Restaurante Juanito, Baeza

About Restaurante Juanito, Baeza

Juan Salcedo, 'Juanito', and his wife Luisa Martínez opened a small mesón in Baeza in 1953 and built it into a hotel and restaurant that became a reference for Jaén cooking, one of the first to put extra virgin olive oil at the centre of every dish. Photographs with guests such as King Juan Carlos I, Rafael Alberti and Andrés Segovia line the walls. Juanito died in 2004; the family still runs the house, presses its own oil and in 2026 held the 43rd edition of its Jornadas Gastronómicas.

The menu is Luisa's: paté de perdiz al aceite (partridge pâté), alcachofas de Luisa (artichokes), patatas a lo pobre with lomo de orza (pork loin preserved in oil), salmorejo, bacalao al estilo Baeza, rabo de toro and roast kid. Desserts include calahorra with bitter almond cream and gachas (sweet porridge) with fried bread. The cellar lists over 500 wines, and oil tastings can be arranged.

It serves lunch only, about 13:30-15:30, daily except Thursday. Starters cost €12-25 and the tasting menu €48-53.50 per person without drinks (2026). Book by phone or WhatsApp (695 09 25 46). It is on the Úbeda road, 1.3 km from the cathedral, with parking.

Choose the tasting menu on a first visit, book for 14:00 and allow two hours. The March gastronomic days add dishes such as cocido mareao. Artichokes are best from November to April, during the olive harvest.

Restaurante Juanito, Baeza in pictures

What you’ll find

• Car parkParkingFree
• Ham and charcuterieHam and cured meatsBuy
• Historic interiorHistoric premisesFree
• ReservationsTable bookingBook
• Restaurant diningSit-down meal (€12–€25, 13:30–15:30)Buy
• Sherry and wineWines by the glassBuy
• Signature dishHouse speciality (€22–€25)Buy
• Tasting menuTasting menu (€48–€54)Book
• Vegetarian optionsVegetarian dishesBuy

Nearby places to visit

Juanito is on the eastern edge of Baeza, about 1.3 km from the Renaissance centre. Walk in to see Baeza Cathedral (1.3 km) and the Isabelline facade of the Palacio de Jabalquinto (1.2 km) on the Plaza de Santa Cruz. Olive oil is the local industry: AOVEland (Oleícola Jaén) (2 km) runs mill tours and tastings, and Oleícola San Francisco in Begíjar is 7 km away. Úbeda's Sacra Capilla del Salvador is 8 km east, and Jaén's old taverns, such as Taberna El Gorrión, Jaén, are 39 km south-west.