The “Hawaii of Europe,” the “Islands of Eternal Spring,” the “Fortunate Isles”… the Canary Islands, of which Tenerife is a part, have countless wonderful nicknames inspired by their excellent climate, stunning scenery, and addictive laid-back vibe. In between hiking to the tops of volcanoes, kayaking alongside wild turtles, and falling in love with the views, don’t forget to make time to try some of the best restaurants in Tenerife!
Although the volcanic island is part of Spain, the food is a lot different here than you’ll find on the mainland. Instead of paella, tapas, and churros, the restaurants in Tenerife serve melt-in-the-mouth goat stews, grilled sardines caught that very morning, and some of the most delicious wine you’ll ever taste in your life.
As someone who now calls Tenerife home, I realize that there are so many incredible places to eat in Tenerife that even putting a shortlist together can feel impossible. To give you a helping hand, I’ve created a roundup of my absolute favorite restaurants on the island, along with a few recommendations of dishes I’ve tried and absolutely loved!
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1. Kiki
One of my favorite Tenerife restaurants for a fancy date night, Kiki is a hidden gem tucked inside the Urban Anaga Hotel in Santa Cruz.
It dishes up an innovative style of Japanese fusion food that combines age-old Asian flavors and cooking techniques with creative ingredients from around the world. The presentation here is better than any other Japanese restaurant I’ve ever been to. Even the co*cktails look like they belong in an art gallery!
If you’re up for a late night, head upstairs to the hotel’s rooftop bar after your meal. It stays open until around 4 am on the weekends and serves huge gin and tonics with all kinds of interesting aromatics.
2. Como en Casa
You wouldn’t expect to find a contender for the best restaurant in Tenerife just a couple of minutes away from the north airport, but that’s exactly where Como en Casa is. This one-of-a-kind venue is part farm and part traditional Canarian kitchen.
You can wander over to the stables and pet the horses before finding your table. If you sit outside, you’re guaranteed to have chickens of all shapes and sizes wandering around you – it’s great fun!
The portions here are absolutely huge and the prices are shockingly cheap. Be careful how much you order because although it doesn’t say on the menu, all the main courses come with a huge portion of hand-cut french fries. Takeaway containers are readily available, so nothing has to go to waste.
3. Tasca Silbo Gomero
If you’re looking for where to eat in Tenerife for a fine dining experience that won’t break the bank, I suggest you head to La Laguna and seek out Tasca Silbo Gomero. Here Chef Braulio Simancas succeeds in his attempts to keep traditional Canarian cuisine alive by combining local ingredients and classic flavors with innovative cooking methods and gorgeous presentation.
The menu changes based on which seasonal ingredients are available. But one dish that’s usually served is carrilleras de vaca – beef cheeks that come with the most delicious sauce made from roasted peppers.
4. Jaxana
When it comes to Asian food, Jaxana is one of the top restaurants in Tenerife. Located in Santa Cruz, next to Plaza de España, this hip dining spot features a spectacular menu brimming with creative Asian cuisine made with local Canarian ingredients.
Here you can dig into all kinds of delicious bites from Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea brought to life with shrimp caught just off the coast of Tenerife, avocados grown in La Palma, and cheese made from the milk of goats in El Hierro.
If this is your first time going to Jaxana, I insist you order the tasting menu. It highlights the best local ingredients and the finest dishes prepared by the talented chefs. Pair it with a bottle of Canarian wine and you’ll be in heaven.
5. Mesón El Monasterio
In my opinion, Mesón El Monasterio is one of the best restaurants in Tenerife for an intimate, candle-lit dinner you’ll never forget. Set up in the mountains above Puerto de La Cruz, this romantic spot is made up of a handful of unique restaurants, each of which offers a different menu and vibe.
An inside table in El Monasterio, the main restaurant, is my absolute favorite spot. This dining room is decorated with all sorts of quirky Canarian decorations, and in winter, there’s a beautiful fire crackling in the corner. Before you leave, take a walk behind the restaurant. You’ll find a little bridge crossing a river, a mini waterfall, and a pond that’s filled with ducks.
