I had to look up Cuencas MIneras and the first listing I found were for Huelva!! Cuencas Mineras in Asturias is also a new one for me; found this, in Spanish, but Maribel already knows all of there restaurants, I’m sure; this area is so close to Oviedo that driving from the airport, or Oviedo city, should be easy.
I’m really looking forward to the updated Asturias guide from Maribel, our guide to all things Spain!!
CDMX and maybe Montreal
erica1,
You’ve identified the article that best describes what food “revolution” is going on in the Cuenca minera
asturiana (Mining Basin of Asturias), its former mining area, just about a half-hour or a bit more south from Oviedo on the fast AP-66. The Asturias airport is north west of Oviedo.
Now with the completed Madrid-Oviedo AVE it’s only a 3 hr. 11 minute train ride from Madrid-Chamartín Campoamor.
This group of chefs have trained in Michelin-starred Asturian restaurants (like Casa Marcial, Real Balneario) and others in Spain and have returned to their native rural villages… In places where mining used to be the primary industry.
Some of these towns/ villages are Mieres del Camino (José Andrés’ birthplace and the “capital”), Langreo, Pola de Lena, San Félix (20 inhabitants), Turón and El Entrego, where we visited a fascinating Mining & Industry museum, with a virtual visit down into a mine shaft.
This movement of young, very talented chefs is volver a lo rural.
Now…if there were a really nice, charming rural hotel there like El Gran Sueño in the Sierra del Sueve, I could spend several nights there. But again, one can drive from Oviedo Capital.
I haven’t seen the Palacio de Arriba but it looks promising
https://www.hotelpalaciodearriba.com
Maribel, You anticipated, and answered my next question! (where to stay).
Palacio de Arriba looks great and I would certainly take a chance even without all too many reviews. For me the issue would be driving at night in a rural area like this, but a late lunch would be excellent…
erica1,
A young couple bought this 16th century palace and invested 500,000 euros in its remodel. I believe it opened in August of 2024, hence not too many reviews.
It also has a recommended 5-table restaurant. The chef spent time at Casa Marcial.
erica1,
This is my newly updated dining guide for 2025 for everyone to use. Please disregard the older one, as there have been so very many changes, new exciting young chefs have returned to their villages to open restaurants, and during covid there were several closures. So please use this, the updated one!
Thanks!
Dining in Asturias 2025.pdf (4.0 MB)
