The best places to eat and drink in La Palma
If you’ve read my blog on The best things to do in La Palma you’ll know that I love Spanish and Canarian food. And of all the Canary Islands, I think you’ll find the best cuisine in La Palma. While I do enjoy some variation in my meals when I’m travelling I also think it’s important to try local dishes – something I’ve very happy to do when tapas is involved!
La Palma has a huge Latin American influence and in Santa Cruz de La Palma, where we ate most of our meals, there’s Mexican, Cuban, Italian, sushi, Argentinian, and Venezuelan restaurants as well as a number of places to pick up a burger or kebab. But mostly, you’ll find authentic local spots that serve incredible dishes, from tapas-style sharing menus to larger plates and seafood.
The best places to eat and drink in La Palma
These were our favourite places to eat in La Palma.
La Lonja
This traditional tapas spot has outdoor and indoor courtyard seating and while I usually prefer al fresco, I loved the plant-filled courtyard at La Lonja. The menu is perfectly sized, with just the right variety of options without feeling overwhelming. We stopped here for dinner on our first night in La Palma and even at 9pm on a Sunday the vibes were good. Don’t miss the tomato salad and the patatas bravas!
Tasca Luis
Another gem in the middle of Santa Cruz de La Palma is Tasca Luis, an authentic traditional tapas restaurant serving a range of small plates. The restaurant has two menus: a permanent one that you access by QR code, and a changing menú del día that’s written on a chalk board. Though the menu of the day can change depending on the seasons and the ingredients they have in, you can always expect something fresh, authentic, and local. The restaurant was full of locals when we visited and the owners were very friendly and helpful.
Vinatería Albillo
This small beer bar in Santa Cruz de La Palma only has a few seats but it's a cute spot for a drink and if you’re hungry the food is good too – although a little expensive. Just make sure to check the opening times!
Restaurante El Coral or Restaurante cofradía de pescadores
This harbourside restaurant goes by two names on Google Maps but the building says Confradía de Pescadores – Brotherhood of Fishermen. It’s some of the freshest seafood you’ll get in La Palma and definitely some of the most delicious. Check the opening times before you come here as during our visit it was only open at lunch. It’s about a 20 minute walk out of Santa Cruz de La Palma next to Bajamar Beach and is well worth the trip. You can choose from the menu, or select a fresh fish of the day straight from the fridge.
Café Bar Plaza Chica
This relaxed restaurant by the beach, just off of Avenida de Maritima, is open for lunch and dinner and is a great spot for food and drinks. It’s fairly priced and the menu is full of reliable favourites including small plates, salads, and pastas.
La Recova
At the front of the Plaza de Mercado on Av. El Puente is a small hole-in-the-wall style cafe with street seating (Bar, Cafetería la Entrada de la Recova on Google Maps). It looks unassuming, but the arepas and empanadas here are worth stopping for – and they cost less than €4 each! We stayed here for lunch and the service isn’t the fastest if you’re in a rush but the food is well worth the wait. Also, try the Soda Italiana!
La Bodeguita de Medio
This small bar tucked behind Calle O’Daly is La Bodeguita de Medio. This Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar highlights La Palma’s connection with Latin America. The small menu is full of delicious, traditional dishes including tapas and larger plates.
Kiosko La Alameda
This cute kiosk in the centre of Plaza Alameda serves hot and cold, soft and alcoholic drinks as well as snacks through the day and into the night. It’s a great place to relax and take in the world. And on a Friday night there was a live band, adding to the atmosphere.
Restaurante Chipi-Chipi
Above the main town of Santa Cruz de La Palma is Restaurante Chipi-Chipi, which came highly recommended and was surprisingly busy for a restaurant that seems to be in a fairly random place. It’s on the side of the road and could easily but missed but once you’re inside it’s huge. On a Saturday afternoon we had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table but you can order drinks and snacks while you wait. It seemed like almost everyone there was local and it’s obviously why it’s popular. As well as being a beautiful place, the menu is delicious and the service is great.
Restaurante Mexicana Ajúa
Another taste of Latin America in La Palma is Ajúa, a Mexican restaurant serving all the classics including nachos, tacos, and fajitas. Warning: when they tell you the hot sauce is hot, they’re not kidding!
Jardín de la Sal
On the southern tip of La Palma, overlooking the salt fields, the ocean, and the Fuencaliente lighthouse, is a thematic restaurant listed on the Michelin guide.
The menu at Jardin de la Sal is small and perfect – everything is fresh and local. The terrace seating overlooks the ocean, the salt flats, lava fields, and the lighthouse. It’s a beautiful setting for lunch or dinner but it gets busy, so call or email to book in advance.
Restaurante El Casino
This restaurant in the centre of Santa Cruz de La Palma is located in an old, traditional-style building with wood panelling and arched details. But the beautiful setting isn’t the best bit. This was some of the best food we ate in La Palma – I recommend the salmon lasagne! I’m not the first person to think this, as it does get busy so you should book in advance to secure your table. The good news is Restaurante El Casino is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Bar Arepera El Encuentro
This small bar next to Plaza de la Alameda has cosy seats outdoors and plenty of umbrellas if the weather’s not great. We only stopped for drinks, but the food looked and smelled good too. The vibe here is great and the crowd is a combination of locals and tourists.
Other restaurants
If we’d had more time, and more days to eat and drink out, these are the restaurants we would have liked to have visited in La Palma.
Andares
El Mesón Restaurant
La Casa del Volcán
Casa Osmunda
Want to know more about how we spent our time in La Palma? Read our blog: The best things to do in La Palma.