Los Cristianos grew up around its fishing harbour, and food is still the best reason to slow down here. You can eat with your feet almost in the sand, or duck into a backstreet guachinche where the wine comes from the owner's own vines.
Start at the harbour
The old port is where the day's catch lands, so this is where to come for grilled vieja (parrotfish), cherne, and whatever the boats brought in. Order it simply: grilled, with papas arrugadas (salt-wrinkled potatoes) and both mojos — the red, mildly spicy one and the green, garlicky mojo verde.
A reliable pick right on the promenade is El Faro Beach Restaurant, where the seafood platter and local Tacoronte wines pair with a front-row view of the harbour.
Try a guachinche
Tenerife's guachinches are small, often family-run spots that started as a way for winemakers to sell their own bottles alongside a few home-cooked plates. Expect short, hand-written menus: garbanzas (chickpea stew), grilled pork, local cheese, and a jug of young red. They are some of the best value meals on the island.
What to order
- Pescado del día – the fish of the day, grilled.
- Papas arrugadas con mojo – the island's signature side.
- Queso asado con mojo – grilled goat cheese.
- Ropa vieja canaria – a hearty chickpea and meat stew.
- Barraquito – a layered Canarian coffee to finish.
Hungry already? Browse every restaurant and café across Tenerife, or see what else there is to do in Los Cristianos.
