Food and Drink, Canary Islands
Holidaymakers will experience fabulous food and drink in the Canary Islands. Choose from cheap eats to fine-dining experiences, or dine at one of the many seafood restaurants here. Ensure you venture to eateries serving traditional Canarian cuisine, too, so you can taste fresh and locally sourced produce.
There’s also plenty of beachfront bars to sit and admire the ocean while sipping on an after-dinner tipple.
Beachfront Bars
The Canary Islands offer oodles of places to wine and dine while overlooking the ocean. Tourists can now find even more spots to eat, drink and chill out beside the scenic shoreline, as many have started to crop up each year. Plus, you’ll be entertained by regular DJs and live music performances.
Experience this at Kaluna Beach Club in Tenerife. It’s located in the impressive area of Costa Adeje, and you can enjoy the perfect pick-me-up while observing the serene sunset on the horizon.
Venture to the terrace to unwind on a plush bed or a sun lounger by the club’s infinity pool. You can relax in one of the VIP cabins, too, as you indulge in some delicious dishes or a tasty tipple.
Alternatively, head to Beach Bar Luca in Teguise, Lanzarote, which sits next to Playa de las Cucharas beach. It offers plenty of deckchairs and outdoor sofas to lounge on, as well as a variety of refreshing cocktails to sip, including mojitos and daiquiris.
Cheap Places To Eat
Dining out on holiday shouldn’t have to break the bank and there are an array of restaurants offering affordable, good quality meals across the Canary Islands.
Take La Casita de Taby, a charming tapas bar in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife. Here, you can pick and choose from a selection of small plates at reasonable prices. This includes patatas bravas, cured meat and cheese platters as well as boquerones (fresh anchovies marinated in vinegar).
Whereas, Café Terraza in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a light snack during the day. This low-cost joint sits beside the marina, so it’s ideal for grabbing a coffee and a slice of cake while overlooking the waterfront.
If you’re holidaying in Gran Canaria, dine at El Alpendre – a family-run eatery which serves yummy local cuisine. This hidden gem is close to the viewpoint of La Sorrueda, and the rustic interior adds to this restaurant’s cosy atmosphere. Foodies can sit inside or outside as they tuck into large portions, featuring ingredients that are grown in El Alpendre’s garden!
El Molino Blanco
You can’t miss El Molino Blanco; this exquisite eatery is set inside an old windmill! Milled flour (locally known as “gofio”) has been a staple ingredient across the Canaries for over 500 years, produced in mills just like this one. Today, there’s a limited amount still in operation, but El Molino Blanco is reminiscent of the past, giving the building a new lease of life.
This unique restaurant, situated in Costa Adeje, serves a variety of Canarian and international cuisine. Guests can sit indoors or on the garden terrace for a quieter experience, which is decorated with lush plants and flowers. You can also book an intimate gazebo table outside for a special occasion or a romantic date night.
You’ll enjoy the distinctive decor when dining here, as well as divine dishes and the perfect ambience. It is a truly wonderful spot in Tenerife and you’re in for a real treat when you visit. Why? Because live music performances are showcased every evening!
Gourmet Eateries
The Canary Islands is the ultimate paradise for foodies; there are oodles of restaurants serving up gourmet cuisine. Take La Cabaña, a quaint eatery in Macher, Lanzarote which serves delightful Mediterranean-inspired dishes within a cosy atmosphere. It presents fresh, quality produce, paired with superior service. In fact, all of the meals are freshly prepared and made to order.
Head to Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife to dine at El Taller Seve Diaz. This trendy spot offers traditional Canarian cooking with an edge, alongside a first-class service from the attentive staff. Opt for the popular tasting menu to sample the different types of dishy plates. This restaurant is loved by locals and visitors alike, so book a table in advance to ensure you don’t miss out!
Restaurante Valle de Mogán delivers an exquisite, Gran Canarian-style tasting menu, too. The finest ingredients are used to create each authentic dish, cooked by chefs who have a keen interest in gastronomy. The remote location provides a peaceful dining experience; guests can relax on the terrace which overlooks the calming valley.
