Hostería de Somo

If you don’t speak Spanish, I’d avoid this place. We were three people visiting for Sunday lunch at Spanish lunchtime. The restaurant was full, but we got a table in the bar area. Nobody came to take our order, so I asked three different staff members if I could order from them. None spoke English. They call themselves a hotel, yet there wasn’t a single person in the restaurant who could say even one word in English. The staff also seemed unfriendly and unhelpful in how they reacted. This was my fifth time in Spain, and I don’t speak the language because I’m usually with Spanish friends. Still, everywhere else I’ve been with my family, the staff have been helpful and friendly whether or not they spoke English. This was the worst place I experienced in the area.

For €12, the menu del dia was excellent: the usual three courses and a drink. They specialize in seafood, and the grilled sardines were particularly good. Well worth stopping in for lunch.

The rooms are simple, but clean, and they have a high chair that was great for managing our restless one-year-old. When our little boy got sick during the visit, the team arranged a cab, looked after our bags, and even had them taken to the hospital when needed. A big thank you to them.

The hot chocolate and churros don’t compare with the much better ones at mierces chocolateria in santander, but this cafe is still a lot better than crosstown somo rival pinar.