Calle Gascona — La Calle de la Sidra
A single pedestrian street in Oviedo's old town has earned legendary status among Asturian food lovers: Calle Gascona, nicknamed La Calle de la Sidra, is lined wall-to-wall with traditional sidrerías where waiters escanciado cider from shoulder height and the kitchen sends out plates of tortilla de patatas, morcilla and grilled chorizo al sidra all evening long.
The Ritual of the Escanciado
Asturian natural cider is poured from arm's length into a wide-rimmed glass held at knee level, aerating the flat, tart liquid so it briefly froths and releases its apple aroma. You drink the small measure immediately — the culete — and tip the last drops onto the floor, a tradition every sidrería floor is well accustomed to.
Most bars on Gascona will happily teach curious visitors the pouring technique; a bottle of house cider costs around €3 and is shared among the table, refilled repeatedly by an attentive escanciador.
What to Eat Alongside the Cider
Order a cachopo to understand why Asturians are so proud of their cooking: two enormous veal escalopes sandwiched around melted cheese and jamón, breaded and fried to a shattering golden crust. A single portion is routinely the size of a dinner plate and is meant for sharing.
Casa Trabanco at the top of the street is one of the oldest and most reliable sidrerías, with a back dining room where fabada asturiana arrives in a clay pot and the bean broth is thick enough to stand a spoon in. Reservations are wise on Friday and Saturday evenings.
More of Oviedo
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Oviedo →
