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Dining in Europe > Caceres Over the past few years the hospitality industry in Caceres has changed dramatically in order to meet new demands. More visitors are making their way to the city, locals are eating out more often and the resident student population is rising. Restaurants like El Puchero have been able to expand, open new branches and start an outside catering business. What this means for the consumer is more choice and a consistently lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Now there are bars and restaurants to suit every taste and every price range. Regional food has become fashionable, too. The historic old part of town has some of the best places to eat and drink. Palacio del Vino is an ideal spot for the first aperitif and tapa of the evening before heading down to Mesón Sansón for another drink and a savoury snack. You might be lucky enough to hear one of the owners, José Luis, belting out a cheerful tune on his accordion. For French cuisine, try Chez Manou. In the Torre de Sande you can taste what the "new wave" in Extremaduran cooking has to offer whilst relaxing in a magnificent old house full of antique furniture or in their marvellous garden. Probably the most romantic location in Caceres to eat by candlelight is the garden belonging to the Parador. But there is strong competition from a range of other excellent luxury restaurants in the old part of town that are housed in palaces and ancient mansions like the Bodega Medieval and the Palacio de los Golfines. One of the most famous restaurants in the city, Figón de Eustaquio, is in nearby Plaza de San Juan, and just opposite is the Mejorana, with a reputation for good tapas and raciones. For Italian cooking up here, the Chiara is recommended. If there is a large group of you, you will be well looked after in Corregidor. In the area around Plaza de San Juan there are many other good tapas bars like El Asador, La Posada and Adarve. In the centre of modern Caceres there is an area bordered by Calle Doctor Fleming and Paseo de Cánovas called La Madrila that is famous for its lively late-night bars. For early evening drinks and tapas round here try Cañadul and Portón on Calle Doctor Fleming, and the cervecería (beer hall) in Plaza de Bruselas for good value for money. If it is just a coffee you're looking for the best option is undoubtedly Carpe Diem followed by the Petit Café in the Plaza Marrón, only metres away from the Paseo de Cánovas. The Basque restaurant Oquendo, specializing in fish dishes from the north of Spain, offers an alternative to the predominant Extremaduran fare. If you walk further along the Avenida Virgen de la Montaña you'll find a favourite local haunt for tapas and raciones (larger portions), La Marina. On the street running parallel to it there is an Internet café called Ciberjust. In the area around Cruz de los Caídos there are a cluster of sophisticated bars - Ábito, Alconétar, Donde Manuel, El Fogón de Toñi, Vivaldi and El Cachito - that also serve meals. Students tend to meet up in the bars that line the nearby calle Santa Joaquina de Vedruna. Spains best restaurant guides recommend a restaurant called Atrio, in the northern part of the city that takes pride in creating imaginative modern versions of traditional recipes. There are two locations on the outskirts of Caceres that are geared up to cater for large social events and business functions. Complejo Álvarez is an efficient modern establishment, open all day until the early hours, with a variety of private function rooms and an open-air disco. Castillo de Arguijuelas, on the road to Mérida, is a medieval castle with an outdoor dining terrace set in the midst of an olive grove. At weekends, most of the young people in Caceres can be found in the Plaza Mayor having a drink and some fun. Near the plaza are a few small bars like El Callejón and Los Toneles that play good music. If you head towards the Concatedral de Santa María you'll find an atmospheric bar called Corral de las Corral de las Cigüeñas where you can have a drink in the courtyard and listen to live performances by local musicians during the summer. If you prefer a more laid-back approach, head for the pubs a little further up the calle Pizarro - Capitán Haddock, Mistura Brasileira, La Habana, La Traviata y Torre de Babel - that play easy-listening music and are also open for coffee in the early evening. Another late-night bar near the Plaza Mayor that has tables outside in summer is Las Caballerizas. The serious party people can be found dancing until dawn in the lively little bars in La Madrila like Saqqara, Latino, Por Ejemplo and Ivanhoe. Entertainment in CaceresCaceres is mainly known for its historic quarter, which was declared of cultural heritage in 1986, but this city of noble lineage also has other qualities which have given it the status of other Spanish cities for other reasons, too. For some years, the city has had new calling cards: Caceres, conference city; Caceres, city of tolerance; Caceres, city of diversity. Conferences Music Although Caceres is a tolerant city every day of the year, the city is proud of this title during Womad, a festival of world music and culture held in the spring. Caceres is meant to be enjoyed in the streets, as you walk around, stopping for a drink at the numerous bars, cafés and pubs. Theatre Cinema Art If this is not modern enough, the city also has a few galleries that exhibit contemporary pieces, by both national and international artists. The most notable are Bores & Mallo, María Llanos, Sala Capitol and Sala El Brocense. Areas La Madrila Plaza Mayor Calle Pizarro Calle Gómez Becerra Dining in Europe > Caceres
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