The tide mill

here the sea goes deep into the very bowels of Aponiente

Tidal mill

Aponiente is located in an old tide mill from the 19th century, in ‘El Caño’ of the Guadalete river in El Puerto de Santa María.

It is a construction built with ashlars of oyster stone that was used to grind grain using the force of the tides, so that during high tide the water was stored in a dam thanks to a lock and when the tide went out, this retained water was returned to the sea and thus the rotation of the mill wheel was driven.

These mills were true ingenuities of what today we call renewable, clean, free and self-managed energies.

With the arrival of the industrial revolution, they fell into disuse and for years were used as a tool store and workshop.

After a basic rehabilitation by the public administrations, Aponiente decided to locate its restaurant in this unique building where the sea penetrates into its entrails.

This has allowed the revitalisation of this area, which has been depressed for decades, and its integration with the territory.

free, clean, self-managed, renewable energy from over 100 years ago

More than a restaurant

Aponiente is not only a place to house a large kitchen team, but it has also become a gastronomic laboratory with a salt mine and a marine garden, as well as a centre for various cultural and educational activities.