Why Contraseña is worth the table
Contraseña is the cheaper, easier way into the cooking of Código de Barra, the one-Michelin-star restaurant on the same street. It sits at Calle San Francisco 33, in the old town, and the venue calls itself the younger sibling of Código de Barra. The Michelin Guide lists it in the €€ band under Modern and Traditional cuisine. It is listed, not decorated: the guide's page shows no star or Bib Gourmand for Contraseña, so treat it as a serious, mid-priced dinner rather than a trophy booking.
The cook and the cooking
Léon Griffioen, the Dutch-born chef who runs the kitchen, worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants before settling in Cádiz. Michelin describes his cooking as modern and cheerful, rooted in tradition and the Cádiz area, using contemporary technique to show off local flavours. Paqui Márquez runs the dining room and the wine service.
The menu leans on the town's repertoire. The venue's menu page lists a take on tortillitas de camarones with a spicy sauce, garlic prawns finished with dry sherry, and a torrija with thyme ice cream. Michelin singles out tuna with black olives on the à la carte, a nod to the atún de almadraba that defines the local spring.
What it costs
The tasting menu, called Clásico, is €50 per person and is served to the whole table. A wine pairing is €40 per person on top, and drinks are not included in the menu price. One press snippet quotes a lower menu price; the restaurant's own figure is the one to plan around, and it is worth confirming when you book.
Where it fits in a Cádiz evening
Calle San Francisco runs through the heart of the old town, so Contraseña pairs easily with a walk through El Pópulo or an early visit to the Cádiz Cathedral. If you want the full range of the family, Mare on Plaza de la Candelaria is the tiny, one-star tasting room where the Código de Barra story began.
Booking and opening days
Reservations are taken by phone on +34 655 18 89 17, and the venue's contact page also handles bookings. The restaurant says its hours stay the same all year but can change on specific dates, and its contact page lists Wednesday as closed. Hours are not reproduced here because published schedules disagree: confirm the day and the time with the restaurant before you walk over.