I loved this teeny tiny little cafe/bar/tapas place. They still do what you'd expect every bar in…read moreSpain to do: serve a small plate (tapas) with every drink. So your Euro doesn't only buy you a small beer or wine but also a small plate of chorizo, some cheese or fried potatoes. They have good coffee for a Euro (cortado) and some cocktails (the classics) too. Very friendly service and a modern, clean interior should have people queueing out the door.

Since Santander has quite a few small, narrow, and winding streets, there is always a surprise…read more(some bad, mostly good) around each corner. Fortunately for us, Hygge Cocktail was one of these good surprises that we "found" by accident. This cocktail bar/lounge, which I think is a Danish term for fun or taking break from the hustle and bustle of life, is an excellent place to have a few cocktails with friends to start or finish the night. The bar has a nice variety of different cocktails outside of the standard gin tonic. While I was really interested in having a Spanish gin tonic, I decided to have one of Hygge's speciality gin cocktails (which I do not remember) before my standard gin cocktail. From an initial look, the place appears to be geared to a younger crowd (e.g., late 20s). However, I saw a nice range of folks from all ages having late-night cocktails at this lounge. I thought our service was pretty on point. Also, the cocktail prices (for US standards) were pretty generous. While I think this place is somewhat new, I hope it sticks around so I can return during my next trip to Santander to try out more eclectic cocktails.

What a fantastic place to enjoy craft beer in Santander! The selection was wide and service was…read moreattentive. Loved the decor and attention to detail, too. You're in a spot full of locals, so you'll definitely get a good feel of the people and overall vibe of the city. Vale!

Ampuero is a small town but has a large selection of cafés and bars. This one in the Central Plaza…read moreis my favorite. It gives right onto the plaza and you can watch the world go by as you sip your coffee. Their coffees are good and their food is too. I particularly enjoy their very simple bocadillo with Spanish ham. The guys that work there are super cool even though they are run ragged as It is a very popular café

Comfortable place right by the roundabout, so stop in, rest your feet, and toss back a couple…read more Friendly service, clean restrooms, good beer and tasty wine. ¡Buen Camino!

Bochinche is a cocktail lounge/bar that sits in the center of Santander's city center. First off,…read morethis lounge has HUGE variety of speciality cocktails even with a few non-alcoholic items. I think I counted at least 25 speciality cocktails with very clever names and intriguing mixes of ingredients. While the cocktails are quite innovative, I though our beverages did not pack much of a punch. For instance, I tasted very little tequila in my Paloma, and my partner had the same comment regarding his cocktail. While I probably would not grab too many drinks from here, I would start my night or afternoon with one or two beverages. Although the service was fine because our server had a lovely attitude, it may take some time for your drinks to arrive. During our visit, it took about 15 minutes for our beverages to arrive; however, there were only three other customers. However, I understand because it does take some time to prepare specialty cocktails.

Pretty great spot to get a beer and/or a gin cocktail in Cañadio Square. Inside, the bar is pretty…read morespacious; however, the LARGE outdoor patio is where all the action is. Although Bar Canela is pretty popular with locals, the prices are pretty reasonable. Bar Canela is a great place to meetup with friends to start a nice night or to have a night-cap in Santander.

Canela is cool because it's in the Cañadío square…read more They have ample outdoor seating on the weekends, which is perfect for those 3 months out of the year when Santander is warm enough to stand outside. To be fair, the weather has been good this year ;-) . Canela has reasonable wine prices. Expect a glass of Rioja to set you back 1.60. It's main draw is the atmosphere and people watching on the square.

Lucky for anyone who loves a good glass of wine and pintxos (and who doesn't?!), Santander has a…read morevery lively pintxos bar scene. Around 8pm, people start to trickle into the bars to have a glass of wine before dinner. Bodega Cigaleña is one of the most memorable of the pintxos bar - first and foremost, the sign at the door declares it is a "museo del vino". As soon as you enter, you very much feel that you are walking through someone's wine collection. Vintages of Rioja that go back as far as the 1920s decorate the shelves and the slate gives the feeling that you are in a cellar. The decor and the way that the bar zig-zags (it is not one long bar) gives the impression of coziness, privacy as you snag your own little nook, and a non-pretentious atmosphere to enjoy wine. Old people and young people alike choose to hang out here. As for the selection of wine, there is tons of it! Each denominación de origen (Spain's terminology for wine appellations) that surrounds Cantabria was well-represented and whether you wanted a red, white, or rose, there were plenty of choices priced under 3 euro. Silly me, I set a goal of wanting to taste every wine on the list; in reality, I tasted three on my two visits here. The bartender seems to have the power to read minds and always knew when me or one of the other clients was ready to try something new. And then there are the pintxos, which are of just of good a quality as the wine served. The tortilla was perfect and made the "Galician way" - just a little bit raw and softer in the middle. After a glass of wine on an empty stomach, the tortilla was all the more satisfying (and prevented me from becoming very drunk). The anchovy pintxo is just three anchovies served over a slice of bread; not overly impressive, but I think that the lack of flavor and texture of the bread was probably to blame. Bodega Cigaleña was definitely one of the most memorable "food and wine" portions of the trip to Santander. The wine, the food, the service - everything is of very high quality.

They have a selection of inexpensive, high quality wine and a selection of expensive high quality…read morewine. The place is small, bit as it is not as popular anymore, there was no issue finding room. It is not a place I would suggest for finding sates, but it is a nice place for wine and snacks.