Parador De Ayamonte

Excellent and quiet spot in the little garden in the back for drinks. Tried the wine and vermouth and both were nice. A great place to come to look over to Portugal. A lovely casual atmosphere as well. The only disappointment was that they were advertising food (bar snack type food) but when we asked to order, they said the kitchen was closed. This could have been better advertised (as in take the signs and menus away and only put them out when it is open, or have some opening times clearly marked). We would come back. We walked up from the town and it was uphill, but worth the effort. Some people may wish to take a taxi if it is hot.

One of the pleasures of staying in a Parador is experiencing the local dishes and the ambience of the main restaurant. We were very disappointed. Having arrived early afternoon and enjoyed a beer and cheese roll for lunch we were looking forward to dinner. After a pre-prandial gin and tonic in the bar we were looking for the restaurant to open at 8.00pm. It didn't. Instead, tables set out in the bar were where you were expected for dinner. Then it got worse. The menu was very restricted; in fact a sort of bar menu. There was a set dinner for 27euros comprising a very limited choice of starters, main courses and desserts. After a starter of goat's and sheep cheese selection we both chose the local speciality; skate wings in a paprika sauce. The skate was tasteless and the paprika sauce was no more than a brown coloured sort of gravy. Totally tasteless. The desserts were better; fresh fruit and yoghurt and lemon sorbet but even the biscuits served were stale. This was the worst dinner we have ever experienced in a Parador; outrageous to be charged 27euros per head. One understands that it is out of season, overheads are high etc but if a Parador is open for service they must do better than this. We had stayed here because we had such good memories of an earlier stay; had we known what to expect we would have driven on to our destination in Portugal. A great shame because in all other respects this Parador is very good with an outstanding location (see separate report)

Our Amigos reservation was for a Gastro package including dinner. The restaurant is closed and dinner now served in the bar. The menu was very limited. The food was a triumph of quantity over quality. The enormous portions meant that plates were going back to the kitchen laden with food. Not a good experience.

Con unas vistas magníficas y ubicado en un alto, lejos de la población, no resulta cómodo regresar por la noche, ya que hay que pedir un taxi si no tienes coche. La cafetería cierra a las 11 de la noche, lo cual me parece un poco temprano si deseas tomar algo al volver de cenar del pueblo.

Maravilloso y espectacular, con unas vistas impresionantes de la Costa del Sol.