Restaurants Cochinillo Segovia

Restaurante Mesón de Cándido is right at the aqueduct and has been around since the 1800s. It is known for its cochinillo. I’ve never eaten there as I’m not a huge pork person. My guess is most restaurants will have it on their menu. I did a quick look at Restaurante La Codorniz, Restaurante Acueducto 25, and Restaurante El Cordero. Each had cochinillo on the menu.

When my wife has had cochinillo in other Spain restaurants it has been a portion for one person.

There are a few overlooks within walking distance from the Aparcamiento Gratuito Mirador San Marcos (free parking area); Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos, Mirador Alcázar de Segovia II, Mirador Altos de La Fuencisla, Mirador Zamarramala, and Mirador del Alcázar y los dos Valles. The first is probably the most popular.

Without leaving town one can get decent views of the Alcázar from Mirador Junto Plaza Reina Victoria Eugenia (the park by the entrance to the Alcázar) or from the nearby Paseo Don Juan II Defensive Wall.

1. I suspect that I need to make reservations soon for lunch, but maybe not in October?.

Not been in October, but if during the week, you likely can walk right in, things do get packed on the weekends. It never hurts to make reservations, even if you stop in the day before, or early in the day.

2. Are there other restaurants that also serve cochinillo in Segovia that may not be as popular but just as good.

Certainly, the big places attract a lot of attention (and tourists, and tour groups), but they can get a bit rushed or sloppy in service. We had an excellent meal at Asador David Guijarro. A much smaller place, bit more elegant, excellent food, including cochinillo. They do offer a set menu, and the plates are a bit smaller than what you get at the other restaurants. The ala carte menu is also less broad. We were there several years ago, it appears they are still open, though I had issues trying to bring up their website. As for the other places, they are perfectly fine, each pretty close to the next, very similar menus.

3. When you order a cochinillo, is it enough for 2 people to share or each person orders their own. What side dishes would traditionally compliment this dish.

The pig is very rich, two can get a good taste from a serving, but they would expect that each person order their own entree, so maybe each choose a dish, and share. As for sides, probably the best known is Judiones de la Granja, or stewed large white beans. A potato dish with garlic and onions is also common, as are a number of seasonal vegetables, October? maybe mushrooms.

If not planning to visit interior of Alcazar, good views from cathedral area or worth taxi as close as possible. Currently slight mobility issues but venturing.

You can take a taxi all the way up to the Alcazar, or at least the park in front of it. From there, you have good views on each side.

To all who replied thanks for your helpful and practical suggestions that will make for a better trip.

1. JOSE MARIA. (very good house wine)

2. EL DUQUE

Begin (at both) with sopa castellana or sopa de ajo (same) and maybe with an order of roasted red peppers. Or at least that is what I begin with

CANDIDO is fine but gets more tourists due to location.

If you have more time, and a car:

My thing in lechazo, suckling lamb--if you have time, drive to Pedraza or to Sepulveda....or to Campaspero, to MANNIX:

Stay at ABADIA DE LA RETUERTA, a wine hotel in a vineyard....easy to drive to all those places from there..must have car, to cover that area.. this is not for a day trip..we spent about a week in the area on one trip.

We did like the Parador in Segovia but it is modern and not too walkable to the city for older folks!! And again, this is for a longer stay,, not a day trip so I have na answered our question but have added other options for those with desire for a longer stay in the region...La Granja, etc...sorry cannot get laptop to write in English keyboard so many mistakes here......

More good suggestions, thanks. I like for future travel crunchy's (from New York) itinerary for the future, thanks. BTW, Renfe.com for train reservations is non communicative (diplomatic for no funciona). Seems Trainline allows you to reserve.

Does IRYO serve Segovia?

Here is the carta for Jose Maria; the cochinillo is served for one person; the lechazo for two; also look at their menu of specials for this season.

https://www.restaurantejosemaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-carta-menu-VERANO-2025.pdf.pdf

Sometimes, you may need to reserve roast pork in advance because it's a very popular dish. It depends on the restaurant.

We just had a wonderful lunch at Restaurant Jose Maria. I reserved online maybe one week in advance.

The place is huge, we had a 1:30 res and were led upstairs to a more modern addition but it was a lovely room and we seemed to be the only English speaking table a larger group near us were celebrating a birthday and seemed local and know by the waiters. The walls had framed thank you notes from notable guests and I was entertained to be by one from the Pet Shop Boys!

The house wine and service was great and we appreciated that the waiter recommended a half order of the morcilla, and we also shared a fresh tomato and spring onion salad (the tomatoes this trip have been exceptional!), and of course the Cochinello, which we really enjoyed.

We were surprised by just how steep and hilly Segovia was, but taxis seemed plentiful and reasonable, and they also seemed to have robust bus service, which could be worth looking into.

We ate at one of the restaurants in the upper town two years ago. Sorry can’t remember which one. The meal for one was small and not as juicy as the one 20 years ago. Segovia is overrun with tourists nowadays. The alcazar is at the far end of the upper town so a taxi ride is recommended. Views outside and on the roof of the Alcazar are very good. The main piazza, cathedral and restaurants are centrally located but a hike up a big hill from the bus stop by the tall arches. Most Restaurants don’t have the cochinillo.