Santiago de Compostela · Spain
The Santiago de Compostela food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
A moist, flourless almond cake with lemon and cinnamon, dusted with sugar around the cross of Saint James.
Best at Pastelería Mercedes Mora, Rúa do Vilar. Get: A slice of tarta de Santiago with coffee, or a whole one to carry home
Five places, and what to order
- A Tafona do Peregrinofor tarta de Santiago · Rúa da CaldeireríaGet: Tarta de Santiago and the almendrados
- Casa das Tartasfor tarta de Santiago · Rúa de Santiago de ChileGet: Tarta de Santiago, made fresh
- Café Tertuliabreakfast · West of the Old TownGet: Breakfast toast and coffee
- Café Veneciabreakfast · EnsancheGet: Pastry and café con leche
- Café Iacobusbreakfast · Old TownGet: Tarta de Santiago and coffee
The market
Covered market. Galician shellfish, cheese, empanada
How it works here
Tip: Not expected. Leave the small change or round up, up to 5-10% for a great meal.
Book: Book sit-down dinners a few days out; pintxos and tapas bars are walk-in, so go bar to bar.
When locals eat: Lunch 2-4pm is the big meal; dinner starts at 9pm, 10 on weekends.