Arròs a banda, a dish typical of the Alicante area. Rice with seafood, garlic aioli, and a slice of lemon. This particular plate is from a Spanish lunch menu (menú del día), and it had a perfectly crispy socarrat (the crunchy rice formed at the bottom of the pan).
Probar el Buen Bar. A modern tapas bar. It’s lively inside, the atmosphere is pleasant, and there’s outdoor seating available. The tapas are prepared in a more modern style, and they were willing to prepare slightly unconventional dishes as well.
Tabula Rasa. A Michelin guide restaurant, awarded with the Michelin Bib (extraordinary value for money). And this is absolutely true here. For 42 Euros (April 2024), you get a fantastic six-course tasting menu, where fresh local fish and Spanish specialties take center stage. Traditional rice dishes are regularly prepared for lunch. Reservation is essential.
Restaurant Casa Mary. A Spanish restaurant offering rice dishes and a menú del día for 15 Euros (April 2024). They are open even on Mondays when other restaurants are closed (which was the reason for my visit). Directly opposite is a large Mercadona supermarket.
La Guapa Vermuteria Mercado. A vermutería with an incredibly wide selection of vermut. You’ll find it again on the lower floor of the central market, near Aitana’s Corner Bar.
Horchatería Azul. A famous spot for the traditional drink horchata. Highly recommended, located near Restaurant Casa Mary.
Bombon Boss. A pleasant café where you can order a typical Spanish breakfast (toasted baguette with tomatoes, freshly squeezed orange juice, and coffee) for the usual 5 Euros.
Mari Carmen Fenoll. A bakery in the central market (lower floor). Try their famous coca with tuna (which wins at competitions), or torrijas if you visit during their season.
Panadería Dorita. A bakery with a tempting selection of local pastries, if you want to try a variation of coca that I didn’t quite develop a taste for, try coca de mollitas 😇.
In Alicante, be sure to try the local wine. The barrels on the local promenade will remind you of it.
Spanish cuisine is inherently linked to rice, and paella is a clear example of this. Originally a humble dish of Valencian farmers, it has evolved into a Spanish gastronomic treasure. Special varieties of rice are essential for its preparation, as well as a clever cooking technique where the rice is mixed with broth but then left unstirred to form a socarrat, a crispy layer at the bottom of the pan. This is a hallmark of true paella. However, Spanish cuisine also offers other rice dishes; try arroz negro, arroz a banda, arroz al horno, or arroz con costra.
Alicante is a paradise for wine lovers, where the unique character and flavor of the wines arise from the ideal combination of Mediterranean and continental climates, along with diverse soil conditions. The region is particularly renowned for the Monastrell, Moscatel, and Giró grape varieties, which produce wines rich in intense aromas and flavors of dark fruit, spices, or floral notes. The quality and origin of these wines are guaranteed by two official designations - the prestigious Denominación de Origen Alicante and Vinos de la Tierra de Alicante.
Callosa d'en Sarrià, a picturesque town between Alicante and Valencia, has gained fame as a major center for the cultivation of Japanese loquat, known as "nisperos." The fruit is distinguished by its sweet, delicate flavor reminiscent of a blend of peach, apricot, and plum. The designation Nispero de Callosa, a protected geographical indication for fruits from this area, signifies top-notch quality.
Coca is a traditional Valencian pastry that boasts various shapes, sizes, and fillings. The base consists of a flat dough, onto which different ingredients are added before baking, according to regional customs, ranging from tuna and vegetables to cheese and meat. Due to this variability, there are many types of coca that visually differ. During my stay in Alicante, I tasted several variants, of which the most interesting to me were coca filled with tuna and coca filled with vegetables.
Herbero is a traditional herbal liqueur from the Sierra de Mariola mountain range in the Alicante province. It is made by macerating at least four local herbs in alcohol, which gives it a distinctive flavor and color. Popular brands include Doblón Licor de Hierbas, which I had the opportunity to try myself.
The Central Market of Alicante is a fantastic place for food enthusiasts. This two-story market offers a wide range of fresh and processed foods, from fruits and vegetables to meats, fish, and seafood, as well as traditional Spanish cheeses, jamón ibérico, and regional specialties. In addition to shopping, you can also enjoy delicious Spanish food at the small bars and bistros located within the market.
