A Foodies Guide to Las Palmas, de Gran Canaria
One of the absolute delights of any holiday for me is indulging in the local cuisine! I thrive on sampling new dishes, discovering unique flavours, and hunting down the best dining spots. Join me as I take you through my favourite foodie destinations in Las Palmas!
During my 5-day stay in Las Palmas, despite enjoying breakfast at the hotel each morning, we explored a wide array of lunch and dinner venues. This list includes everything from renowned Canarian dishes and affordable eats to more upscale dining experiences. You’ll also find some irresistible treats, market delicacies, beachside favourites, and of course, the ever-popular tapas!
1. Restaurant El Deseo
I chose El Deseo because I craved an authentic Gran Canarian meal. While researching, I came across their promise: “If you want to enjoy the authentic gastronomy of the Canary Islands, come to our restaurant.” Staying in the old town of Vegueta provided us with an array of restaurants and bars just steps away. The moment I saw El Deseo’s inviting interior and read their enticing description, I knew I had to experience this traditional culinary gem.
(this photo is taken from El Deseo’s website)
Our choices were the Entrecote (steak) in mushroom sauce and a frying steak with generous amounts of garlic, oil, and pepper. Both dishes were delightful, with the Entrecote emerging as our favorite. Besides their regular menu, El Deseo offers a selection of seasonal off-the-menu dishes based on market availability. Main courses are reasonably priced at around €16.50, and the steaks offer great value for money. The staff were wonderful, and many diners enjoyed their meals outside, savoring the summer breeze. While it wasn’t the best steak I’ve ever had, the charming setting greatly enhanced the experience. Although we weren’t hungry enough for starters (having indulged earlier in the day), the tapas around us looked fantastic!
2. La Dolce Vita
I left a little bit of my heart at La Dolce Vita! Firstly, restaurant owner Roseanna was so accommodating. I first messaged her on Instagram to book our table, even before getting on a plane, and she booked this quickly and was super helpful and lovely. (Also, same name as me – so already we’re on great terms!) I do recommend booking in advance as this place fills up quickly.
We actually booked La Dolce Vita firstly; because it had amazing reviews and the photos of the traditional Italian interior had me sold. Secondly; because a lot of the traditional Canarian restaurants are closed on Mondays, so we decided to sample a little bit of Italy instead. La Dolce Vita did not disappoint.
You need to know, we still talk about this meal two weeks after arriving home. We also both voted this the best meal of the trip as honestly the pasta was OUT OF THIS WORLD. When arriving at La Dolce Vita, your greeted by the family and made to feel right at home.
We started with the Tomato and Mozzarella salad and this was a cheesy dreamy paradise with lashing of olive oil over glorious ripe tomatoes. For main, we had one of the specials: Cheese Lasagne (the special had 3 different cheese and no tomato sauce) and the chestnut tortellini. We both couldn’t get over how delicately soft and tasty the past was, paired with the freshest ingredients cooked to perfection. I wish I could bottle that pasta and bring it home, as I can honestly say it’s the best Italian food I’ve ever had – and there’s a reason you have to book in advance! To finish off the meal, we shared a traditional Tiramisu – the perfect ending to a truly fabulous meal. Thank you Rosanna and team (please can you post me more pasta!?)
3. Triciclo Bar
In the charming old town of Vegueta, tucked away on a quaint side street, you’ll find Triciclo Bar. Describing themselves as offering a ‘new flavour experience,’ Triciclo combines the recipes and ingredients of Mediterranean and Spanish cuisines with a unique twist. Whether you choose to dine outdoors on the peaceful street or indoors with a view of the open kitchen, it’s a perfect setting for a romantic meal.
We decided on a two-course meal, each selecting a main course and dessert. While the tapas starters looked exceptional, we simply didn’t have enough room after a week of indulgence. Reviews suggest the wine list is excellent, but I opted for soft drinks, missing out on the chance to sample the wines on this occasion.
For our main courses, we ordered the Indian Curry with prawns and fresh fish from the market, and the Guijuelo Iberian Pulma and Lagarto (cuts of Iberian pork) prepared Balinese style with puffed wheat ‘Nasi Goreng’ (fried rice). Both dishes were absolutely delicious, offering a unique culinary experience.
