The Best Restaurants in Alicante
This list of restaurants where you can eat in Alicante will help you get to know the local cuisine while you explore the city and fully enjoy it, making stops for lunch and dinner at some of the most recommended restaurants in Alicante.
With traditional and exquisite dishes such as arroz a banda, which is one of the most typical rice dishes in the province; pericana, which is a kind of sauce made with cod, ñoras, garlic, and oil (usually eaten spread on toasted bread); borreta alicantina, a stew with potatoes, desalinated cod, ñoras, and vegetables; or mojama de atún, which is a salted preparation in which previously salted tuna fillets are dried. We assure you that the cuisine of Alicante will be a pleasant surprise, and after your trip, you’ll only think about returning to get to know and taste it even better.
Note that this list of restaurants in Alicante only includes a selection of 10, so as is always the case with such lists, it doesn’t include everyone, but everyone on it certainly deserves to be there. However, we’ve tried to make this a selection of the incredible gastronomy in the city, offering unbeatable value for money and fitting all budgets, so every traveler can take advantage of these recommendations.
Based on our visit to the city—about which we’ve written in other articles, including this post about essential places to see in Alicante—we present this selection of 10 very good restaurants where you can eat in Alicante, with an incomparable price-to-quality ratio.
Nou Manolin
📍 Calle Villegas, 3 | 📞 965 20 03 68 | 💰 Average price: €70
A classic since 1971, Nou Manolin remains one of the best places to eat in Alicante. Their legendary bar serves dishes such as Russian salad, croquettes, freshly sliced Iberian ham, salted fish specialties, fried fish from Santa Pola, seafood, and rice dishes. The bar experience is lively and authentic, with attentive and professional service. The dining room upstairs offers a more formal atmosphere, refined dishes, and an excellent wine cellar.
Open
📍 C/ Manuel Antón, 12 | 📞 966 35 95 91 | 💰 Average price: €50
Open is known for its honest and creative approach to gastronomy. Close to the central market, Javier Prados and Alberto Calleiros reinvent every single ingredient. Try their signature dishes such as red tuna catalana, the Iberian pork sandwich, and bold squid-gnocchi with guanciale and burrata. The atmosphere is ideal for sharing dishes with friends or enjoying an intimate dining experience at the bar.
Monastrell
📍 Av. del Almte. Julio Guillén Tato, 1 | 📞 965 12 66 40 | 💰 Price: €59 – €119
In a beautifully renovated building near the harbor, María José San Román leads Monastrell with two concepts: La Cubierta, a more relaxed option, and La Encubierta, offering a fine dining experience. The menu is based on fresh produce from her Terramón farm and includes creamy rice dishes, lamb with pebrella, and a delicious rice dessert with orange and arbequina oil. The wine list is curated by sommelier Lorena Ríos.
La Ereta
📍 Parque de La Ereta, s/n | 📞 965 14 32 50 | 💰 Average price: €95
With spectacular views from Santa Bárbara Castle, La Ereta is a leading restaurant in modern Alicante gastronomy. Chef Dani Frías combines tradition and innovation in his dishes, featuring fresh fish, meticulously prepared rice dishes, and seasonal vegetables. It’s the perfect choice for an unforgettable gastronomic experience, complete with attentive service and an excellent wine list.
El Portal
📍 Calle Bilbao, 2 | 📞 965 14 32 69 | 💰 Average price: €50
El Portal offers a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. The menu, designed by Sergio Sierra, combines creative tapas and signature dishes like their sardine sandwich and gourmet rice dishes. In the evening, the restaurant transforms into a social meeting place with great music and exciting cocktails.
Bar Manero
📍 Médico Manero Mollà, 7 | 📞 965 14 44 44 | 💰 Average price: €30
Inspired by an old-fashioned 20th-century colonial store, Bar Manero combines tradition and modern flair. Try their truffle omelet, grilled leeks, and the irresistible “torrija” dessert. Their exclusive Dom Perignon club offers an intimate experience for champagne lovers.
Terre
📍 Paseo Esplanada de España, 11 | 📞 965 29 78 08 | 💰 Average price: €35
Terre features an impressive design, especially at night. The restaurant combines a New York-inspired atmosphere with an international menu created for sharing. Their cocktails are inventive, and the ambiance is perfect for relaxed dinners with friends.
Enso Sushi
📍 Plaza Gabriel Miró, 2 | 📞 965 21 58 29 | 💰 Average price: €50
Enso Sushi combines traditional Japanese techniques with top-quality local ingredients. The menu ranges from classic sashimi and nigiri to innovative dishes like tuna tataki and breaded squid. The experience is complete with an elegant setting and first-class service.
Alba Restaurante
📍 Virgen del Socorro, 68 | 📞 669 13 45 84 | 💰 Average price: €35
Chef Alba Esteve and sommelier Michel Magoni run this restaurant, which combines Mediterranean and Italian flavors. Must-try dishes include red shrimp with burrata and their delicious porchetta and Cantabrian anchovy sandwich. A warm and welcoming spot with a seasonal menu.
La Taberna del Gourmet
📍 San Fernando, 10 | 📞 965 20 42 33 | 💰 Average price: €35
La Taberna del Gourmet renews traditional tapas with a modern twist. The menu includes artisanal cheeses, small plates, fresh vegetables, and delicious rice dishes. It’s a relaxed and flavorful place, perfect for an informal and tasty dinner.
In addition to trying the local cuisine at some of these recommended restaurants in Alicante, another very special way to immerse yourself in the local scene and discover local gastronomy is to book one of the following tours, included among the best excursions in Alicante:
- Tapas Bars in Alicante
- The Best Paellas in Alicante
- Paella Workshop
- Gastronomic Tour in Alicante
- Tapas Tour in Alicante
- Winery and Wine Cellar Tour