10 Great Restaurants in Alicante
Where to Eat in Alicante and What to Try?
Great restaurants in Alicante serve exquisite regional specialties based on fresh ingredients from local markets. These are usually small eateries focusing on premium quality food, variety, and a combination of textures and flavors.
You’ll have plenty of choices, between friendly tapas bars, fine-dining restaurants, and venues specializing in meat or vegetarian dishes. The dining spots are spread over the city centre and seafront, so it’s easy to get there on foot or by public transportation. Most of these great Alicante restaurants are not only chic and glamorous, but also authentic, friendly, and welcoming.
1. Baeza & Rufete
Seasonal Spanish dishes with a Michelin twist
Good for: Couples, Food
Baeza & Rufete is an excellent place to enjoy a gastronomic experience in Alicante. The chef of this Michelin-starred restaurant skillfully plays with subtle contrasts of flavors to create tasteful and unique local dishes. The cuisine is based on seasonal products, including Mediterranean fish and shellfish, olive oils, herbs, and seaweed.
Baeza & Rufete has fixed menus comprising aperitifs, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. One of its most popular dishes is huevo negro – a cod stew with black garlic and egg yolk in the center, creating the illusion of an egg inside a nest. You’ll appreciate the restaurant’s attentive staff and relaxed ambience with the soft music playing in the background.
Location: Av. de Ansaldo, 31, 03540 Alicante, Spain
Open: Monday–Thursday from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm, Friday–Saturday from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm and from 8.30 pm to 10 pm (closed on Sundays)
Phone: +34 965 16 22 47
Baeza & Rufete
2. Steki Restaurante
Mediterranean cuisine with Mexican and Greek nuances
Good for: Food, Group
Steki Restaurante in El Barrio, an old area of Alicante dating back to the 16th century, highlights dishes from Spanish, Mexican and Greek traditions. The restaurant’s name means ‘meeting place’, signifying this blend of flavors.
It’s a great place to dine with friends. You can select at least 5 sharing plates from the menu with options that include smoked cheese mousse, mussels in saffron sauce, duck with zucchini flowers, and Iberian pork with tzatziki souvlaki. Desserts include nougat, yogurt with pumpkin, as well as chocolate, corn, peanut, and tequila cake. There are only a few tables at Steki Restaurante, so make sure to book in advance.
Location: C. Argensola, 8, 03002 Alicante, Spain
Open: Monday and Thursday–Friday from 8 pm to 10 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 1.30 pm to 3 pm and from 8 pm to 10 pm (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Phone: +34 966 39 81 54
Steki Restaurante
3. Nou Manolin
Traditional tapas and fine dining in one place
Good for: Food
Nou Manolin in Alicante hosts a bar on the first floor and a dining room on the first floor. The bar is often packed with locals looking to enjoy good-quality tapas such as cod fritters, fried anchovies, spicy potato wedges, Iberian ham with fried quail egg, and tuna tartare with pistachio.
The restaurant offers beautifully presented and sophisticated dishes with plenty of rice, fish, and meat specialties. There is also a good selection of wines to complement your meal. The atmosphere is warm and rustic, while the food is reasonably priced.
Location: C. Villegas, 3, 03001 Alicante, Spain
Open: Daily from 1.15 pm to 4.30 pm and from 8.15 pm to 11.45 pm
Phone: +34 965 61 64 25
Nou Manolin
4. Bodeguita 1999
For excellent meat specialties in Alicante
Good for: Food, Group
Bodeguita 1999 is a must-visit in Alicante if you enjoy meat dishes. Succulent cuts of T-bone steak, entrecôte, Iberian pork, and homemade sausages are part of the menu. The meat is selected based on quality and maturation. You’ll find other excellent options, including paella, fresh fish, and salads.
Bodeguita 1999 occupies a building that dates back to the early 20th century, with a rustic interior of stone walls and wooden tables. One contemporary aspect is complimentary Wi-Fi that is available throughout the dining space.
Location: C. Bailén, 4, 03001 Alicante, Spain
Open: Daily from 1 pm to 4 pm and from 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm
Phone: +34 965 21 94 80
Bodeguita 1999
5. Tabula Rasa
Traditional food with an excellent balance of flavors
Good for: Couples, Food, Luxury
Tabula Rasa in the historic Benalúa district of Alicante occupies a building with a well-maintained facade and cozy interior. The owners of the restaurant preserve traditions of Spanish cuisine while giving it a modern and innovative twist.
