Gran Canaria boasts some of the best restaurants and eateries in the Canary Islands. With easy access to incredibly fresh produce and seafood, your holiday will be filled with vibrant, delicious food. Regardless if you'd like Spanish, Italian or another type of cuisine, you'll be able to find a restaurant to suits your taste and budget.
A taste of the Mediterranean
If you stay in Puerto de Mogan, there is a lovely nearby restaurant that provides a local café atmosphere called Gelatomania. There, guests can enjoy smoothies, crepes and other specialty snacks. The small establishment is next to a harbour, which allows visitors to watch the boats coming and going as they dine. There is a children's play area in the back of the restaurant as well.
Also located in Puerto de Mogan, Casito Mediterraneo offers up classic Mediterranean and Spanish dishes. Living up to its vibrant heritage, this restaurant only cooks with fresh seafood in their traditional tapas and serves local wine. Because this eatery is one of the finest on the island you can expect to pay more than the average restaurant.
For a traditional Italian meal while in Puerto de Mogan, La Cucina has a wide ranging and exciting menu. This is a small restaurant so you should definitely call ahead to make reservations. But once you're seated, the intimate and rustic dining experience is well worth the extra effort. The pizzas and pastas will please children, the unadventurous and discerning foodies alike.
Located in the city of Puerto Rico, the Cosi Come Sei restaurant is an intimate and family-friendly dining option. This eatery is located in a shopping centre, like many others on Gran Canaria, and only has ten tables. Because of the small size, you will likely have to call ahead to make reservations. But while this restaurant unofficially requires reservations, it is fairly budget friendly and definitely family friendly. They have menu options for every income and taste.
There are several excellent choices for dining out in the area of Puerto Rico, including La Mattina for Italian cuisine. This cosy and sophisticated eatery is known for its classic Italian offerings like pasta, pizza and tiramisu. Because Italian food is so well-known and loved, there can be some debate about whether this is one of the best Italian eateries on the island. But it certainly has vocal proponents in its corner. Like many other elegant restaurants on the island, you should plan ahead and make reservations to secure your table.
For a wallet friendly dinner option, make reservations at Restaurante Mar y Monte in Playa del Ingles. This cosy place is popular with Scandanavian tourists in particular. The menu of this restaurant has numerous internationally influenced dishes to appeal to tourists from all nations. Best of all, the restaurant is known for its affordable prices and generous portions, despite being located in a popular tourist area.
Found in the bustling shopping centre of Yumbo Centrum in Puerto Rico, Wapa Tapa restaurant is one of the best-rated on the island. Known for its tapas, this out of the way and small restaurant is a well-kept secret. You will certainly have to make reservations because of the modest size of this eatery. The menu has a variety of items, so everyone in your party will find something they like even if they are vegetarian, vegan, celiac or just picky!
Another contender for the best food on the island, N'Enoteca in Puerto de Mogan, offers stellar Italian cuisine. Unlike Wapa Tapa which is known for its low prices, N'Enoteca has a menu with items that are priced comparably to restaurants back home. As with Wapa Tapa, you will need to book a reservation in advance. The restaurant only has five tables and they are often in high demand.
If you would prefer a more budget-friendly meal, you can make reservations at Calima in Playa de Mogan. This Italian trattoria is staffed by attentive, thoughtful staff and offers delicious homemade food. The restaurant's combination of homemade pastas and gnocchi with local seafood will go down well with all the family.
Spice things up
Step outside of the traditional Canarian and Spanish fare and make reservations at Nomiya, a lovely Korean and Asian restaurant in Las Palmas. This cosy restaurant has the feeling of eating in a family kitchen. While the menu primarily offers Korean food, it also has offerings from other Asian cuisines including Japanese and Chinese.
For a very different type of cuisine while on Gran Canaria, make reservations at Happy Valley Indian Restaurant, also in Puerto Rico. You can expect classic Indian dishes here in varying levels of spiciness so don't worry it won't be intimidating if you're new to Indian cuisine. Unlike other eateries, Happy Valley offers free delivery even late at night. So if you've had a few too many while out or even at the hotel, Happy Valley can bring food to you!
For a modern dining experience, Samsara in Maspalomas offers contemporary dishes for a fair price. This eatery has an exciting menu of Asian fusion dishes. Perfect for the adventurous eater, there will be things on the menu that you won't be able to get anywhere else. The interior of this restaurant is just as quirky as the menu, too.