6. El Rincón de Juan Carlos
El Rincón de Juan Carlos is one of the most coveted Tenerife restaurants, boasting an impressive two Michelin stars. Tucked away inside the Royal Hideaway Corales Beach Hotel, this restaurant boasts mesmerizing sea views, exemplary service, and creative Canarian cuisine.
There’s no a la carte menu here – your only choice is a sensational tasting menu experience that lasts for around 3 hours. The price is a little steep, but I recommend ordering the bread, too. It’s made from artisan sourdough and comes with hand-churned butter. You’ll never have anything like it in your life ever again!
7. Oro di Napoli
Ask a local where the best pizza place in Tenerife is and 99% of the time they’ll tell you Oro di Napoli. Set in an unassuming corner location in the vacation resort town of Los Cristianos, this humble restaurant dishes up epic Neapolitan-style pizzas just minutes after you order them.
You don’t even need to look the place up on Google Maps. Just get yourself to Los Cristianos and let the sweet smell of fresh pizza dough cooking in a wood-fired oven guide you. With their light-as-a-cloud crusts, top-quality ingredients, and uber-delicious mozzarella, every single pizza here is amazing.
If you’re searching for something a little different, Oro di Napoli also offers crunchy golden deep-fried pizzas.
8. El Mirador
Los Abrigos is where you’ll find some of the best places to eat in Tenerife when you’re craving fish and seafood. Make plans to eat at El Mirador and you can combine fresh-as-can-be ingredients with a breathtaking coastal panorama. The name means “Lookout Point” in English, so you can imagine how great the view is from here!
You can’t beat the fish of the day served with Canarian potatoes and salad. Prefer to know what you’re going to eat? I’d suggest ordering the grilled cuttlefish if you’re in the mood for seafood or the red tuna if you fancy fish. The Canarian pork chop is my recommendation if you’re looking for a meaty alternative.
9. Prime400
If you find yourself in The Duke Shops and you’re looking for somewhere to eat, head straight for Prime400. One of the top restaurants in Tenerife for hungry carnivores, this incredible steakhouse dishes up some of the best premium cuts of meat on the island. All the meat here is seared at 400°C in a high-end Josper grill. The result is a drool-worthy smoky flavor you’ll be craving for the rest of your vacation.
The ribeye steak is my go-to. But if you’re celebrating a special occasion, I suggest splashing out on the Wagyu bone-in ribeye steak and pairing it with some Josper-roasted potatoes topped with sour cream and chives. It’s a little on the pricey side, but you’ll be dreaming about it when you go home!
10. Guachinche La Maestra
Guachinche La Maestra may not be a traditional guachinche (a restaurant that only serves a tiny selection of dishes to accompany their homegrown wine), but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. Here you’ll find a fantastic selection of typical Canarian dishes, huge portions of grilled meat, and delicious house-made desserts, as well as the dishes you’d expect to find at a genuine guachinche.
The location is a little out of the way – it’s just off the motorway at Las Chafiras – but the food is so good that it’s absolutely worth traveling for. I order the queso asado appetizer every time and I recommend you do, too.
It’s made up of two thick slices of semi-hard goat cheese cooked on a hot plate until golden brown and served with local mojo sauce. The Ensalada Chafiras is served in a great big tower and is big enough to order as an entrée! The house wine is great, too, so you don’t need to spend a fortune on a fancy bottle.
There you have it! A local’s guide to the 10 best restaurants in Tenerife. Which Tenerife restaurants would you like to try on your next trip?
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Nicola Quinn Nicola is a freelance writer with an insatiable hunger for travel. She swapped her home in the UK for the sunny Canary Islands when she was just 11 and she has been based there ever since. From crawling on her hands and knees inside pyramids in Egypt to swimming with baby sharks in Bali and searching (fruitlessly!) for the Northern Lights in Iceland, Nicola takes every chance she gets to explore new places. The incredible experiences she has around the world fuels her writing and inspires her to plan even more adventures for the future.