There is a 6-course fixed menu based on fresh seasonal ingredients, so dishes change regularly. Standouts include tuna tartare, cod, potato Parmentier, Iberian pork on the broil with pumpkin cream, and cheesecake. Note that the main dish varies at lunch and dinner.
Location: C. Alberola, 57, 03007 Alicante, Spain
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 2 pm to 5 pm, Friday–Saturday from 2 pm to 5 pm and from 9 pm to 11 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +34 966 04 46 58
Tabula Rasa
6. El Gosto del Gourmet
A great spot to enjoy seafood in Alicante
Good for: Families, Food, Group
El Gosto del Gourmet is a popular restaurant set on Carrer Gravina, close to the Port of Alicante. Seating is available on its outdoor terrace and lovely dining room. It’s a great place for good-quality paella and fresh seafood, but the menu also includes a variety of specialties, including gluten and dairy-free dishes.
The restaurant is family-friendly, with attentive staff who will make you feel right at home. You’ll also appreciate El Gosto del Gourmet’s good-value meals. A must-try is the paella with lobster.
Location: Carrer Gravina, 4, 03002 Alacant, Alicante, Spain
Open: Daily from 10 am to midnight
Phone: +34 603 25 15 89
El Gosto del Gourmet
7. Piripi
Enjoy tapas and regional dishes
Good for: Food, Luxury, Group
Piripi is a combination of a tapas bar and restaurant in Alicante. You might want a seat at the bar to watch tapas being prepared and wine being poured. Warm colors and the presence of wooden elements in the decor make the place very homey.
Head upstairs to enjoy the ambience of a classy restaurant. Its menu consists of well-presented regional specialties made with fresh seafood, fish, meat, and vegetables. Must-tries include meatballs with wine sauce, chickpeas stew with clams and monkfish, and homemade cannelloni.
Location: Av. Oscar Espla, 30, 03003 Alacant, Alicante, Espagne
Open: Daily from 1.15 pm to 4.30 pm and from 8.15 to 11.45 pm
Phone: +34 965 61 64 25
Piripi
8. Restaurante Casa Julio
High-quality cuisine by the sea
Good for: Families, Food, Group
Restaurante Casa Julio is a beachfront restaurant on the beautiful San Juan Beach in Alicante. Here, high-quality yet reasonably priced dishes are served for lunch and dinner. This is one of the top spots in Alicante offering both excellent views and food.
The menu is quite extensive, containing lots of seafood, fish, appetisers, fritters, salads, rice-based specialties, and meats. Standouts include seafood paella, turbo or broiled sole, as well as rice with rabbit and snails. There’s also a dedicated children’s menu, making it a popular spot for families. Restaurante Casa Julio is usually packed, so book in advance.
Location: Av. de Niza, 03540 Alicante, Spain
Open: Monday–Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Phone: +34 965 65 10 70
Restaurante Casa Julio
9. BodhiGreen
A creative vegetarian restaurant in central Alicante
Good for: Food, Group
BodhiGreen is a meat-free restaurant in Alicante city centre. The menu offers plenty of options that are both delicious and visually attractive. From appetizers to main courses and desserts, you’ll enjoy a tasty combination of flavors in each dish.
You can choose from a variety of soups, salads, mushroom burgers with fries, vegetable moussakas, lasagna, burritos, tarts, and cakes. There are also fresh juices or smoothies to complement your healthy meal. The staff is very attentive and friendly, so don’t hesitate to ask for suggestions.
Location: C. San Fernando, 46, 03001 Alicante, Spain
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm and from 8 pm to 11.30 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +34 965 21 31 44
BodhiGreen
10. Populi Bistro
A romantic restaurant with a great atmosphere
Good for: Couples, Food, Group
Populi Bistro occupies a large farm in Alicante’s Albufereta neighbourhood. Wooden decor, soft colors, fairy lights, a lovely playlist, rustic tablecloths, and plates create a charming and romantic ambience. Its spacious garden terrace is sheltered under the pine trees.
You’ll discover Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on rice-based dishes, such as dry rice with red mullet and prawns or fideuàs (a paella-like dish made with short spaghetti) with monkfish. The restaurant also serves a selection of fish and meat dishes in sharable portions. Private parking is available for your convenience.
Location: Carrer Vial Flora de España, 36, 03016 Alacant, Alicante, Spain
Open: Monday–Saturday from 1.15 pm to 4.30 pm and from 8.15 pm to 11.45 pm, Sunday from 1.15 pm to 4.30 pm
Phone: +34 965 61 64 25
Populi Bistro
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