Eating out in Tenerife ranges from excellent-value local food to tourist-priced seafront menus. The best-value option is the menu del día, a set lunch with starter, main, dessert or coffee and a drink, offered on weekdays in many local restaurants, typically for around €10-15.
Typical price ranges
| Item | Local bar or restaurant | Seafront tourist area |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee (cortado or barraquíto) | Low | Higher |
| Menu del día lunch | About €10-15 | Rarely offered |
| Main course at dinner | Moderate | Higher |
| Glass of local wine | Low | Moderate |
| Pint of beer | Low | Higher |
Prices vary widely; use these as a rough guide and check menus outside.
Where locals eat
- Guachinches: informal, family-run places in the north serving home-made wine and simple Canarian dishes. A Tenerife institution.
- Bars in town centres away from the promenade.
- Fish restaurants in fishing villages such as Los Abrigos, La Caleta or Puerto de la Cruz harbour.
Dishes to try
- Papas arrugadas with mojo sauces.
- Grilled fresh fish of the day.
- Ropa vieja and potaje (stews).
- Gofio, the toasted grain flour used in many dishes.
- Barraquíto, a layered coffee with condensed milk and liqueur.
Tips to save
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime with a menu del día.
- Walk two streets back from the seafront.
- Ask for the local wine.
- Check whether bread and olives are charged.
Our verdict
Eating like a local is one of the joys and savings of a Tenerife winter. See Cost of a 3-Month Winter Stay in Tenerife.