Eating in Spain

Spanish Restaurants usually don’t open until 7.30pm though Indian and Chinese restaurants often open at 6pm. Just because a restaurant is quiet or empty it doesn’t mean that it is not a good restaurant. As the Spanish people don’t usually eat until 9 or 10pm you will find that you rarely have to book a table. Popular restaurants may still be serving food after midnight.

Many Spanish bars and cafes open early in the morning and it is not unusual to see the Spanish workers having a small coffee accompanied by a beer or even a short.

Spanish meals

Most restaurants offer "La menu del dia" (The menu of the day) - choose this, and you can often get 3 courses including wine for under 7 euros! Often this is not on display and you have to ask for this menu and in some places the waiter will just read a list of dishes off for you to choose from.

Tostada (half a baguette toasted) is often eaten as a snack with lashings of olive oil and salt. If you ask for a sandwich this often comes slightly toasted and warm.

Tapas can be an interesting way of eating but be careful it can end up very expensive.

A 10 minute drive from Villa Tranquilo there is a Spanish restaurant that provides an "eat as much as you like" buffet which includes wine and all for 10 Euros. In Albatera there are many typical bars and cafes and sometimes if you are lucky, a small plate of tapas are provided free when you receive your drink.

Chinese Meals

Many Chinese restaurants offer a “Menu del Dia” meal for 4.95 and perhaps one for 6.95. These are usually 3 courses with a glass of wine, soft drink or beer included in the price. In some of the Chinese restaurants you are even presented with a little gift when you receive the bill and also receive a free schnapps.

The WOK buffet restaurants are interesting places to eat. For 8.95 you can “eat as much as you like”. All the starters and deserts are laid out for you to just help yourself. The main courses are in a raw/uncooked state and you select what you want and take it to the cooking area where you choose the sort of sauce (salsa) you prefer and then your food is cooked for you while you watch. You can do this as many times as you like!

Our favourite Wok buffet is just past Quesada on the roundabout and next to Consum. The food always seems to be fresh and that bit more tasty than others we have tried. They also have a greater selection of salsa's (sauces) than the others we have tried.

Indian Meals

Indian restaurants seem to be about the most expensive way of eating out, even the “Menu del Dia” is more expensive than that found in Chinese and Spanish restaurants.
The best Indian restaurant we have found in the area is the Indian Ocean on the Lemon Tree Road just past Quesada. They have recently started offering a “Menu del Dia” for 10.95.

Italian Meals

Italian restaurants abound everywhere in Spain. We have had some lovely tasty Italian meals ranging from pasta dishes, pizzas and even a good steak!

In Albatera we have an excellent Italian called Capichi's that everyone talks very highly of (we have eaten there and we would agree). The prices are reasonable and it is very popular with both the Spanish and other nationalities so booking is always recommended. (Telephone: 0034 965 485 933)

English Meals

English cafes and restaurants can be found everywhere on the Costa Blanca and they vary from the high class to the "greasy spoon". A couple of places that we enjoy visiting are:
Jo's Bar in Albatera only opens during the day and is a great meeting place where you can also enjoy a good old "Full English" breakfast. (Telephone: 0034 636 049 621)

Cornish Pride in Catral is a cafe/restaurant and provides a good selection of quality home cooked food at a reasonable price. There is also a shop where freshly baked pasties, pies and other delicious items can be purchased to take home. (Telephone: 699 771 874)

Please be careful when drinking here as alcohol is very cheap and remember you won't be paying tourist prices in this area for anything. You also won't find any UK measures here - they just don't measure so in the heat of the day it is easy to drink far more than you are accustomed to.

Always carry a bottle of water with you as you can dehydrate very quickly on the Costa Blanca. Also be aware that you will seldom receive a measured tot, it is usually just poured direct from the bottle and if the barman's mind is on something else you may end up with a considerable quantity.