The menú del día, Spain’s fixed-price weekday lunch, is the cheapest way to eat a full meal in Alcalá de Henares. In and around the old town it costs 14.50 to 18.50 euros, Monday to Friday, usually with a starter, a main, bread, a drink and dessert or coffee. Francesco’s on Calle Libreros is the cheapest full menu at 14.50 euros, the Casino on Plaza de Cervantes charges 18.50 euros, and the usual serving window is 13:30 to 16:00. Sit outside and six of these places add 10 percent.
How much does a set lunch cost in Alcalá de Henares? 14.50 to 18.50 euros on weekdays. The cheapest are Francesco’s at 14.50 euros, Antológico at 14.90 euros and Taberna 7 at 15.50 euros; Hemisferio Loft marks vegan dishes on its 18-euro menu. Terraces add 10 percent at six places, and most menus are not served on public holidays.
- Cheapest full menu: Francesco’s, 14.50 euros.
- Lunch window: usually 13:30-16:00.
- Terrace: plus 10 percent at six places.
- Weekend: Rocinante from 27.50 euros.
What does the terrace add?
The terrace surcharge is the detail visitors miss. Taberna 7, Francesco’s, Antológico, Ambigú, 1888 and the Casino’s terrace on the square all add 10 percent to the menu; Skrei Noruego adds a flat 1 euro.
The Casino’s upper terrace adds 5 percent, Ambigú and 1888 offer a pricier option B at 22 and 24 euros, and some of Francesco’s menu pizzas carry a 2 or 3-euro supplement. Groups should also check the rules: from 13 people, Taberna 7 and the Casino offer an executive menu instead, at 22 and 25 euros a head.
Which menu for which kind of lunch?
| Restaurant | Weekday menu | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Skrei Noruego, Avenida de los Jesuitas 28 | 18.50 euros | Cod specialist, bread and drink included |
| Hemisferio Loft, Calle Mayor 6 | 18 euros | Changes weekly, vegan dishes marked |
| Las Cuadras de Rocinante, Carmen Calzado 1 | 16 euros | Stews by day: cocido on Tuesday and Friday |
| Taberna 7, Ramón y Cajal 7 and Libreros 7 | 15.50 euros | 13:30-16:00, bread included |
| Antológico, Calle Victoria 2 | 14.90 euros | Bread and one drink included |
| Francesco’s, Calle Libreros 15 | 14.50 euros | Starter and main, or the week’s pizza to share between two |
For a traditional cocido, the chickpea and meat stew served in courses, go to Las Cuadras de Rocinante on a Tuesday or Friday; on Mondays its menu has fabada beans and on Thursdays lentils. Taberna San Isidro serves its 16.50-euro menu only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and offers cocido on Tuesdays and Thursdays, priced when you book.
Are there set lunches at weekends?
A few, and they cost more. Las Cuadras de Rocinante has a weekend menu from 27.50 euros, with an appetiser, a starter, a main, bread, a first drink and dessert or coffee. La Calzada de Alcalá, at Calle Mayor 90, advertises a menu every day, 12.50 euros on weekdays and 16.50 euros at weekends, without listing what is included.
For eating à la carte, see where to eat in Alcalá de Henares and tapas in Alcalá de Henares. To plan the day, things to do in Alcalá de Henares. For how the menu works across Madrid, the menú del día explained.
Questions about set lunches in Alcalá de Henares
How much is a menú del día in Alcalá de Henares?
Between 14.50 and 18.50 euros on weekdays: Francesco’s 14.50 euros, Antológico 14.90 euros, Taberna 7 15.50 euros, Las Cuadras de Rocinante 16 euros, Hemisferio Loft and 1888 18 euros, and the Casino and Skrei Noruego 18.50 euros. Most include a drink and dessert or coffee.
Is the set lunch more expensive on the terrace?
Yes, at six places: Taberna 7, Francesco’s, Antológico, Ambigú, 1888 and the Casino’s square-side terrace add 10 percent, so a 15.50-euro menu becomes about 17.05 euros. Skrei Noruego adds 1 euro per person outside.
Can I get a set lunch at the weekend in Alcalá?
At a few places. Las Cuadras de Rocinante has a weekend menu from 27.50 euros, and La Calzada de Alcalá on Calle Mayor advertises a menu every day, at 16.50 euros at weekends. Most other set menus run Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Eat inside on a weekday and the set lunch is Alcalá’s best deal.