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RESTAURANT LA RINCONADA (Zaragoza)
La Rinconada de Lorenzo
Living tradition of Aragonese cuisine in Zaragoza
Words: Rosario Alonso - Photos: Jose A. Muñoz and La Rinconada de Lorenzo
In a city where time resists letting go of tradition,
La Rinconada de Lorenzo stands as a testament
to the persistence of authentic flavour—a living
memory of an Aragón that sits down to eat without
hurry or fuss. Since 1972, it has occupied its space on
Calle La Salle, near Plaza San Francisco, crossing ge-
nerations and culinary trends without ever losing the
steady rhythm of its kitchen or the echo of its memories.
A story of family, jota and firewood
kitchens
Everything began in 1970, when Lorenzo Navascués—
jota singer, man of strong character and generous
words—opened the doors of his first restaurant in Zara-
goza together with his wife, María Cruz Badía. The Na-
vascués surname is linked in Aragón not only to traditio-
nal music, but also to a particular way of understanding
hospitality and life. Lorenzo, who garnered awards and
applause on stage, managed to translate the passion
of the jota—that communal, joyful and nostalgic song—
into his cooking and his treatment of customers. The
idea was simple: to turn his home into a refuge for tra-
ditional cuisine, with the same dedication and precision
required by a well-sung Aragonese copla.Two years
later, in 1972, the family moved the restaurant to its
current location, a spacious, bright house decorated
with Muel ceramics, wooden beams and lancet win-
dows. The place quickly filled with familiar aromas
and friendly voices: touring actors, passing politi-
cians, writers and journalists. Among the illustrious
names in the guestbook are José Luis López Váz-
quez, Concha Velasco, Carmen Sevilla and Gabriel
García Márquez, all of whom were won over by the
simplicity and rigour of a cuisine that doesn’t boast,
but wins hearts.
Rooms with history, a homely
atmosphere
Stepping into La Rinconada is like walking through a
small museum of Zaragoza’s everyday life. The dining
rooms —spacious yet cosy, adorned with still lifes, old
photographs, and references to the jota— evoke fami-
ly gatherings and celebratory dinners. The main room
stands out: bright, with high ceilings, and filled with me-
mentos of the founder —scarves, castanets, black-and-
white portraits, and posters from jota festivals. There is
also a more intimate room, perfect for private meals,
along with smaller spaces for discreet meetings.
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