Travel Diary: The Best Places to Eat in Lanzarote

This October I felt incredibly lucky to have been asked to join Jet2holidays on a press trip to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. I'd had holidays to Lanzarote* many-a-time as a child, and so I knew to expect glorious weather, stunning views and a glimpse at some of the Island's fascinating history. What I did not expect, was to dine like a queen for four days straight. If there's one thing I took away from this visit, it was the incredible culinary experiences that the Island has to offer. 

Lanzarote is a very popular destination with British holiday makers for many reasons. Besides almost eleven months of guaranteed sunshine, Lanzarote is best known for its volcanic landscape, beautiful beaches, and unique architecture which reflects the artistic vision of the celebrated Spanish artist and architect, César Manrique. Whilst Lanzarote can very much be a destination for luxury holidays, it can also be super affordable and easy to travel to from the UK. For this particular trip, we set off on our journey and caught our Jet2 flights from London Stansted, but you can see all about our full trip, the best tourist spots to visit and more via my How to Spend 3 Days in Lanzarote post. 

When it comes to cuisine, Lanzarote is known for traditional Spanish dishes, along with some influences from its neighbouring Islands; including the North African coast, which is just 80 miles away. From chorizo to patatas bravas and paella, the Island prides itself on fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients. There's plenty of delicious tapas to be found, as well as wine from over 2,000 registered viticulturists and 21 wineries making up the Denominacion de Origen. Each still use traditional, ancient methods and make the perfect accompaniment to your meal. 

In no particular order, here are my favourite places to dine in Lanzarote...

1. Kentia Gourmet Club in Puerto del Carmen

My favourite meal of the entire trip to Lanzarote was at The Kentia Gourmet Club in Puerto del Carmen. It is a Michelin star dining experience famed for its Spanish and African infusions, and fancy cocktails amid sophisticated, stylish decor. During the day, the restaurant offers lunch with beautiful beach views, and in the evening it makes for a romantic date night setting, ideal for special occasions. 

You can see just from looking at their cocktail menu (though in Spanish language) that the cocktails are very extra, indeed. The mixologists at the Kentia Gourmet have worked alongside Canarian artists to create each drink, combining classic cocktail recipes with a quirky, tropical twist and presented lavishly.

We were treated to a 5 course set meal, highlighting some of the best from their A La Carte menu. I would say this is a must if you're looking to sample some of the best food Lanzarote has to offer. We started off with a plate of breads, alongside a variety of butters, followed by our first course of Lanzarote fig jam semi-cured goat cheese terrine; layered goat's cheese, topped with roasted tomato and toasted onion chutney. This was followed by a signature fish from the Island, a rare fillet steak cooked to perfection, and a chocolate mousse with salted caramel & cream for dessert. 

As you can see pictured, I couldn't help but try one of their signature cocktails. This one is 'The Kraken' - Sailor Jerry, Aperol, pineapple juice, homemade chilli syrup, ginger beer and lemon juice. And before you ask, no - that 'cup' (if you can call it that) was like a bowling ball and bigger than my face, so there was absolutely no way I was leaving that fine establishment with it in my handbag. It was tempting though.

2. Jameos del Agua Restaurante

A popular tourist spot, and home to one of the most beautiful restaurant locations I've ever been fortunate enough to visit, is Jameos del Agua. It's a almost four-mile-long volcanic tube which formed an estimated 21,000 years ago and is a must-see on the Island. 

Converted in the 1960s and '70s by none other than César Manrique, Jameos del Agua was a popular hang-out for artists and socialites, and was visited by the likes of Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock. Today, the structure is a tourist favourite, currently made up of a restaurant and bar, a stunning salt water lake, caverns, an underground dance floor (making it ideal for weddings) and a picturesque pool. 

Having explored the caves and caverns, we sat down to enjoy a traditional Lanzarote three course lunch. We enjoyed a truly delicious pumpkin soup (I had no idea pumpkins could grow in Lanzarote due to the lack of rainfall), locally-caught grilled fish for main, and a very beautifully presented coconut chocolate cake for dessert. You can find the full Jameos del Agua menu here.

In terms of the quality of the food, the menu was very fresh and tasty, and not too heavy. Whilst it's not Michelin star quality, it is a great spot to stop for food and easily one of the most beautiful and unique locations to enjoy your lunch. 

