For a resort of its size, Playa Blanca punches well above its weight when it comes to eating out. Wherever you’re staying, you’re never far from a good meal, whether that’s fresh fish at a seafront table watching the sun go down, a smart dinner among the yachts at the marina, a lively family pizza place or a plate of proper Canarian home cooking tucked away in the old town. The choice has grown enormously over the years, and these days you can eat somewhere different every night of a fortnight and not tire of it. Here’s a run through the resort’s main dining areas and what you’ll find in each, to help you plan where to eat.
Marina Rubicón
If you’re after a special meal, the marina is the place to head. Marina Rubicón, at the eastern end of the resort, is Playa Blanca’s dining showpiece, a beautiful setting of restaurants and bars strung around the waterfront, with tables looking out over the yachts and the harbour.
This is where you’ll find the resort’s more upmarket and ambitious cooking, from elegant seafood restaurants and steakhouses to sushi, modern Spanish and international fine dining, alongside relaxed spots for a long lunch or a cocktail as the boats bob in front of you. It’s the natural choice for a celebration, a romantic dinner or simply a smarter night out, and it’s worth booking ahead for the popular places, especially in the evenings and in peak season. Even if you’re not eating, it’s a lovely spot for a pre-dinner drink.
The Town Center and Seafront Promenade
For something more traditional and often better value, the heart of the resort delivers. Along the seafront promenade that runs through the old town, you’ll find a string of restaurants and bars looking straight out over the water, and this is the place for that classic Playa Blanca experience: a table by the sea, a plate of fresh grilled fish or seafood, a bottle of local wine and the sunset over the ocean.
The old town end, around the original fishing harbour, is where the resort’s Canarian soul lingers, with family-run places serving hearty island cooking, fresh fish landed nearby, and the sort of honest, unfussy food the locals eat. Wander the promenade and the streets just behind it and you’ll turn up everything from tapas bars and Italian trattorias to Indian restaurants, steakhouses and cheerful family spots, most with terraces to make the most of the evening air.
The Papagayo Centre
Sitting between the town and the marina, the commercial Papagayo centre is a useful cluster of restaurants, bars and shops, and a reliable bet for an easy family meal. Being right behind Playa Dorada beach, it’s perfectly placed for lunch after a morning on the sand, or a relaxed dinner without straying far from your sunlounger.
Here you’ll find a mix of the familiar and the family-friendly, from Italian restaurants and pizzerias to burgers and casual international food, along with cafés and bars, some with terraces overlooking the beach. It’s not the resort’s most glamorous corner for dining, but it’s convenient, good for children, and does the job nicely when you want something straightforward and close to hand.
Faro Park
Out towards the western side of the resort, around the Faro Park area and the newer developments near the Pechiguera lighthouse, there’s another scattering of restaurants and bars serving the hotels and apartments at that end of Playa Blanca.
It’s a quieter, more residential part of the resort, and while it doesn’t have the concentration of the marina or the seafront, you’ll still find some good local spots, casual eateries and bars within easy reach if you’re staying nearby, saving you the walk into the centre every night. It’s worth exploring what’s on your doorstep if you’re based this side of town.
Las Coloradas
The Las Coloradas area, along the coast towards the Papagayo beaches end of the resort, is home to a number of the larger hotels, and with them a selection of restaurants and bars, some within the hotel complexes and others dotted along the way.
There are some genuinely good independent restaurants out this way too, the kind of place worth seeking out for a quality meal of fresh fish or well-cooked meat away from the busiest tourist stretches. If you’re staying in this part of the resort, or fancy a change of scene, it’s well worth a look.
Papagayo beach
For something a bit special, you can even eat right on the famous Papagayo beaches. There’s a well-known beach restaurant perched above the golden coves, serving fresh fish and cocktails with one of the most spectacular views on the island laid out beneath you. It’s the perfect way to round off a day at Papagayo, lunch or a drink with the turquoise water and the sweep of the coves in front of you.
Bear in mind you’ll need to get out to Papagayo first, by car along the dirt track, by boat or by water taxi, and that it’s a more rustic, laid-back set-up than the polished marina restaurants, but the setting is unbeatable.
What to eat while you’re here
Wherever you choose, do try some of the local specialities. The Canarian classic is papas arrugadas, those wrinkly little salt-boiled potatoes served with red and green mojo sauces, and you’ll find them alongside fresh fish of the day, often simply grilled, which is the island at its best. Look out for local goat’s cheese, hearty stews, and the crisp volcanic Malvasía wines from the La Geria vineyards up the island, which go beautifully with the seafood.
Playa Blanca’s fish restaurants make the most of the daily catch, so ordering whatever’s freshest is rarely a mistake.
Eating out in Playa Blanca Tips & Tricks
A couple of things worth knowing. The Spanish eat late, so restaurants are often quiet until around eight or nine in the evening, and kitchens may not get going for dinner until then, though tourist-facing places in the resort tend to serve earlier to suit visitors. For the popular marina restaurants and the best-known spots, booking ahead is wise in the evenings and through the busy summer months.
And while card payments are widely accepted, it’s handy to carry a little cash for smaller family-run places and for tips. Beyond that, the joy of eating out in Playa Blanca is how easy and relaxed it is, so wander, follow your nose, and enjoy it.
