Mesón del Caballo Blanco

Mesón del Caballo Blanco is a traditional Navarrese restaurant in the medieval town of Olite, located within the old walled quarter on Rúa Romana, a short walk from the extraordinary Royal Palace of Olite — one of the finest Gothic royal residences in Spain. The restaurant's stone walls and low vaulted ceilings reflect the medieval character of the surrounding town, creating a dining room that feels entirely continuous with the history of the place. The kitchen focuses on the robust, ingredient-driven Navarrese cooking of the Ribera region: roasted meats, preserved vegetables, and the exceptional wines of the surrounding vineyards. Lechazo asado — roast suckling lamb, slow-roasted until its skin is copper-crisped and the meat melts — is the dish that draws visitors from Pamplona and beyond. Pimientos rellenos de bacalà, stuffed with a creamy salt cod filling and dressed in their own sauce, is a Navarrese classic done with evident care. Dessert brings cuajada con miel — the traditional Navarrese sheep's milk curd served with local honey. The wine list is particularly strong, drawing on local producers including Bodegas Ochoa and Nekeas, whose vineyards surround the town. Olite is a day-trip destination from Pamplona (40 minutes by direct train), and the Mesón del Caballo Blanco is the natural dining anchor for such an excursion, particularly after visiting the Royal Palace and the Navarrese Wine Museum.