3. Hespérides Restaurant in Old Town Teguise

Blink and you might miss it, a little off the beaten path is the Hespérides Restaurant in Old Town Teguise. Offering a relaxed yet smart setting, Restaurante Hespérides serves up a rotating menu of hearty international dishes and small plates with a twist. Like all of the other restaurants on this list, they use only locally sourced produced and the freshest ingredients for their somewhat experimental menu. Don't let the experimental element put you off for a second, though, as they do this to maximise flavours. For pasta, meat and fish lovers, this is a perfect place to visit, but they also offer a wide range of options for vegetarians and vegans, so there's something for everyone.

To get the very most of our visit, we sampled a 5 course menu highlighting the best Hespérides has to offer. Our courses included the following, Stuffed goat's cheese peppers with pate, a delicious selection of flavoured croquettes (goat's cheese, truffle and chicken & mushroom), an incredible tuna tartar with avocado, onion and olive dish (so good I still think about it to this day), pork belly served with a truly delicious jue, and a twist on a traditional gofio mousse Canarian dessert - a creamy dessert topped with grains and sweetcorn (yes, sweetcorn). The dessert was bizarre but somehow it worked!

All in all, the service and food were fantastic and this was another culinary highlight of the trip for me. I'd absolutely recommend visiting Hespérides Restaurant should you find yourself in Old Town Teguise.

4. MIAC (International Museum of Contemporary Art)

Housed within the 18th century military fort of Castillo de San Jos on the port of Arrecife, and remodelled by none other than César Manrique, Restaurante Castillo de San José is another unmissable and stunning dining location on the Island of Lanzarote. Diners can enjoy lunch or dinner in a glass terrace, overlooking the bay of Arrecife alongside a luxury menu, showcasing the quality of the local produce and beautifully presented. With it being a high-end establishment also, you can expect top class service and a wide selection of fine wines. 

We started our meal with a refreshing amuse bouche of juicy tomatoes, melon mint and olive puree - something I would never ever order myself but I absolutely loved and was so flavourful - a perfectly cooked rare fillet steak, served with mixed seasonal vegetables and chips, and a raspberry frozen cheesecake. 

With a stunning location, impeccable service and a delicious menu, there's very little not to like about Restaurante Castillo de San José. This is ideal for a special occasions, or if you're just feeling a little bougie, or want a memorable dining experience during your holiday. Following your meal, also, you can walk it off via the external stairs to the modern art gallery upstairs. 

Fun side note: Ladies, be sure to visit the bathroom for a great sea view. 

5. El Diablo Restaurant in Timanfaya National Park 

If you're looking for a truly unique spot, or to enjoy a delicious Spanish lunch on top of a volcano, look no further than El Diablo. On a peak in the epicentre of a vast, barren land in Timanfaya National Park, El Diablo uses nothing more than the heat of the earth and a volcanic pit to prepare it's traditional dishes. After a long morning of sightseeing and travelling, we were treated to a traditional Canarian three course lunch that did just the trick. 

For those of you wondering, a traditional lunch in the Canarian Islands will typically consist of fresh salad with buttery whole potatoes, served with lashings of mojo verde sauce (cilantro, cumin, garlic, vinegar, and olive oil) and/or mojo picon (red bell peppers and a selection of spices and red wine vinegar); a main course of grilled chicken or fish fillet and a chocolate sponge dessert of some kind. I thought the little volano popping candy chocolate course was a nice touch.

I would say that out of all the restaurants on this list, El Diablo is the least vegetarian friendly so bear this in mind if you need vegetarian or vegan options. It's also perhaps not the best service we had of the week, but it was good enough and I'd still recommend it as the food is sufficient - and you can't beat that location. If you're a foodie like me, I saw it as another iconic location ticked off the list. Plus, being the only place to get food in the national park, if you plan on visiting Timanfaya National Park then this will be your only option, and not necessarily a bad one for meat eaters. 

If you'd like to learn more about luxury holidays and flights to Lanzarote with Jet2 holidays, you can visit the Jet2 website. You can also visit my previous post How to Spend 3 Days in Lanzarote to see all about where we stayed and our hotel, the Barcelo Lanzarote Royal Level, and how you can get some great value package holidays with Jet2holidays. 

That concludes my list and the best places to eat in Lanzarote. Have you visited Lanzarote before and dine at any of these? Did I miss any off the list? As always I love reading your thoughts so please do let me know in the comments below. A huge thank you to Jet2 for allowing me to attend on this press trip - as always I had such a magical time and am incredibly grateful to have been a part of such a wonderful group.

Until next time fellow travellers, 

*Disclaimer - these were visited as part of a press trip with Jet2. As always, all opinions are my own. 

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