Tapas & local cuisine
Plush and sophisticated, Restaurante La Aquarela is considered one of the highest rated restaurants in Patalavaca on the southern coast of Gran Canaria. Offering wine and tapas as well as a full menu, there is something for every dining occasion whether it's a romantic dinner for two, a family meal or special occasion. It may not be the cheapest meal that you can arrange on the island but is certainly one of the best values for your money with its sublime offerings.
Another popular restaurant in Agaete is Dedo de Dios. Granted it does have mixed reviews, many are fond of it because of its great value and range of traditional Canarian cuisine. This eatery is off the beaten path and away from the other restaurants and stands out in more ways than just that. They also offer generous portions when compared against other establishments on Gran Canaria
For one of the finest tapas restaurants on the island, Restaurante La Tapita Los Jose's is a superb choice that is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late into the night. Located in Maspalomas, this small eatery doesn't even have a menu. When you stop in, a waiter will tell you what delicious options are available that day. It gives a hint at the onus this restaurant places on locality and seasonality of their ingredients.
A restaurant in Agaete that never fails to please with its light, fresh menu is the La Caleta. Italian in name, the restaurant also infuses its menu with selections that have an authentic and unmistakable taste of the islands. Much of the menu revolves around seafood that is caught off the shores of Gran Canaria so the food is super fresh. The restaurant's hours can work in your favour if you plan ahead. They are open later than many others in the area but they are closed on Mondays.
A well-regarded restaurant on Gran Canaria, located in the city of Maspalomas, is named after one of Spain's finest architects, A. Gaudi, after Antonin Gaudi. This restaurant, run by an Austrian expatriate, serves traditional Spanish and Canarian dishes made using the finest local ingredients. The restaurant specialises in pairing each dish with a Spanish wine to complete the perfect meal.
Located in Puerto Rico, Grill Costa Mar is a restaurant that takes advantage of Gran Canaria's abundance of local fresh seafood. In the Spanish style of tapas, this eatery makes authentic, regional cuisine while drawing upon seafood and produce harvested from the island. Located right on the harbour, you can enjoy the view while selecting from a fantastic range of the freshly caught fish.
Trying to select a tapas restaurant in the Canary Islands can be an overwhelming choice considering the fantastic range of options. Located in Puerto de Mogan, La Tabona is a welcoming tapas restaurant with an open-air patio. Staffed by expatriates, La Tabona has a friendly atmosphere perfect for visiting Brits.
A taste of home
For a meal that may remind you of home while staying in Maspalomas, the British Bulldog is a top option. Sometimes on a long holiday, a taste of home is needed. Don't be deterred by the name of this establishment, this isn't a pub but a full-service restaurant. Run by expatriates, they offer a complete menu of British favourites at affordable prices.
If you would like more familiar food, stop into the Irish Tavern in Puerto de Mogan. This restaurant is a favourite for its comfort pub food and local seafood. You can get a burger and chips or seafood salad made from spankingly freshly caught fish; you can even see where your food is coming from as the Irish Tavern has a lovely view of the nearby harbour.
Best of the rest
A unique dining experience is to be had at Los Cedros, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Don't let the uninspiring exterior be an indication of the wonderful food and service inside. The Lebanese menu is versatile, accommodating meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. It is also very reasonably priced. Visitors in this area tend to go back more than once on the same holiday it's that good.
For a quiet dinner, Brasserie Entre Nous in Playa del Ingles is a lovely option. In classic brasserie style, this restaurant has traditional French dishes made from locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Like many restaurants on the island, there is a small number of tables so making a reservation is sensible.
One of the best romantic restaurants on the island is Deliciosa Marta. This charming restaurant in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is intimate and has immaculately plated courses. This restaurant is run by a family who values offering exquisite food at a fair price. The gourmet dishes on the menu revolve around both seasonal and local ingredients.
If you're up for a trip off the beaten path for a gourmet and contemporary meal in one of Gran Canaria's less visited cities, make reservations at Let Me Take U in Tejada. This local café has modern cuisine with twist - and spectacular views. You can sit outside and enjoy some al fresco dining, plus if you're truly taken with the place, you can book a stay at the hotel located just upstairs from the café.