Local Cuisine
You must try local Canarian food during your holiday; the cuisine is a mix of Spanish, African and Latin American influences. Seafood is particularly popular, with fresh produce always being just a stone’s throw away, and there’s a vast number of restaurants serving it up. Enjoy a plate of Vieja, which has a colourful look and distinctive taste.
Papas arrugadas, the Canary Islands’ famous wrinkled potatoes, are given their unique flavour from the volcanic sands they’re grown in! They are boiled, salted, left to dry and then served with a helping of mojo picón – a spicy sauce which accompanies many different dishes across the islands.
Why not indulge in a meal containing Gofio? This is a flour historically made in the local stone mills; it’s used in a variety of dishes, too, from soups and stews to ice cream. Tourists may find it a little unusual, but it’s seen as a superfood by the residents there. So, you should definitely give it a try!
Restaurante Acuatromanos
Restaurante Acuatromanos is simply superb, serving mouth-watering, contemporary cuisine in Playa San Juan, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This excellent eatery only opens on an evening and while their prices are slightly above average, you’ll receive incredible food, of the highest standard.
For those looking to sample a variety of dishes, this restaurant is a must. Why? Because it offers a five or seven-course tasting menu, using the best ingredients. You can choose from sumptuous sea bream, gnocchi or the fresh fish of the day. Delicious.
The smaller portions on offer are rich in flavour and high in quality. Diners can even enjoy their meal with a glorious glass of wine from the varied selection available.
The interior at Restaurante Acuatromanos is modern and features an appealing open kitchen where guests can watch their food being cooked from their table! You will be blown away by the presentation of the dishes, too. Plus, the relaxing and luxurious atmosphere makes for a perfect, fine dining experience.
Restaurante La Flamenca
Restaurante La Flamenca in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, offers European, Mediterranean and typical Spanish cuisine to savour. The restaurant boasts great quality produce, and visitors can expect sumptuous starters, grilled skewers and fresh fish. The seafood specialities include tasty tuna, and a particularly popular dish amongst diners is the clam and squid paella.
This spot is ideal for families alongside food lovers of all tastes (and ages), who are sure to find something that tickles their fancy.
The reasonable prices, combined with welcoming staff and the excellent service make for a relaxing evening. If you have any dietary requirements, don’t worry; this eatery caters for everyone, offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options to relish.
Restaurante La Flamenca only opens for dinner, so ensure you head over there at night. Enjoy a glass of wine at your table, as there’s a good variety of local bottles to choose from. Then, sip away as you sample their tapas plates, or while tucking into a juicy steak!
Seafood Restaurants
They say that the best places to eat great seafood are those with an ocean view, and you’ll find plenty of these eateries dotted across the Canary Islands. In fact, you’ll never be short of restaurants serving up fresh fish when holidaying here.
A highly regarded speciality of the islands is Vieja (parrotfish), thought to be a favourite fish dish amongst Canarians.
Casa Rafa in El Golfo, Lanzarote is a quaint restaurant offering Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine. This is a popular spot with locals and holidaymakers alike due to its high-quality dishes; they have a wide variety of seafood including gorgeous, grilled octopus!
Grill Costa Mar is a small, family-run restaurant located in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria. It can be found tucked away by the side of the marina and specialises in seafood and fresh produce. Popular dishes include sharers such as mixed fish platters or paella. So, make pop over here with a friend.
The Eiffel Bar
The Eiffel Bar is a Parisian-inspired cocktail bar, sitting in the heart of Gran Canarias’ Playa del Inglés.
Two French owners run it, meaning guests can expect drinks imported directly from France, including Grey Goose vodka alongside an array of wines and champagnes. This spectacular spot also serves a selection of international beers, luxury liquors and classic cocktails (such as daiquiris, piña coladas and mojitos).
The Eiffel Bar is a favourite destination amongst holidaymakers visiting this side of Gran Canaria, thanks to its bright and modern decor and a charming ambience. Relax on the sofas for a wine tasting session, or take a cocktail out onto the terrace and embrace the warm nights the Canary Islands are so famous for.
Having opened in 2011, the bar has quickly gained popularity with tourists; it provides a relaxing atmosphere with high-quality beverages. Plus, it’s perfect for an after-dinner tipple! That’s why travellers return again and again, to experience the welcoming and friendly service.