Tenerife is SO much more than just eating a Full English Breakfast alongside an old episode of Only Fools and Horses.
Once you get off the beaten track you’ll find an island full of stunning scenery, fantastic vineyards and some of the best restaurants in Spain.
We sat down with Yashin, born on Tenerife and owner of La Bandera, the city’s only Canarian restaurant, to find out where are the best places to eat and drink on this island. Many of the restaurants have provided Yashin with influence with his own menu, while the many vineyards provide wines for his massive wine list.
El Taller de Seve
This is Yashin’s first and best recommendation when it comes to eating in Tenerife – and that’s not just because it’s owned by a friend of his. El Taller de Seve serve up the most innovative and modern Canarian cuisine on the island, and even recently won an award for the Best Restaurant on the islands (and even the whole of Spain). It’s a must visit every time Yashin goes back home and is certainly well worth the trip out to Puerto de la Cruz.
El Taller de Seve, Calle San Felipe, 32, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Bar El Camino
Another friend of Yashin’s, this place is a really small tapas restaurant that serves up the most authentic Spanish and Canarian dishes you can imagine. That’s because the mother cooks EVERYTHING – so you’re getting yourself some proper real, homemade food.
Bar El Camino, Camino las Cabras, 8, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Parilla Los Asadores
This restaurant is well-known within the Finest offices because Yashin has spoken about his love of the place many, many times. In fact, it’s inspired many of his dishes at La Bandera, most noticeably their Pollo ‘Los Asadores’ which is still one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. This restaurant specialises in two things – chicken and potatoes – and every day they heat up their huge open fire pit and cook the chickens right on it. They have other things on the menu but just stick with the classics.
Parilla Los Asadores, Ctra. General Puerto Cruz – Arenas, 98, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Mesón El Monasterio
Set in, you’ve guessed it, a converted monastery, this restaurant may have, in Yashin’s opinion, dropped in quality of food and service a little recently, but it still offers a fantastic experience to guests. Yashin describes the venue as a “small village” with lots of different concept restaurants dotted around the area – each one with different cuisines and offerings. You can also go for a walk inside the premises and explore their farm (with animals), gardens and even their authentic banana plantation.
Mesón El Monasterio, Carretera La Montañeta, 12, 38419 Los Realejos, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Vinátigo
“This is like the father of all vineyards”, with the owner being one of the first wine makers of the new Canary Wine era. Yashin explains how he’s “invested all his time to make it happen… going to university to study viticulture to be able to understand not just the lands but the vast variety of grapes that we have in the islands.” As a result, he gets the best results and creates some of the best wines in the world.
Bodegon Las Vistas
For “the best view for a restaurant that I have ever seen in my life” then you need to head to Bodegon Las Vistas in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. You can see the entire town, plus a massive part of the island as it snakes off into the distance. Food wise, they offer some fantastic Canarian dishes, excellent local wines and is great value for money.
Bodegon Las Vistas, Calle Bencomo, 58, 38390 Sta Úrsula, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Restaurante La Vieja
Located in the tiny fishing village of La Caleta, this restaurant unsurprisingly specialises in seafood – so fresh it pretty much jumps out of the sea, straight onto your plate and mouths “eat me”. The views from the restaurant are lovely and the food is some of the best you’ll find on the island.
Restaurante La Vieja, Edificio Terrazas de La Caleta I, La Caleta, 38679 La Caleta de Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
www.restaurantelavieja.com
Vinedos Tajinaste
Yashin explains how Vinedos Tajinaste is a a family run vineyard, “literally!” with the parents of the owner being so hands-on that they help with everything from harvesting to sticking labels on the bottles. Named after the beautiful flower that grows on the island, there’s three hectares here with the oldest vines being planted back in 1914.
Los Roques
Specialising in local, seasonal food, Los Roques has garnered a great reputation for their gastronomic delights and has become one of the most popular restaurants on the island. There’s two dining rooms and a terrace offering amazing views over the sea – the perfect place to enjoy some truly authentic local dishes and Spanish specialities.
Los Roques, Calle La Marina, 16, 38618 Los Abrigos, Canarias, Spain
www.facebook.com/losroquestfe/
Suertes del Marqués
Producers of some of the most unique wines you’ll ever taste, Suertes del Marqués are among the 100 best vineyards in the world, and it shows with their wines. They’re advocates of natural wines, using only indigenous yeast and ensuring all of their processes are carried out by hand.
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La Bandera Canarian Restaurant
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Flights to Tenerife start from £105 return with Ryanair
