Mesón Octavio

The story

Mesón Octavio in Ciudad Real: Michelin Bib Gourmand Spanish Restaurant

Mesón Octavio in Ciudad Real

Since 1997, Mesón Octavio has been a family affair in Ciudad Real, run by siblings Aurora, José, and Belén alongside their mother, Santiaga. They describe their cooking as “emotional cuisine” – a cooking that transmits feelings through every colour, aroma, and flavour. Aurora is the creative force in the kitchen, working with local produce to create dishes that speak of the land.

The restaurant’s Spanish cuisine is firmly rooted in the traditions of La Mancha, yet it adds its own distinctive touch. The menu features dishes such as wild boar meatballs, venison loin marinated in juniper and served with honey and saffron jam, suckling pig slow-cooked for sixteen hours at 35°C, red-legged partridge from the Montes de Toledo in a wine escabeche, and Iberian secret pork with its own shiitake mushroom juice. The restaurant has also created a local sweet known as the “culiparda” – a cookie that, in their words, “wants to be a muffin and dreams of being marzipan” – which has become the official sweet of the city.

Mesón Octavio’s commitment to quality and value has earned it a Michelin Bib Gourmand, a recognition that highlights good quality, good value cooking. The restaurant was also awarded a Sol Repsol in 2018 for its culinary excellence and forward-thinking approach. Diners consistently praise the attentive service, the excellent food, and the knowledgeable wine advice from Belén, the sommelier. Whether in the dining room or through their takeaway service, Mesón Octavio offers a genuine taste of Manchego hospitality.