Las Cancelas Restaurant

Ávila is famous through Spain for its "chuletones", massive 2lbs. porterhouse steaks from locally-raised cows served grilled. Almost every bar and restaurant in Ávila boasts chuletones, but one of the best and most recommended by the locals is Las Cancelas, the restaurant of a small hotel occupying a historic palace.

For starters, we ordered "sopa castellana," a hearty, warming soup that's traditional in central Spain and is made with a savory broth, bread, and pork. It's simple comfort food, but it hits the spot on a cold day. Then we had the meat: the menu offers porterhouses, roast lamb (another Ávila specialty), roast suckling pig, and pork loin, but you have to get the steaks since you're in Ávila. They came out perfectly cooked, tender, smoky, and well-seasoned. I even had a hard time finishing mine it was so big!

The restaurant The gates is within the historic center of Ávila, near the cathedral. It's part of the resort's gates open but access is from the street. It's in a beautiful garden surrounded by medieval walls and the service is truly exquisite (small tapas too). Despite its sleek appearance it's not expensive (a beer for about 2€) and is the perfect spot to take an aperitif before dinner in the city. It' even possible to remove your shoes and go barefoot on the grass. A semi-hidden area which is highly recommended.