The eat and drink paradise in Tenerife
The biggest misconception about Tenerife? Or prejudice? That you only have restaurants with multilingual menus and photos for each dish. Then you clearly haven't heard of guachines; small eateries where it feels like you're eating in the living room of local families.
Do you know what I have, in times of lockdown when traveling is impossible? I travel with my mind. Last night I was with Renate Gerschtanowitz in New York (it was fun!) and the night before I was in Paris with my loved one and friends we meet every year somewhere abroad. Another remedy against lockdown blues is anticipation. Start exploring where you will go later. As you know, Tenerife is a Very Serious Option for me. Sun guaranteed, not far to fly, lovely beaches, and let's talk about the food there on this Canary Island.
New Year
What characterizes Tenerife is that they work with local products, cherish the old, and also want to innovate. This leads to modern restaurants where they cook with local products (the 0 km theory, remember?) where you are served refined dishes.
Wines, wines, wines
When you say Tenerife, you say bodegas or wine houses. They are in abundance.
Just a few favorites:
Bodegas Ferrera where you enjoy a good glass among the vines, Bodegas Tajinaste, Bodega Frontos, Bodegas Monje, Vina
Estevez, La Baldesa and so on. Tip: I wouldn't go to Tenerife during your Dry January, because these delicious wines make life very difficult for you.
Go local
Here you will experience the tastiest lunches and longest evenings.
In the lagoon, you have the following nice restaurants.
El Guaydil
Instagrammable, beautiful neutral colors, laidback, accessible, and of course fantastic food.
Tasca El Obispado
You won't find it more Spanish: local atmosphere, pimientos de padrón, toasted bread with plenty of garlic and large platters. Not necessarily the most modern restaurant, but you don't always feel like that. Here you are really in Spain.
RTE del hotel Laguna Nivaria
When you are here, you feel like painting your house, it is so inspiring. You eat from linen so put on your nice outfit.
Restaurant Silbo Gomero
Also in Santa Cruz, you can't go wrong when it comes to restaurants.
Panza de Burro
Think of beautiful plates with edible flowers, that kind of thing. And local products, of course.
La Hierbita
Oh, it's all so deliciously Spanish and authentic. Almost all the restaurants I recommend have no website. At most a Facebook page or a mention on TripAdvisor. So you are at least very far from the chains. You won't find it more local.
Bodeguita Canaria
Look, a restaurant with a site and only photos of their dishes. Look at it and this one is in your top three. Immediately.
La Posada del Pez
Oh la la, this is haute cuisine and a serious Michelin candidate. The plates are works of art.
Also go to the north of the island
Bodegón Patamero
View of palm trees and the beautiful, green hills. Nice low profile with the best food.
Mirador de Garachico
This is my favorite, you know. Nice and tasty, that's how we like it. And that website is immediately a color chart for your interior, so beautiful.
El Calderito de la Abuela
Two men, their own wine, and a cool and stylish restaurant. And shared dining of course. I like it a lot.
La Sandunga
Think refined, a beautiful interior, and a view that makes you feel like you're in the hills of Bali.
Haydeé
Surf and turf oysters, ceviches, that kind of work and a very handsome chef. This will become your regular hangout, bet?
Diaz
Plates as little works of art and a chef who casually joins you at the table, that kind of restaurant.
And let's not forget the south, because there you will also find the nicest, prettiest, and tastiest filled plates and glasses.
La Masía del Mar
View of the sea and the tastiest, fresh fish. You want to.
El Secreto de Chimiche
Refined cuisine, beautiful interior, an experience.
Char
Modern kitchen and corresponding interior, beautiful crockery and of course as the name suggests: a lot from the grill.
Gotxoa
Did you still have those prejudices about menus with photos and everything in four languages? This is exactly the opposite. Stylish, refined, and oh so beautiful.
Muelle Viejo
Fresh fish in the display, point out what you want and then eat it at a large table. I could sit here every day with my family.
And then of course the guachines
Or the small eateries, owned by families. It feels like you are eating in their living room. Here are the best ones in a row.
1. Guachinche La Cuadra
2. Guachinche Chela
I think we will see each other as soon as Europe is yellow again. Or green…
