Gran Canaria Restaurants and Dining

(Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain)



Spanish cuisine is popular in Gran Canaria, and there are a good selection of traditional restaurants, authentic dining venues and Tapas bars throughout the island of Gran Canaria. Serving simple dishes made with local produce and ingredients, including exotic fruit, vegetables and freshly caught fish, restaurants in Gran Canaria often feature outdoor patios and alfresco dining areas.

Visitors and tourists in Gran Canaria and well catered for and there are plenty of restaurants to go around, serving a range of national and international dishes. From luxury restaurants with coastal views to friendly pubs serving bar snacks, Gran Canaria has it all.


Opening Hours

When dining in Gran Canaria, you are generally expected to eat when the locals do. Breakfast (desayuno) takes place first thing in the morning and ranges from simple pastries and cereals, to English-style fry-ups. Lunch (la comida) usually starts in the midafternoon, between 14:00 and 16:00, during Gran Canaria's famous siesta time, when many restaurants are particularly busy serving both locals and tourists. Restaurants in Gran Canaria always make an extra effort for Sunday lunches, which should not be missed.

Although a large number restaurants in Gran Canaria open for evening dinner from around 18:00 onwards, this is aimed at the tourist market and those who prefer to dine earlier. Dinner (cena) in Gran Canaria really begins around 21:00 at the earliest, with restaurants and dining venues regularly staying open until gone midnight.

Where to Eat

With a tropical island location, it is hardly surprising the so many restaurants in Gran Canaria specialise in seafood, which is prepared in an enormous number of ways, including fish stew (sancocho), a popular local dish. Other local specialities in Gran Canaria include paella dishes, tortillas (omelettes), papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes), hot soups (sopas), ropa vieja (shredded meat), kebabs (pinchos morunos) and general Mediterranean-style cuisine. Homemade ice creams are the perfect way to end your meal at most restaurants in Gran Canaria and extremely popular.

Those with a more limited palate will be pleased with the selection of English-style restaurants available, serving steaks, burgers and classic fry-ups, together with plenty of fast-food restaurants and pizza outlets. Asian-style restaurants and also plentiful around Gran Canaria, including a number of popular Chinese and Thai dining venues.

One of the best places for a lunchtime snack in Gran Canaria are the island's many Tapas bars. Offering an impressive selection of attractive small savoury snacks, Tapas bars in Gran Canaria are the epitome of Spain and designed to be an ideal accompaniment with Spanish wine. Tapas is often served free and includes stuffed olives, tasty cheeses, potato chips, seafood nibbles and cold meats. A large and more filling version of Tapas, known as 'recion', is often available and Gran Canaria's restaurants.

Many of the best restaurants in Gran Canaria can be found in the capital city of Las Palmas, known locally as El Puerto. Concentrated around the Las Canteras, Mesa y López and Santa Catalina areas, restaurants and Tapas bars in Las Palmas are never far from cinemas, night clubs and entertainment venues. Las Palmas is one of Gran Canaria's liveliest spots and the restaurants and legendary nightlife will not disappoint.

Further clusters of restaurants and dining venues in Gran Canaria can be found in the Triana district - close to the Giniguada River; around the Playa de las Canteras - a beautiful stretching of golden sand lined with hotels and restaurants; and Puerto de Las Nieves - a historic village containing a notable fishing port. Also, Gran Canaria's Playa del Inglés area contains an array of restaurants, many of which are aimed at European tourists, including a number of gay bars.