A guide to food and drink in Costa Blanca

Exploring Costa Blanca's delicacies

Costa Blanca has several delicious local food specialities that are worth trying while you’re on your fabulous Costa Blanca holiday. Lots of kinds of fresh seafood such as shrimps are used and chicken features in many dishes. They’re often freshly cooked using local ingredients too which makes them extra tasty.

Paella is an absolute must-try as they really know how make this delicious. The basic ingredients include rice, chicken, seafood, tomatoes, green beans and olive oil. This is a real mainstay of Spanish food and social culture. Tapas snacks are available just about everywhere. They come in many different types with some including olive paste, sardines or artichokes. There’s also cocido con pelotas which is a delicious meatball and vegetable stew. You can accompany all this lovely food with a glass of sangria which is traditionally made with red wine, chopped fruit and orange juice.

Amigos Bistro by Nas & Dino, Benidorm

Not only is this eatery currently rated number one restaurant in Benidorm on TripAdvisor but it’s also number one out of nearly 5,000 restaurants listed in the whole of Costa Blanca. People go as much for the delicious food as for the inviting atmosphere and attentive owners who are happy to explain the menu and cooking processes with a smile on their face. They serve foods of all flavours from lobster to fajitas and hamburgers to cheesecake.

Al fresco dining at Rondo, Moraira

With a quiet terrace you can eat away from the buzz of the town at Rondo, which has a menu providing the best of foods from around the world. They include Thai dishes such as red curry and bang bang chicken, Mexican pulled pork quesadilla and Tempura cod using local fish with a light Japanese-style batter. Children are also well catered for. You’ll need to book as it’s almost always busy and only opens for summer season.

Splash out at Quique Dacosta, Denia

The first thing that strikes you about Quique Dacosta restaurant is the bold white building with walls of glass – part Spanish, part modernist. Inside, the emphasis on the unique continues, with the head chef – Quique himself – using molecular and other modern techniques to create gastronomy with surprising flavours. It’s not cheap – the degustation menu is €183 – but it’s a once in a lifetime experience and a holiday treat.

Comfort food at Sudeste, Alicante

It’s worth the trip to Alicante for this fun restaurant that does barbecued food at its most delicious. Mexico meets the Mediterranean on their small menu, mainly offering burgers and tacos but sometimes good things come in small packages. The staff are ultra-friendly and happy to speak English and there are a good selection of gourmet beers to wash everything down with.

Scenic views at Restaurant Belvedere, Benidorm

On the 21st floor of the Hotel Madeira Centro, you can even enjoy the views on the way up with the external lift. Once at the top the open air dining terrace lets you take in the curving bays of Benidorm in all their glory. The menu is based on local produce with a twist of exciting flavours. This place is great for a romantic dinner if you’re looking to impress that special someone on your holidays to Costa Blanca.