Eating in central Ronda, between El Mercadillo and the old town

Two quarters divided by the gorge

Central Ronda comes in two halves. North of the Tajo is El Mercadillo, the quarter that grew up outside the old walls: Plaza de España, the Real Maestranza bullring and the main shopping streets are there. South of the gorge is La Ciudad, the medieval core, with narrower streets, palaces and churches.

Puente Nuevo stitches the two sides together, and La Pilastra stands at its southern end, at number 1 Calle Armiñán, the main street of La Ciudad. Put simply: cross the bridge from El Mercadillo and you are here; carry on along Calle Armiñán and you are in the old town.

A centre made for walking

The historic centre is compact and best explored on foot. If you arrive by car, the easiest plan is to park as you come into town and leave it there until you go; getting here covers the options by car, train and bus.

From the restaurant door, the bullring and Plaza de España are just across the bridge, while the other way lie the streets of La Ciudad: Palacio de Mondragón, the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor and, further down towards the river, the Arab Baths. To fit it all into one day, see Ronda in one day.

Where lunch fits in

Because the restaurant stands right where the two quarters meet, it makes a natural halfway point: see El Mercadillo in the morning, cross the bridge and sit down before exploring La Ciudad, or the other way round. If eating with a view of the gorge matters to you, read how the terrace works before you book.