El Campero
Barbate restaurant that Pepe Melero turned from his father's fishermen's tasca into the reference for almadraba bluefin tuna from 1978, cooking every cut from morrillo to tarantelo.
About El Campero
El Campero began as a fishermen's tasca run by Pepe Melero's father in Barbate from the 1960s. When Pepe took over in 1978 he put almadraba tuna, then little valued locally, at the centre of the menu, serving cuts such as morrillo (the fatty neck) that townspeople discarded. In the 1980s Japanese buyers in port taught the kitchen their cutting and raw techniques. Melero sold to Grupo Azotea in 2025; Barbate-born chef Julio Vázquez leads the kitchen, and a Madrid branch opened in 2026. It is listed in the Michelin Guide.
The carta works through the fish: tarantelo (lean loin) grilled, morrillo seared, ventresca (belly), parpatana (cheek) stewed, roast ribs, tuna in tomato with a fried egg yolk and mormo encebollado, the family's tuna and onion stew sharpened with sherry vinegar. The tuna tostada is the best-known bar tapa.
It opens Tuesday to Sunday 12:00–17:00 and 20:00–23:45 in its season, roughly February to October. The 2026 tasting menu costs €150 without drinks; à la carte is typically €50–80 per person. Book online; the tasting menu needs a booking and is served only in the dining room.
The almadraba catch runs from late April to June, the best time for fresh tuna; out of season the kitchen uses tuna deep-frozen at −60 °C. Tip: book a week ahead in May and June, and check the closing date in late October.
El Campero in pictures
What you’ll find
- Late openingOpen lateFree
- Michelin or RepsolGuide recognitionFree
- ReservationsTable bookingBook
- Restaurant diningSit-down meal (€16–€31, 12:00–23:45)Buy
- SeafoodFish and seafood (€16–€31)Buy
- Sherry and wineWines by the glass (€3–€8)Buy
- Signature dishHouse speciality (€25–€31)Buy
- TapasTapas at the bar (€6–€19, 12:00–23:45)Buy
- Tasting menuTasting menu (€150, 12:00–22:30)Book
- TerraceOutdoor seatingFree
Nearby places to visit
El Campero is a few streets from the fishing port and Playa del Carmen (Barbate) (610 m), the town beach backed by a promenade. Inland, the white hill town of Vejer de la Frontera (8 km) is a short drive away, and the coast road west through the pine woods of La Breña reaches Playa de Los Caños de Meca (8 km) and Playa del Cabo de Trafalgar (10 km), off which the 1805 battle was fought. East along the coast, Playa de Zahara de los Atunes (10 km) faces the almadraba nets that are set each spring.
El Campero at a glance
Category
Food & Wine Gastronomy
Town
Barbate
Address
Avenida de la Constitución, 5, 11160 Barbate, Cádiz, Spain
Opening hours
In season (about February to 31 October): Tue–Sun 12:00–17:00 and 20:00–23:45; closed Mondays and in winter.
Prices
Tuna dishes about €16–31; tasting menu €150 without drinks (2026); about €50–80 per person à la carte.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 on the official website. Times and prices can change, so confirm before you go.
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of El Campero, nearest first.
