Review
Opened in 1994 in the small hamlet of Santa Lucía, near Vejer de la Frontera, Castillería is a countryside restaurant dedicated to fire and excellent meat. Surrounded by greenery and water from a nearby spring, it feels very much part of the Andalusian countryside.
At its heart is the wood-fired grill, tended by owner and parrillero Juan Valdés. The restaurant has built its reputation on its knowledge of meat, from breeds and cuts to ageing, resting and cooking over the embers. The menu changes according to the cuts available, with the flavour of the meat and the grill kept at the centre.
Much of the rest comes from the immediate surroundings: potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, onions, eggs, oranges, figs and other seasonal produce. Castillería remains a family affair, with Ani Valdés overseeing the dining room and the same sense of hospitality that has defined the restaurant for more than thirty years.