At least twice a year we visit the Priorat wine region to discover new wineries and to visit our suppliers, whose wines we import for the Netherlands. Our Prioratwines team usually visits the region in the months of March and September (often when the harvest is in progress)
Besides visiting wineries, we always find it fun and educational to combine this with visiting restaurants located in this wine region. Do not expect fast food chains or takeaway restaurants in Priorat and certainly no Italian, Mexican, Chinese or Greek cuisine. In this sub-region of Cataloniaë you will find mainly the cuisine based on the local regional products and dishes.
If you are interested in local products and dishes from this unique region in Spain, read on in this article. Furthermore, you will find a list of specific restaurants that we recommend. We are always interested in visiting new restaurants so please let us know if we have missed anything.
Priorat is not only known for its wines, but also makes excellent virgin olive oil. The most widely planted olive variety is the Arbequina, a small olive with a high concentration of oil.
A large part of the Arbequina harvest, by the way, is exported every year to Italy, where it is the basis for the better blends that are sold all over the world. In the New World, too, Arbequina is considered the standard for high quality.
The ideal olive oil for daily use. Delicious in a dressing on salads, with bread, for baking vegetables or potatoes in the oven or over fresh fruit such as mango, banana, orange and melon. Pure enjoyment!
The Marcona is the most special almond in the world, it is also called the "Queen Almond". The Marcona grows only on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, from Málaga to Tarragona. The Marcona almond is naturally sweet and buttery in flavor. This almond is shorter, rounder, softer and sweeter than the California almond and also has no bitterness. The almonds are roasted in oil and then sprinkled with sea salt. The Marcona almond is delicious as an accompaniment to cheese and should therefore not be missing from your cheeseboard.
In Priorat, you will find all kinds of stores that sell this delicious almond in all its forms: caramelized, dipped in chocolate, salted...
Avellana de Reus are hazelnuts grown in the province of Tarragona since the 13th century. These nuts are always graded by size and can be sold in shell, shelled and roasted.
Each step of production is carefully controlled to obtain a standardized product of superior quality. Avellana de Reus are larger than other hazelnuts and are usually of better quality and contain significant amounts of vitamin E and healthy fatty acids.
Arroz del Delta del Ebro is white or brown rice of excellent quality with varieties such as Bahía, Tebre, Sénia, Fonsa, Bomba and Montsianell. These varieties vary in properties; from Senia, which is smooth and creamy when cooked, to Bomba, which is loose and firm.
The cultivation takes place in the wetlands of the Ebro Delta, in the province of Tarragona. All levels of production and the final product itself are strictly regulated. Arroz del Delta del Ebro is sold packaged with a numbered label that can be traced back to the producer and in detail the growing area, guaranteeing the superior quality of this rice.
Some other products and dishes you'll find a lot of in the Priorat:
Calçot de Valls - shoots of white onion;
Pata Negra ham;
Escudella - a classic Catalan soup;
Truita amb suc - A unique omelet made up of three parts: the gravy, consisting of tomatoes, garlic, ground almonds, flour, paprika, and parsley; the egg omelet, filled with spinach, beans, or both; and pieces of cod.
All kinds of cheeses such as Manchego.
In the overview below some of our favorite restaurants in Priorat.
A modern restaurant with a beautiful terrace with stunning views of Falset framed by the Serra del Montsant. The decor is clean and light and the cuisine is based on traditional dishes with a modern frame. The wine list consists mainly of a nice selection of Priorat and Montsant wines.
Address: Carrer del Sindicat, 10 Falset
Visit the website
Mia and Litus run the restaurant La Cooperativa in Porrera which is a few meters away from the central square where the wineries of Vall Llach, Celler Joan Simó and Sangenis I Vaque are located. This restaurant serves dishes as grandmother used to make them, believing that meals should be cooked slowly and above all that the quality of the raw materials is the key to putting a good dish on the table. As far as possible, they use their own grown vegetables, and the oil comes exclusively from the Siurana Designation of Origin (D.O.). Reservations are a must.
An extensive wine list with beautiful Priorat wines
Address: Street Unió, 7, 43739 Porrera
Brots is the Catalan word for shoots or buds. The name honors all the young and not so young people who work on the project.
A gastronomic surprise located in this small village in the Priorat region, nestled among mountains and surrounded by vineyards. Here, in this peaceful setting, chef Pieter Truyts, who was trained in starred restaurants in his native Belgium, France and Spain, discovered the perfect place to "cook from the heart". He developed a creative and very interesting cuisine in which the best local products come into their own, with a knack for combining them to maximize their flavor. Because of its excellent value for money, the place is often full.
Address: Nou 45, Poboleda, 43376, Spain
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"Amics" offers cuisine based on local and seasonal products of high quality. A modern gastronomy rooted in the culinary tradition of the Priorat with the personal touch of chef Marc Pi, a passionate lover of the region, its food and its wine.
The "Amics" restaurant is located in the upper part of Buil & Giné winery with a beautiful view of the vineyards. The restaurant is open every day from noon and also offers the possibility of dining in the winery on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: Carretera Gratallops-Vilella Baixa Km 11,5, 43737 Gratallops
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Mater Terrae is the restaurant of the beautiful hotel Terra Dominicata under the gastronomic direction of chef Fran López. It is located in the old farmhouse that was part of the olive groves and vineyards of the Carthusian monks of the monastery of Escaladei.
At Mater Terrae you can discover the Priorat through its cuisine, a land of beautiful landscapes, with a wealth of history and culture, where time seems to have stood still. In addition to a wonderful selection of Priorat wines (including old vintages), you can also find a nice selection of international wines. Besides the restaurant, there is also a super nice boutique hotel on the edge of Priorat and Montsant.
Address: Carretera, T-702, Km 13, 43379 Escaladei, Tarragona
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El Celler de l'Aspic - Falset
Carrer de Miquel Barceló, 31, 43730 Falset
Nice selection of Priorat and international wines.
https://cellerdelaspic.com
Restaurant Quinoa - Falset
Carrer de Miquel Barceló, 29, BAJO, 43730 Falset
Restaurant / Hotel Lotus Priorat - Falset
Carrer de Baix, 33, 43730 Falset
https://lotuspriorat.com
Mas Trucafort - Falset
Carretera de Bellmunt km 1,50 43730 Falset
http://mastrucafort.com
Restaurant El Cairat - Falset
Carrer Nou, 3, 43730 Falset
https://www.restaurantelcairat.com
Restaurant Hotel-Hostal Sport - Falset
C. de Miquel Barceló, 4, 6, 43730 Falset
https://www.hotelpriorat-hostalsport.com
Restaurant Cal Carlets - Porrera
Carrer de Secares, 5, 43739 Porrera
Celler Clos Figueras & Restaurant Les Figueres - Gratallops
Carrer de la Font, 38, 43737 Gratallops
https://www.closfigueras.info
Restaurant Cellers de Gratallops - Gratallops
Carrer del Piró, 32, 43737 Gratallops
Restaurant Siurana - Siurana
Carrer Major, s/n, 43362 Siurana
http://www.restaurantsiurana.com
Quatre Molins - One michelin star restaurant in Montsant
Carrer del Comte de Rius, 8, 43360 Cornudella de Montsant
https://quatremolins.com
Restaurant La Morera
Carrer de la Bassa, 10, 43361 La Morera de Montsant.
All in all, a nice list of restaurants to be found in this relatively small wine region. Be sure to let us know if you have any questions about the region. We'll be happy to help you out.
Exclusive wines from Priorat 
