The Best Seafood Restaurants in Galicia, Spain

Marisquería Terra Nosa is a classy and stylish restaurant in Santiago de Compostela, which started out as a traditional tavern in 1976. Today its bright and swish dining room serves starters such as cuttlefish with onions, anchovy fillet, freshly caught squid or the classic Galician octopus. While mains include everything you’d expect to find at the bottom of the ocean, from razor clams and wild turbot to king prawns, grouper, spider crabs and the Basque delicacy of goose barnacles.

Hidden down a small alleyway in Santiago de Compostela, O Gato Negro is a small and popular tavern, which translates as The Black Cat. It may be slightly cramped and busy, but the deliciously fresh seafood is definitely worth it. Think soft clams, crabs, sardine empanadas and excellent octopus dishes.

Situated on a peninsula, right by the water’s edge in the city of La Coruña, you’ll find Restaurante O Fado, which translates as the lighthouse restaurant. It’s not actually located in a lighthouse, but it may as well be, given the amount of delicious seafood on its menu. Dishes they specialise in include razor clams, baked cod, seafood rice, goose barnacles and clams in seafood sauce.

Located in the city of Vigo, Restaurante Maruja Limón is a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant run by chefs Inés Abril and Rafa Centeno. They offer various set seasonal menus to sample in a laid-back atmosphere, with lots of intimate spaces, natural wood and stone.

Near the centre of Vigo, right by the coast, O Porton can be found along the city’s famous Rua da Ostras or Rua da Pescaderia (Oysters Street or Fisherman’s Street). Homey and relaxed, it serves huge seafood platters, seafood rice dishes and large rations to share. Try the marinated mussels, paprika-sprinkled octopus and baby squid tapas plates.

Another La Coruña restaurant, Pulpeira O Fiuza is the place for classic Galician-style octopus in the city. It’s a small and basic restaurant with old wine barrel tables to stand at, and a few other wooden tables to sit at around the edge. In terms of seafood, they only serve octopus-based dishes, but also have a selection of cold cut meats and fragrant Ribeiro wines.

Tira do Cordel can be found in Finisterre, along the Costa da Morte, known as the End of the Earth as it’s the westernmost point in mainland Spain. The restaurant is housed in a former salting factory, dating back to 1812. It specialises in grilled fish cooked over hot coals, but also serves lobster, king crab, goose barnacles and scallops.