O Gato Negro, Traditional tavern in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
O Gato Negro is a tavern in the center of Santiago de Compostela that specializes in Galician seafood and home-style cooking. Dishes like conger eel pie, sardines, and liver with caramelized onions are served in a simple, unchanged dining room.
The tavern opened in 1922 and is one of the last original establishments from the Franco district of Santiago de Compostela still in operation. It has kept its original character through the decades without major changes.
Wine here is poured from the barrel and served in ceramic cups, a Galician custom that has survived in very few places today. The food on the menu follows what people in this region have cooked and eaten for a very long time.
The place does not take reservations, so expect to wait, especially around lunchtime. The street it sits on is easy to miss, so it is worth noting the exact address before heading out.
Guests who do not want to share a table wait outside, but most end up sitting next to strangers and starting a conversation. This is one of the few places where pilgrims, locals, and visitors naturally end up at the same table.
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