Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Benidorm actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Benidorm actually eats.
Las Gaviotas has fried fish on Calle del Esperanto in Benidorm since 1987: whiting, adobo, king prawns, squid, anchovies and tiger mussels with allioli.
OrderA mixed fritura with bread and allioli, then tiger mussels if the table is hungry.
TipThere are no bookings and the room fills fast in summer, so arrive at opening time or expect a short wait for a table.
Ray's 2 Fish and Chips fries English-style battered fish and chips on Benidorm's Avenida del Mediterráneo, run by the same owners since 1985.
OrderBattered cod and chips, eaten at an outdoor table on the avenue.
TipIt keeps office hours: weekdays only, with the kitchen closing at 19:30, so plan it for lunch or an early tea.
Paneil's is a steakhouse on Calle de la Palma in Benidorm's old town, serving South American fillet steak, garlic king prawns and duck confit at dinner.
OrderThe South American fillet steak, with garlic king prawns to start.
TipDinner only, with the kitchen open 18:00 to 21:30; it closes for all of December and hosts plenty of birthday and hen parties.
Bolikki is a family-run beach restaurant at the La Cala end of Poniente in Benidorm, where rice dishes lead a menu that also runs a good-value set lunch.
OrderOne of the rice dishes the kitchen is known for, ordered for the table.
TipA daytime place, serving from noon to early evening; it took part in the city's 2026 spoon-dish week and the 2025 rice week.
Chiringuito Beach is a beachfront restaurant on Avenida de Madrid facing Levante beach in Benidorm, open daily from late morning until after midnight.
OrderSlow-cooked beef on panadera potatoes with confit cherry tomatoes and parmesan.
TipTables are booked by WhatsApp on +34 660 19 25 19; it joined the city's spoon-dish week in March 2026.
Café De Kroon is a Dutch eetcafé on Avenida de Murcia in Benidorm's Levante quarter, a terrace bar serving snacks and plain Dutch and Belgian comfort food.
OrderA frikandel or a pair of kroketten with a Belgian beer on the terrace.
TipIt draws a Dutch and Belgian crowd and posts in Dutch on its Facebook page; Sunday is the one closing day.
Pinocchio Playa is an Italian restaurant, pizzeria and gelateria on Avenida de Alcoy by Levante beach in Benidorm, making its own gluten-free pasta every day.
OrderA stone-baked pizza, then an ice cream from the house gelateria.
TipIts gluten-free menu covers the whole card, with pasta made in-house; it entered the 2026 tapas contest with a gluten-free carbonara millefeuille.
La Tapería Aurrera has made small, made-to-order pinchos on Calle Santo Domingo in Benidorm's old town since late 2010, with a 60-seat room and daily rice.
OrderA run of the made-to-order pinchos from the counter, then a plate to share.
TipThe rice changes every day on the set menu; the same group runs Brasería Aurrera a few doors along Santo Domingo.
Buffalo Beel is a family-run Italian ristogrill and pizzeria on Avenida de Castellón in Benidorm's Levante quarter, making its own pasta and pizzas.
OrderThe house lasagna, or a pizza from the homemade dough.
TipIt opens at 14:00 every day and the phone line is for bookings only; there is a daily set menu at lunch.
Taberna Andaluza cooks southern Spanish bar food on Calle del Esperanto in Benidorm: cazón en adobo, clams a la marinera, garlic prawns and hand-cut ham.
OrderCazón en adobo, dogfish marinated in spices and vinegar, then fried.
TipIts Presa Bao won the public vote at the 2026 Benidorm tapas contest; Wednesday is the closing day.
El Mesón has run a restaurant and cervecería on Calle Gerona in Benidorm for over 40 years, cooking meat, fish and shellfish over holm-oak embers.
OrderA cut of beef from the holm-oak grill, with a plate of tuna belly and tomato to start.
TipThe cervecería side serves all day from 09:00; the restaurant took part in the city's 2026 spoon-dish, tuna and tapas weeks.
Marisquería El Puerto sits on Paseo de Colón by Benidorm's harbour, below the old town, cooking rice dishes, bay fish, shellfish and grilled beef.
OrderA seafood rice for the table, or the fish of the day from the harbour.
TipA regular in the city's 2026 food weeks: spoon dishes in March, bluefin tuna in April and the June tapas contest.
Ongi Etorri Manolo 1 has fed Poniente beach in Benidorm since 1968, a family house cooking arroz a banda, paella, bay fish and Basque-style hake by the sea.
OrderArroz a banda for two, or the merluza a la vasca the house calls its signature.
TipThe kitchen runs straight through from noon, so a late lunch after the beach is easy; rice dishes are for a minimum of two.
La Cava Aragonesa has run a long tapas bar on Plaza de la Constitución in Benidorm's old town since 1980, known for yescas, pintxos and more than 700 wines.
OrderA tabla of four yescas, toasted bread rubbed with tomato and topped with cured meats or cheese.
TipStand at the bar to choose from the counter; the dining room takes bookings and serves a daily set menu.
Umai is a Japanese restaurant on the first floor of the Belroy complex on Avenida del Mediterráneo in Benidorm, serving sushi rolls, sashimi and teppanyaki.
OrderA round of uramaki and sashimi, then something off the teppanyaki.
TipLunch and dinner only, closed on Monday and Tuesday; the kitchen also does takeaway for collection.
Shija cooks the food of the Balkans by Poniente beach in Benidorm, serving mezze and clay-pot dishes from a kitchen that keeps neither freezer nor fryer.
OrderA spread of Balkan mezze to share, then one of the clay-pot dishes.
TipThe street is in Benidorm's low-emission zone with restricted access, so arrive on foot from the Poniente promenade.
Arrocería La Marina cooks rice, calderos, meat and fish of the Marina Baixa in a country setting on the Camí del Palasiet, inland from Poniente in Benidorm.
OrderA rice or a caldero for the table; the kitchen is built around them.
TipBookings are confirmed only by phone; there is a car park and a children's play area, and Friday is the one late night.
Aruba Gastrolounge is an all-day beach restaurant on the Poniente promenade in Benidorm, its kitchen running non-stop from breakfast and brunch to dinner.
OrderBrunch on the terrace, or homemade cake and coffee in the afternoon.
TipThe bar mixes tiki cocktails with Km 0 ingredients; it joined the April 2026 bluefin tuna week, and the ConBrassa group also runs it.
Tiffin opened on Benidorm's Avenida del Mediterráneo in July 2026, cooking Indian curries and tandoor dishes beside British and Mediterranean plates.
OrderRailway lamb curry: lamb with herbs, yoghurt and coconut milk.
TipThe menu runs to more than 15 vegetarian dishes; Tuesday is dinner only, from 17:30.
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