Gran Canaria Restaurants

The Canary Islands’ cuisine combines traditional Spanish recipes with African and Latin American influences. A Canary ‘tipico' is usually distinguished by a short menu of soups, stews and grilled fish dishes.

The basis of the local cuisine is a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish light meals which are easier to digest in a warm climate. Meat usually features as part of a stew and steaks and is mostly imported from Spain or South America and mainly offered in restaurants catering for tourists.

Local cuisine to try is the Papas Arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) which consist of potatoes boiled in their skin in seawater. They are served with mojos, which are usually two olive oil based sauces: the mojo picón (spicy sauce) and the mojo verde (green sauce).

The most typical regional fish recipes are caldereta de pescado (fish soup) and Sancocho Canario which is a salt fish and potato stew served with papas arrugadas, gofio and mojo sauce.

For vegetarian dishes potaje de berros (watercress soup) and sopa de garbanzas (hotpot with chickpeas) are the best known. The most typical dessert is bienmesabe (“it tastes good to me”), which is a mixture of honey, almond cream, eggs and rum. Platanos fritos (fried bananas), marzipan pralines from Tejeda and biscuits and meringues from Moya should also be sampled.

Much of the food available in the centre of Playa del Inglés in the south of the island is fast food or international cuisine and you will have no problems finding an English breakfast. But venture outside to nearby San Agustin and Meloneras to find some classier eateries.

At San Fernando (behind Playa del Inglés), you will find plenty of tapas bars and restaurants serving traditional Canarian and Andalucian Cuisine.

If you want to try some fresh local fish, head for Agaete, Mogán or Aldea de San Nicolás and ask for the Pescado del Dia (Fresh Fish of the Day).

La Toja Ristorante under the Hotel Barbados on Avenida Tirajana in Playa del Ingles serves Canarian and international dishes. You can make a reservation on +34 928 761 196 www.latojagrancanaria.com

Ristorante Tagoror is in the heart of Montaña de las Tierras in Guayadeque which contains more than 1000m2 of caves. The Restaurant is made up of two dining areas in small caves carved out at the sides.

Local dishes include Potajes canarios (a local vegetable soup); Papas con mojo (“wrinkled” potatoes with “mojo” sauce), Jason serrano, Sancocho canario, Conejo frito (fried rabbit in dressing), Machorra and home made desserts. Tel: +34 928 17 20 13 Fax: 928 17 21 98 www.restaurante-tagoror.com

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on sporting and leisure amenities in Gran Canaria which includes a Gran Canaria Area Guide with the best Gran Canaria Shops, Gran Canaria Markets, Gran Canaria Golf Courses, where to find Gran Canaria Beaches, recommended Gran Canaria Restaurants, Gran Canaria Amusement Parks for great family days out and Gran Canaria Local Attractions.