This is not a list copied from review sites. These are the places I would send a friend: traditional guachinches, family restaurants by the sea and a few special places for a big night out, on every one of the eight islands. I was born in Tenerife and I have eaten my way around all of them.
New to Canarian food? Read my guide to what to eat in the Canary Islands first, so you know what to order.
My top 10 restaurants in the Canary Islands
If you only have time for a few, these are my favourites across all the islands.
| # | Restaurant | Where | Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guachinche Ramón | La Orotava | Tenerife |
| 2 | El Rincón de Juan Carlos | Adeje | Tenerife |
| 3 | La Casa Romántica | Agaete | Gran Canaria |
| 4 | Los Guayres | Mogán | Gran Canaria |
| 5 | El Risco | Famara | Lanzarote |
| 6 | Casa Santa María | Betancuria | Fuerteventura |
| 7 | Chipi Chipi | Santa Cruz de La Palma | La Palma |
| 8 | Casa Efigenia | Las Hayas | La Gomera |
| 9 | El Refugio | La Restinga | El Hierro |
| 10 | Casa Enriqueta | Caleta de Sebo | La Graciosa |
Tenerife
Tenerife is the home of the guachinche: simple, family-run places in the north of the island that serve their own wine and home cooking. Mix one or two of them with a special dinner in the south.
Guachinches
| Guachinche | Where |
|---|---|
| Guachinche Ramón | La Orotava |
| Guachinche El 23 | La Orotava |
| Guachinche Pa’picar | La Matanza |
| Guachinche Casa Anita | La Victoria |
| Guachinche Casa Chiqui | Santa Úrsula |
Restaurants
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| El Rincón de Juan Carlos | Adeje |
| San-Hô | Costa Adeje |
| La Hierbita | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| El Taller Seve Díaz | Puerto de la Cruz |
| La Bola de Jorge Bosch | Tegueste |
Local tip: guachinches are informal and some only take cash. Go at lunchtime, especially at weekends, and order what the locals at the next table are eating.
Gran Canaria
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| La Casa Romántica | Agaete |
| Los Guayres | Mogán |
| La Aquarela | Patalavaca |
| Poemas by Hermanos Padrón | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
| Muxgo | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
| El Equilibrista 33 | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
| Deliciosa Marta | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
| Casa Brito | Arucas |
| El Senador | Maspalomas |
Local tip: combine La Casa Romántica with a drive through the green Valle de Agaete, one of the prettiest corners of the island.
Lanzarote
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| El Risco | Caleta de Famara |
| Kamezí | Playa Blanca |
| Palacio Ico | Teguise |
| Bodega de Uga | Uga |
| Lilium | Arrecife |
| La Tegala | Mácher |
| El Guachinche de Luis | Teguise |
| Casa Tino | Arrieta |
| La Cascada del Puerto | Puerto del Carmen |
| Teleclub de Tao | Tao |
Local tip: El Risco sits right on the seafront in Caleta de Famara, looking out over the beach and the Famara cliffs. Go for lunch to enjoy the view.
Fuerteventura
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| Casa Santa María | Betancuria |
| Casa Marcos | Villaverde |
| El Horno | Villaverde |
| El Pellizco by Rigoberto Almeida | Costa Calma |
| La Jaira de Demian | Puerto del Rosario |
| La Puipana | Puerto del Rosario |
| Marabú | Morro Jable |
| La Bodega de Jandía | Morro Jable |
| Casa Toño | El Cotillo |
| La Vaca Azul | El Cotillo |
Local tip: while you are in Fuerteventura, try the local Majorero goat’s cheese.
La Palma
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| Chipi Chipi | Santa Cruz de La Palma |
| Tasca Luis | Santa Cruz de La Palma |
| El Sitio | Tazacorte |
| El Jardín de la Sal | Fuencaliente |
| La Casa del Volcán | Fuencaliente |
| Casa Munda | Breña Alta |
| El Duende del Fuego | Los Llanos de Aridane |
| La Cascada | Los Llanos de Aridane |
| Asador El Campesino | Barlovento |
| Pino de la Virgen | Puntagorda |
La Gomera
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| Casa Efigenia | Las Hayas |
| Los Telares | Hermigua |
| Paraíso del Mar | Valle Gran Rey |
| La Salsa | Valle Gran Rey |
| Restaurante Inta | San Sebastián de La Gomera |
| Caprichos de La Gomera | San Sebastián de La Gomera |
| El Faro | Playa de Santiago |
| La Vieja Escuela | Vallehermoso |
| Restaurante Laguna Grande | Laguna Grande, Garajonay |
| Mirador de Abrante | Agulo |
Local tip: Casa Efigenia and Laguna Grande are close to Garajonay National Park, so they are perfect after a walk in the forest.
El Hierro
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| El Refugio | La Restinga |
| Casa Juan | La Restinga |
| El Meridiano | La Restinga |
| La Maceta | Frontera |
| La Higuera de la Abuela | Frontera |
| 8Aborigen | El Hierro |
| Mirador de La Peña | Guarazoca |
| La Pasada | Valverde |
| Mesón Jarera | Valverde |
| La Bodeguita de Fa | El Pinar |
Local tip: the restaurants in La Restinga are the place for fresh fish after a dive or a swim.
La Graciosa
| Restaurant | Where |
|---|---|
| Casa Enriqueta | Caleta de Sebo |
| El Girasol | Caleta de Sebo |
| El Varadero | Caleta de Sebo |
Local tip: if you visit La Graciosa on a day trip, check the time of your return ferry before you sit down for a long lunch.
Before you go
- Check opening days: many family restaurants and guachinches close one or two days a week, and some close for holidays.
- Book at weekends: popular places fill up with local families, especially for Sunday lunch.
- Bring some cash: especially for guachinches and small village places.
- Eat at local times: lunch from about 1:30 pm and dinner from about 8:30 pm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Tenerife?
For a real local experience, Guachinche Ramón in La Orotava. For a special dinner in the south, El Rincón de Juan Carlos in Adeje.
What is a guachinche?
A simple, family-run place in the north of Tenerife that serves its own wine with a short menu of home cooking. It is one of the most authentic ways to eat on the island. Read more in my Canary Islands food guide.
Restaurants change owners, menus and opening hours. Check before you go.