HISTORY
OUR LEGACY
What is San Clemente Restaurant? Many would undoubtedly say it is the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to hospitality.
For its founders, Manolo and Tinino, wine culture and hospitality have always been present in their lives. Like many other Galician farmers, working the land was the norm. From the Ribeira Sacra region, they spent their childhood among vineyards. From a young age, pruning, harvesting and vine care were part of everyday life. They come from the birthplace of Amandi wine.
During the hard post-war years they were forced to emigrate to prosper. They ended up in Zurich working in hospitality, but always with two thoughts in mind: to return one day to their homeland and to set up their own business.
After many years of hard work, the opportunity to return finally arose. They did not hesitate for a moment. Fate brought them back to Santiago de Compostela, where they could finally run their own establishment, San Clemente restaurant.
The combination of knowledge acquired in Switzerland in the restaurant sector, childhood experiences and deep roots in wine culture made them pioneers in Santiago de Compostela — for years promoting the 'blood' of their homeland, Amandi wine.
It was not long before San Clemente became a reference in the city, a meeting point for people from all walks of life in the area.
In the heart of the historic centre, in the square that gives it its name, stands the restaurant. Just a few metres from the busiest streets — enough to go almost unnoticed by visitors, but not by locals…
Today, more than 40 years later, the premises has been completely renovated, adapted to new times and trends. Miguel, the current manager who grew up in the restaurant, keeps it true to its essence: good food, good wine and a great atmosphere.
Manolo still visits the restaurant regularly and sometimes, almost unwittingly, recalls how it all began. Tinino permanently watches over what happens there from his favourite spot: "O rincón do patrón".