Mesón de Cándido

Mesón de Cándido is a small, authentic, and traditional Castilian restaurant that has a well-established history as serving the best suckling pig in all of Spain to visitors from all over the world. The restaurant looks like an old house on the outside, and that’s because it used to be an inn. It is a mere 30 or so feet from Segovia’s Roman aqueduct, and being so close to such an important piece of history lends to the charm of the restaurant. And it’s old! Mesón de Cándido started in the early 1900’s and has been passed down from generation to generation. Many Kings and Queens, Emperors and Empresses, Heads of State, Presidents, and other famous people have visited and tried their wines, broths, and, of course, the suckling pig. The restaurant has a “Golden Book” full of their autographs, and photos of Cándido and his guests hang on the walls. The interior is decorated with paintings of Segovia and other rustic Castilian decorations, which makes it no surprise that Mesón de Cándido is one of the most visited traditional restaurants in Spain. It is also really cool because the chef himself will come out to carve the pig! At this restaurant Cándido’s original philosophy definitely still rings true today: “Anyone honouring this house with their presence, regardless of their nationality or social status, is worthy of the respect and of all kinds of courtesies to which Castilian Hospitality is obliged.”