Best Restaurants in Alicante
Alicante's dining scene runs from whitewashed grillhouses to tasting-menu fine dining with views over the city, and the common thread is a city that takes its food seriously without losing its warmth. Expect attentive, often personal service — at more than one spot reviewers mention being looked after by the owner themselves.
This guide pulls together the restaurants that consistently stand out, from rice and seafood specialists rooted in Valencian tradition to newer arrivals doing Argentinian grills, Italian trattoria-style menus, and inventive fusion plates. Whether you want a long, leisurely dinner or a quick plate of tapas in the shade near the basilica, there's a strong option for it below.
Use the directory and map alongside this page to narrow things down by neighbourhood, but read on first for a feel of what to expect and how to make the most of a meal out in Alicante.
Rice, seafood and Valencian classics
Alicante sits in rice country, and it shows: places like El Gosto del Gourmet and CASABLANCA Restaurante Tapas & paellas are known for paella and seafood-driven dishes such as prawn rice and sea bass, alongside a broader tapas spread. Tabula Rasa, serving Valencian cuisine, is repeatedly praised for punching above its price point with well-executed, beautifully presented local dishes.
If you want a genuinely local meal rather than a tourist-menu version of one, these Valencian-leaning kitchens are the place to start.
Fine dining and tasting menus
For a special-occasion meal, Alicante has a cluster of serious fine dining rooms. Restaurant La Ereta, set in Parque de la Ereta, pairs a creative Mediterranean tasting menu with floor-to-ceiling city views, while Templo Restaurante is an upscale spot built around steak, seafood and wine in a sleek, large-windowed space — reviewers single out its dry-aged beef.
Distrikt41, Restaurante Koiné Bistró Alicante and Steki Restaurante also come up again and again for food and service that feel elevated without being stiff — useful to know if you're nervous about fine dining etiquette, as more than one review notes being put at ease despite limited experience with the format. Alba Restaurante adds a Michelin Bib Gourmand nod to its fusion menu, in a lively but not overwhelming setting.
Grills, steak and international flavours
Meat lovers are well served here. Asador La Estancia brings Argentinian-style grilling — think entraña and cordero — in a whitewashed, beam-ceilinged dining room, and La Taberna Salamanca and El Lobo Blanco both get strong marks for grill platters, with El Lobo Blanco's late opening hours handy for a relaxed, unhurried dinner.
Beyond Spanish and Argentinian cooking, Demordisco covers Italian trattoria-style dining, and gastro-bar style spots like La Callaíta Gastro Bar and Sampa Picnic Bar are good for something a little more casual — oysters and seafood tapas at La Callaíta, or simple, reasonably priced tapas in the shade near the basilica at Sampa.
Booking and timing tips
Several of the most talked-about restaurants here have high review volumes, which is usually a sign of busy dining rooms — booking ahead is a sensible default, especially for tasting-menu places like La Ereta or smaller rooms like Koiné Bistró. Some diners book through third-party platforms for set menus when they're working around a flight or train, so it's worth checking if a restaurant offers that if you're on a schedule.
If you don't speak Spanish, it's worth noting that service quality is consistently highlighted as a strength across this list, though a couple of reviewers mention language as a minor hiccup rather than a dealbreaker.
23 places
Frequently asked questions
What's the best type of restaurant in Alicante for trying local food?
Head for the Valencian-style kitchens such as El Gosto del Gourmet, CASABLANCA, or Tabula Rasa, which focus on paella, rice dishes and regional tapas.
Do I need to book in advance?
Many of Alicante's top-rated restaurants, from fine dining rooms to busy tapas spots, draw large numbers of reviews and diners, so reserving ahead is recommended, particularly for tasting menus.
Where can I find a restaurant with a view?
Restaurant La Ereta, located in Parque de la Ereta, is known for its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city alongside its tasting menu.
Are there good options for steak or grilled meat?
Yes — Asador La Estancia (Argentinian grill), Templo Restaurante (steak house known for dry-aged beef), and La Taberna Salamanca and El Lobo Blanco (grills) are all strong choices.
Is there a Michelin-recognised restaurant in Alicante?
Alba Restaurante holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition and is praised for its fusion menu and vibrant atmosphere.