Posada Rural La Casa del Vaquero

Cartes is a small town of particular interest along the historic “camino real” that once connected the region of Castille with the port of Santander. Here, in this 17C mansion that once served as the post office, chef Enrique Pérez offers his guests updated traditional cuisine that is delicate and lovingly prepared, with a focus on presentation and flavours that will leave their mark on the palate. The welcoming, rustically inspired dining room is complemented by a few tables beneath a balcony at the entrance – a perfect setting for a drink as you watch the world go by in one of the country’s

Occupying former stables in this small village, Ticiano boasts an attractive, rustic dining room with a wood ceiling on the first floor, where the à la carte of traditional cooking stands out for its array of meat dishes.

This restaurant occupies a charming, regionally inspired property that is visible from the main road and features two dining rooms, one with a marked rustic feel, the other a glass-fronted terrace-cum-porch. Both the service and the à la carte perpetuate the traditional recipes of the Prada a Tope name, and have been given a new lease of life since the son of the owners took over the mantle here, gradually and skilfully modernising the dishes on offer. If you’re planning a weekend in the Cantabrian countryside, the property also offers a few welcoming apartments and guestrooms in the same buil

This small eatery, run by an attentive couple who delight guests with their friendly service, champions traditional cuisine that celebrates local produce, with excellent starters that reveal the bounty of the sea (scallops, sea urchins, and grilled octopus tentacles), wild fish from the fish market (usually large cuts) and two delicious rice dishes, one with lobster and the other with clams (the latter only available on prior request). Given its success and limited seating, we recommend booking in advance!

This longstanding family-run restaurant, located just in front of the local market, boasts a striking nautical decor that provides the backdrop for traditional cuisine that, in perfect harmony with the area’s maritime heritage, champions the highest-quality fish and seafood (priced by weight). This includes seafood stews (“mariscadas”) for sharing and excellent rice options. We can also highly recommend the fried squid (“rabas de calamar”), the legendary “arroz con bogavante” (rice with lobster), a dish for which the family were pioneers, and when it comes to dessert, the delicious cream mille

A restaurant that has definitely left his mark. Surrounded by green spaces, El Remedio stands out for its almost picture-postcard setting next to a 19C church and just a few metres from the cliff. The priority of chef Samuel Fernández is to offer his guests healthy, traditionally based cuisine that is centred around the freshest ingredients – for this reason, the menu is explained out loud to guests based on availability that day. One delightful and delicious dish that impressed us was the flan made with Villada morcilla (black pudding), Tiernin cheese from the Tresgallo cheese company, and pi

A family-run restaurant well situated along the main street running through this small town, where the focus is on sourcing the freshest possible ingredients from the local auction. Traditional à la carte featuring fish, seafood and a few savoury rice dishes. Pleasant terrace.