For dessert, we chose the Valrhona Caramel Tart on a passion fruit crème brûlée, accompanied by strawberries and red berry sorbet, and the Chocolate and Hazelnut Band – a creation by the restaurant’s friend, pastry chef Pablito, served with mandarin ice cream. Both desserts were to die for, leaving us incredibly satisfied and rolling back to our hotel that night.
If you’re in the area and looking for a fancier meal that still offers value for money, I highly recommend visiting Triciclo Bar. The food is simply gorgeous, the staff are lovely, and the service is prompt.
4. Pizzeria Pizzadillo
During our trip, we had one dedicated beach day, and for lunch, we decided to stroll along the seafront of Las Canteras to find something enticing. We stumbled upon a beautiful spot, away from the crowds, overlooking the sea with the soothing sound of waves crashing against the rocks: Pizzeria Pizzadillo. This little gem combines pizza and sandwiches, and I still dream about their incredible pizza pockets.
These “pizza pockets” are actually sourdough pizza cones filled with recipes passed down from grandmothers. Options range from meatballs to ham and even pesto. I opted for the meatballs paired with a mojito, and it was incredibly tasty. We chose to sit outside along the seafront, creating one of the most relaxed and joyful moments of the holiday. Our host was lovely and chatty, and we had the entire outdoor seating area to ourselves. With the sun shining, mojitos flowing, and stunning sea views, it was pure bliss. Even better, these pizza delights are just €5!
5. Tapas Crawl!
Every Thursday night in the historic old town of Vegueta, people hit the cobbled streets of Las Palmas in hunt for tapas. This weekly event has taken many names over the years such as Ruta del Pincho, Route of the Tapas, Tapas Thursday, and many more. On Thursdays, bars and restaurants offer their best tapas dishes, some at a discounted price, for just a few euros. We decided we had to give this a try, and went on our very own tapas adventure!
Our first stop was Restaurante El Monje de Santa Ana. This spot is known for capturing traditional flavours passed down from grandmothers and Canarian homes. They offer high quality ingredients by distributors belonging to the Canary Islands . Not only are there many traditional tapas dishes to choose from, they also have a beautiful setting with its terrace overlooking the Cathedral of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. For our first tapas dish we went for Papas arrugadas with red mojo (Canarian potatoes served with red sauce) which is a staple in their tapas cuisine and you’ll see on most of the menus across Las Palmas.
Next up, we popped into La Terraza Mahou as we saw they had `Pimientos de Padrón on the menu. These sweet gems are loveliness are olive-oil fried baby green peppers, they look spicy, but are in fact sweet, and was on my list to try. La Terraza wasn’t the best tapas I’ve eaten, but it was cheap and we enjoyed our peppers and grilled king prawns – so much so I actually went back a second day to have the prawns once more!
For our third and final tapas spot we sampled some meats and cheese from Bar Tasca Siete Viejas. This was my partners favourite tapas dish of the night, and it was a beautiful quiet spot along the side cobbled street of Vegueta. I also had a very delicious glass of Spanish wine from here, and it was great value for money. With the sun setting, and the charming atmosphere, it was a nice romantic end to our evening.
Foods to Try
Wether you choose traditional Canarian food, want some quick eats, a slice of home or something more adventurous, Las Palmas has many options to suit all sorts of eaters. No matter where you eat in Las Palmas, some of the same familiar dishes will crop up, and some are a must try! Look out for the Ubiquitous Papas Arrugadas – a personal favourite of the trip! These wrinkled potatoes are balls of salty goodness, served with mojo – a garlicky, peppery sauce that every restaurant has its own recipe for. In fact, garlic seems to be a theme in general. If you order a basket of bread, you can expect this to come with some variation on aioli, most grilled fish comes slathered with fried garlic, and even the steak comes with the buttery goodness! You’ll also want to look out for Pimientos de Padrón – olive oil fried snack that’s popular all over Spain. For something sweeter, we recommend trying Spanish Almond Cake, it was absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try and recreate this at home. And of course, not forgetting, the many markets all over Las Palmas selling local produce, sauces, oils and more!
