Last Updated: January 2026
Best Restaurants in Tenerife (2026)
Table of Contents
- Looking for the best restaurants in Tenerife?
- Why Tenerife is a cracking food destination
- Best areas to eat in Tenerife
- Best restaurants in Tenerife by food type
- Where to eat in Tenerife
- Tenerife restaurant listings and map
- Own a restaurant in Tenerife?
- Frequently asked questions about eating in Tenerife
- Last thing…
Looking for the best restaurants in Tenerife?
It’s got to be said… finding decent places to eat in Tenerife can feel like hard work.
Whether it’s your first trip or you’ve been coming for years, the food scene here is far better than most people expect. You just need to know where to look. And where not to.
From fresh Atlantic seafood and proper Canarian dishes to modern fusion spots and surprisingly good international restaurants, Tenerife has some fabulous spots to eat at.
This guide is here to point you in the right direction, based on area, food type and how you actually travel around the island.
Not hype. Just useful.
Why Tenerife is a cracking food destination

Tenerife’s food is shaped by a few simple things.
▪ Fresh fish straight from the Atlantic.
▪ Volcanic soil that actually gives flavour to fruit and veg.
▪ A mix of Spanish, African and Latin American influences that just works.
The result is a food scene that goes way beyond laminated menus and photos of paella. Yes, those places exist. Plenty of them. But if you scratch a little deeper, there’s some very good eateries here.
Best areas to eat in Tenerife

Tenerife is a big island. Where you stay matters.
Here’s a realistic breakdown of where people tend to eat, and why.
Best restaurants in Costa Adeje
Costa Adeje is where things get a bit more polished. Nicer rooms. Better wine lists. Less football on the TV.

Best for:
▪ Romantic dinners
▪ Seafood and fine dining
▪ Sunset views that actually live up to the photos
👉Best Restaurants in Costa Adeje

Los Cristianos is a bit more relaxed. Less shiny. More real.
This is where you’ll often find better value and more traditional food.
Best for:
▪ Proper Canarian dishes
▪ Fresh seafood
▪ Affordable restaurants that don’t shout about it
👉Best Restaurants in Los Cristianos
Best restaurants in Playa de las Américas

Playa de las Américas gets a bad reputation. Some of it deserved. Some of it not.
There’s a huge mix here, from very average to genuinely decent.
Best for:
▪ International food
▪ Easy, casual dining
▪ Groups and nightlife areas
👉 Best Restaurants in Playa de las Américas
Best restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz

Head north and things change. In a good way.
Puerto de la Cruz is known for more authentic food and far fewer tourist traps.
Best for:
▪ Local dining experiences
▪ Northern Tenerife cuisine
▪ Better quality for the money
👉 Best Restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz
Best restaurants in Tenerife South

Tenerife South covers Costa Adeje, Las Américas and Los Cristianos. It’s where most visitors stay, for obvious reasons.
You’ll find everything here if you look carefully.
Best for:
▪ Convenience
▪ Family-friendly places
▪ Every budget under the sun
👉 Best Restaurants in Tenerife South
Best restaurants in Tenerife by food type
Sometimes it’s not about location. It’s about what you fancy eating.
Fair enough.
Best seafood restaurants in Tenerife

This is an island. If the fish isn’t good, something’s gone very wrong.
Expect:
▪ Grilled fresh fish
▪ Octopus and calamari
▪ Local favourites like vieja
👉 Best Seafood Restaurants in Tenerife
Best traditional Canarian restaurants in Tenerife

Don’t leave without trying the basics. Honestly.
▪ Papas arrugadas with mojo
▪ Ropa vieja
▪ Goat meat stews that look simple and taste anything but
👉 Best Traditional Canarian Restaurants in Tenerife
Best cheap eats in Tenerife

You don’t need to spend a fortune to eat well here. Quite the opposite.
Look for:
▪ Local bars
▪ Family-run places
▪ Guachinches in the north when they’re open
👉Best Cheap Eats in Tenerife
Best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tenerife

This has improved massively over the last few years.
Tourist areas and the north are especially good for it now.
👉 Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Tenerife
Where to eat in Tenerife

These matter more than most guides will admit.
▪ Avoid places with aggressive street promoters. Always.
▪ Busy after 8pm is usually a good sign.
▪ Seafood is often best at lunchtime near the coast.
▪ Northern Tenerife usually offers better value and flavour.
These simple things make a big difference.

Tenerife restaurant listings and map

To make life easier, Taste the Canaries lists restaurants across Tenerife by:
▪ Location
▪ Cuisine
No fluff. Just places worth knowing about.
👉Browse all Tenerife restaurant listings on Taste the Canaries

Own a restaurant in Tenerife?
If you run a restaurant here, being visible before people even arrive matters.
You can:
▪ Claim a free listing
▪ Reach tourists searching on Google before they land
▪ Get featured in Tenerife food guides
👉Get featured on Taste the Canaries
Before you go, here are a few common questions people ask about eating in Tenerife.
Frequently asked questions about eating in Tenerife
Is Tenerife good for food?
Yes — but only if you know where to eat. Tenerife has excellent seafood, strong local dishes, and a growing modern food scene. The key is avoiding obvious tourist restaurants and choosing places based on location and cuisine rather than views alone.
Where do locals eat in Tenerife?
Locals tend to eat in Los Cristianos, parts of Costa Adeje away from the main tourist strips, and especially in northern towns like Puerto de la Cruz. Family-run restaurants and traditional guachinches are usually a good sign.
Is seafood fresh in Tenerife?
Generally, yes. Tenerife benefits from Atlantic fishing and many coastal restaurants serve fresh fish daily. Seafood is often best at lunchtime, particularly in coastal towns and traditional Canarian restaurants.
Last thing…

Tenerife’s food scene is far more interesting than most people realise. The best meals usually come from knowing where to go, not just wandering into the nearest place with a view.
Use this as a starting point. Save it. Come back to it. Eat better as a result.
One great meal at a time.


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