3 Best Restaurants in Extremadura, Spain

Locals will point you here for fresh, reasonably priced tapas and mains including croquetas (try the wild mushroom rendition) and secreto ibérico (seared Iberian pork shoulder steak). The weekday lunch menú del día—three courses plus wine—is a steal.

Alberca's two-story stone dining room boasts a comfortable minimalist design and a fire-focused menu. Most dishes get some time on the grill, even the local goat cheese with ash and apple. The oxtail croquettes are truly exceptional as well, whether you find them in the tasting menu or order a-la-carte. And the grilled, smoky take on the torrija, a rich Spanish-style French toast, is beyond memorable. 

A fixture on the quiet and pleasant Plaza San Juan, this restaurant has been run by the same family for 70 years and counting. In its jumble of old-fashioned dining rooms with wood-beam ceilings, feast on regional delicacies including venado de montería (wild venison) and perdiz estofada (partridge stew) complemented by full-bodied local wines.