Cuisine

Miraflores has many small bars and restaurants serving the traditional Spanish food. The bars typically serve tapas (small plates) and raciones (larger plates to share) of simpler foods, while the restaurants will serve 3 course meals.

Tapas

The village is full of small tapas bars, and the restaurants usually have a tapas menu as well. Some of the more typical tapas/raciones for Spain as a whole include:
  • Croquetas: croquetes made from chicken, ham or fish in a bechamel sauce, crumbed and deep-fried.
  • Jamon Serrano: a cured ham, like Parma ham, but in my view far better.
  • Tortilla: Spanish omelete made with potatoes and onion. Delicious. Sometimes eaten with mayonaise.
  • Chuletas de cordero: a plate of grilled lamb chops.
  • Patatas Bravas: deep fried potatoes with a spicy sauce.
  • Queso Manchego: traditional Spanish cheese
  • Paella: a rice dish from Valencia, but eaten all over Spain.
  • Morcilla: a sausage made from blood. More delicious than it sounds, especially the version made with rice.
  • Chorizo: a sausage made from pork. Worth trying.
We ate at the "Victoria", one of the open-air restaurants in the main square. They serve a wonderful Paella (for 2 or more people). Their Croquetas are very good, as is their morcilla. One dish special to the area is "Morteruelo", a pate made from various game animals (rabbits, partridge, etc.).

In the restaurant next door (next to the tourist kiosk), the "alitas de pollo" (chicken wings) are large and generous.

Restaurants

Some restaurants are Asadores, meaning they have roasting ovens, and prepare succulent roast legs of lamb or pig.

Cake Shops

There is a cakeshop in the main square which has a wonderful range of cakes. Their baked blueberry cheesecakes are wonderful, if not traditional. More traditional, try the "Bienmesabe", a cake made from just flour, sugar and milk and cinnamon, but wonderful nonetheless.