Island Eats
Spain in general, and the Canaries in particular are known for their great food and wonderful bar activity! There is always a great place to eat, whether you want some tapas style finger foods, rice specialties, or more gourmet style eateries. Here are some of our very favorite places. Feel free to look them up on internet for opening days and times. We have conveniently grouped them by location to make it easier to navigate around the island.
Outside the tourist areas
La Forgia (4/5)
La Forgia is a family run restaurant in the bottom of Nazaret. It is probably the only restaurant in Nazaret actually! It is run by an Italian couple, she cooks while he serves. This is not your every day Italian restaurant, it serves some delicious Italian specialties. As well as local fine foods (like shrimp from La Santa)
Teleclub de Nazaret (3/5)
This is an interesting notion, the “Teleclub”. Historically they were places where the local population could come together, to watch TV but also for local events. They have since moved on, but remain a local concession given by a township to a family to run, serving the local community. The food tends to be very home style, but very good quality so if you are in for local cuisine, and can speak a little bit of Spanish, this is definitely one to try.
Teleclub de los Valles (3/5)
Similar to the previous one, Los Valles is up through Teguise and then heading past El Mojon towards Haría. Lovely local food and atmosphere, and quite cheap.
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Teleclub de Tao (4/5)
Similar to the other Teleclubs, this one is located in the little village of Tao, on the road to San Bartolome and just behind Mozaga. This one really does feel like a local canteen, but the food is delicious. The grilled octopus, patatas bravas, croquetas, and other specialties were a real treat.
Teguise Town
Centro Socio Cultural (4/5)
This one takes the highest marks for us in Teguise, and you would never even know it’s a restaurant as you walk by… humming on a Sunday, it is THE place to go for a “pulpo al gril” which is a small individual octopus served with a potato on his head, grilled to crisp perfection, served with homemade green and red mojo sauces that are so typical around the island and for which everyone has their own recipe. These ones are the absolute best. A beer alongside… and you have all you need really.
La Cantina (3/5)
A lovely little corner restaurant at the entrance to Calle Leon y Castillo, in the “zona peatonal” (pedestrian zone). It is worth going inside as it has the cutest little inner Manrique-style terrace in white cement with lush green plants, and the interior walls are covered in old wooden shutters. Local cuisine, very home style. Inexpensive and quaint.
Pintxos (3/5)
This lovely place comes alive during the market on Sundays, when everyone is queuing for these bite sized sandwiches and finger foods, like those served in the north of Spain. Lively bands and music, a struggle to find a place to sit but when you do you can enjoy an ice-cold beer and a bite in the shady street.
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Pizzeria Disfrutar (3/5)
Had to put this one on the list as we have heard it is one of the best pizzerias on the island. The pizzas are quite cheap (8-11 euros) and since the place is literally 3 km away from the house, can be brought home piping hot for dinner.
Hesperides (3/5)
Another very typical local Spanish cuisine, in a lovely old fashioned typical house that doubles to the side as a shop selling clothing and decoration articles. Friendly service, and open even outside the tourist season when most places tend to close down…
El Recoveco de NaRa (3/5)
Loved this restaurant with a terrace and a hidden garden on the side. Apparently the best grilled “pulpo” which we tried and enjoyed – although it does not beat our favorite at the Centro Socio Cultural in the Calle Leon y Castillo. Everything was delicious though.
Costa Teguise
La Bohemia (3/5)
La Bohemia is a great place for the delicious meats and sausages they serve, burgers and chistorra (a typical hot sausage that resembles Chorizo), all served straight from the grill on wooden slabs, with fries and pimientos de padrón (local peppers fried up and served with rock salt). Although the food is delicious, there is a caveat here for the service... And the wait time without a reservation can be quite long.
Peskera (3/5)
This one is part of a chain of restaurants, called Cesare Restaurants (others in the chain include La Hacienda which is Mexican style, Restaurante Cesare which is Italian, and Restaurante El Maestro which is the biggest and more diverse one). Peskera specializes in fish and arroz specialties, although it serves the same basic pasta and pizzas and traditional dishes the other restaurants do as well. The location is lovely, right on the promenade in front of the sea.
Plaza Pueblo Marinero and it's restaurants (3/5)
This is where all the action is in the evenings. Lively bars and restaurants all around, cocktails, live music. It is just off the major artery Avenida de las Islas Canarias. You haven’t seen Costa Teguise if you haven’t visited this lovely square modeled in classic Canarian architecture. There is a lovely pizza place, Divina Italia, and a pasta place, El Patio on the square. Pablo’s at the entrance used to have the reputation for typical Spanish cuisine although it seems to have been surpassed in recent years.
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Sebe
Have not had a chance to try this one yet but it was reviewed in the Michelin and has been highly recommended by our local friends.
La Taberna del Mar (4/5)
This is a lovely tavern at the end of the parking lot in front of the Gran Teguise hotel. It has views on the beach and the sea front. It serves very good local food at a very decent price. If you want to try the local “arroz” dishes (paellas of all sorts) they have a wide selection, and all are delicious!
Taberna El Bocadito (4/5)
If you are more into the delicious grilled meats the island has to offer, this is the place. You can see right into the kitchen and the grill area, and the maturing refrigerators. The mixed grill here is to die for, the Iberian porc “secreto” and “abanico” cuts are divine.
Playa/Puerto del Carmen
El Torro (4/5)
This place isn’t on the sea front it is slightly behind the hum of the Playa del Carmen strip. It is an “asador” which is a grill, great place for grilled meats served in heaping platters, very simply with fries and pimientos de padrón. Don’t wear your greatest out to this place or you might come home smelling like a roast… but the atmosphere is really fun here, and the clients are a mixture of locals and tourists so you know you’re in the right spot.
Sal y Pimienta (3/5)
Another typical Spanish tapas place, high up on the hill that overlooks the sea and Puerto del Carmen harbor. The food is lovely and you can enjoy the sunset overlooking the bay while you eat. Very pleasant indeed.
Puerto Calero
Mumbai Masala (4/5)
It might sound crazy to be giving you some insights on an Indian restaurant in Spain… but sometimes you want to eat something different, and this one is really a very good Indian restaurant. The atmosphere is lovely, with a view on the marina and the boats. The flavors and scents emanating from this place are divine.
La Taberna del Puerto (5/5)
Ok this is by far our FAVORITE restaurant on the island. We discovered it the first time we came on the island and stayed in the area, and it was instant love! We ate there almost every day, and it has been in our hearts throughout every trip. Every friend or family member who has visited we have taken there, every discussion about owning a house on the island, putting in an offer, signing for the house, sleeping in it our first night… Every one has been here. The food is just the best local tapas you will find, the arroz negro is insanely good, the best on this island. The staff is just lovely and have come to be friends over time. And the view over the marina and the boats is well worth the trip. A lovely little upscale port tavern. Superb.