Breakfast; or for veggies, the FEZ Breakfast. Order extra Moroccan bread—you’ll regret it if you don’t.
El Quijote. The restaurant only reopened in 2021. With a clean, modern vibe, its balcony has great views across Vejer to the church of el Divino Salvador. El Qujote specialises in beautifully presented modern Spanish cuisine often accompanied by live flamenco music, and of course, a lovely glass of wine or two.
Il Macinino. A restaurant built in one of Vejer's original windmills, Il Macinino offers what some critics describe as the finest Italian cuisine in the province. Set in a restored windmill, and using the town's original ovens, il Macinino offers views stretching all the way to the sea. You'll feel instantly at home in this family run, cozy restaurant.
La Negra. Only a few minutes from your Casa Cooper holiday home, La Negra is a popular local eatery and bar. Lively and fun, the restaurant offers inexpensive, delicious local dishes, a lunchtime set menu or ‘plato del día’ for around €9 for three-course, breakfast until 11 am and coffees and drinks throughout the day. The food is fresh, perfectly cooked and offers clues as to why the Spanish go for a ‘siesta’ after lunch.
El Mercado San Francisco. A food market during the day, San Francisco transforms into a tapas hall at night and at the weekends. There’s no better way to spend a lazy Sunday than choosing from the wide selection of food (from local delicacies to sushi), grabbing a glass of wine or local beer and heading out into the sun and the buzz of the patio to find a seat at one of the communal tables where we have always been made to feel very welcome.
Bar Peneque. This is one of Vejer’s oldest bars sitting next to a Moorish Tower on the edge of the Plaza de España. Here you will get some exceptional traditional tapas and small plates which ensures Peneque remains steady in our top-ten favourites list. Sadly, being quite traditional, there is little choice for veggies except for their spinach croquettes. The carnivores, however, are in for a treat. The Carillada Ibérica (slow-cooked pork cheeks with gravy-soaked chips) is the finest we know of. Order the large portion… It’s more than a little moreish.
A friend enjoying Corredera 55's atún rojo y langostinos con algas de Cádiz, soja, jengibre y lima servido con helado de wasabi. It's good.