Very few people who known Santander well are not familiar with Cañadío, a true institution in Cantabrian hospitality. The restaurant, which boasts two attractively arranged dining rooms (one with a bar and the open kitchen at its centre), has built its reputation on carefully selected ingredients as well as unpretentious yet honest cooking. Dishes you won’t want to pass up include the traditional fried squid (rabas), cuttlefish (cachón) in its own ink with a creamy risotto-style rice, and the spectacular hake fillet. The “Cañadío” lemon tart provides a fitting climax.