La Castillería

In an idyllic corner of Santa Lucía, a hamlet in Vejer de la Frontera, is La Castillería, a legendary restaurant for lovers of good meat and wine. Open for just six months a year, this restaurant has become one of those places that, due to its simplicity, everyone falls in love with, and that when you finally manage to book a table, it really will be something to tell the grandchildren about.

La Castillería isn’t just famous for its exceptional meat but also its vegetables and free range eggs, grown, harvested and raised in its own gardens. What many don't know, however, is that this restaurant has an even juicier secret: its wine list.

At first glance, it may seem modest but don't be fooled. Ask sommelier Jesús Parrado one simple question and he will reveal a veritable treasure chest of a cellar. There, Parrado hides countless bottles of old and mythical vintages, waiting to be discovered by those who know what to ask for.

No wonder figures such as chef José Andrés, politicians and celebrities visit La Castillería not only to enjoy its cuisine, but also to personally select a large number of wines for their own cellar. The advice is to try to go at the beginning of the season, because as the months go by, the cellar gets emptier and emptier. First come, first served.