Where to eat in Lanzarote
A land of volcanoes surrounded by the charm of the sea, Lanzarote is an island with rich gastronomy made up of simple ingredients. It's also marked by strong African and Latin American influences that led to the creation of a wide variety of flavors. Discover where to eat in Lanzarote and the best traditional dishes from the island.
Lanzarote's gastronomy goes hand in hand with fresh fish and seafood, which are paired perfectly with agricultural products grown on the island; potatoes, pumpkin, lentils, sweet potatoes, millet and corn.
The typical cuisine of Lanzarote reflects simple yet highly flavoursome dishes with soft and sweet bites that blend with fish, meats, cheeses and fruits.
The island has a large number of goats, so it's very common in Lanzarote to use goat's milk to make cheese. There are also a number of dishes made with goat's meat.
Typical dishes from Lanzarote
Papas arrugadas: As simple as they are delicious, "papas arrugás" (wrinkly potatoes) are one of the most typical dishes in Lanzarote and in all the Canary Islands. To prepare them, the small unpeeled potatoes are boiled in salted water and served with the most famous sauce, mojo picón.
Gofio: This flour made from toasted wheat and corn is full of nutrients and hardly contains any calories, which makes it a great ingredient used to prepare some of Lanzarote's typical dishes.
Mojo picón: Served to accompany most of the typical dishes of Lanzarote, the mojo picón is the sauce that usually accompanies the well-known "papas arrugás". There are two types of mojo, green and red. Both are prepared with oil, garlic and salt, and the only difference between them is the final touch, which could be pepper, paprika or coriander.
Bananas: Known worldwide for their high quality, Canarian bananas have an excellent flavour thanks to the island's fantastic climate.
Cheeses: Goat cheeses are one of the greatest delicacies you can eat in Lanzarote. Made by following traditional techniques, Lanzarote's cheeses stand out for their great taste and excellent texture.
Garbanzas compuestas: This Canarian stew is prepared with chickpeas, potatoes, ribs, bacon, chorizo, onion, peppers and different spices that give it an intense but mouthwatering flavour.
Puchero: When choosing what to eat in Lanzarote, if you don't want to go hungry, a good choice is the puchero canario, a dish with a large quantity and variety of meat and vegetables. Beef, pork, chicken, chickpeas, potatoes, pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato, tomato and cabbage are just some of the many ingredients included in puchero.
Wine: Lanzarote wines are the best choice to accompany typical food from the island. The vines are carefully cultivated in the area of La Geria, and the island's climatic conditions and volcanic nature give Lanzarote's excellent wines their unique characteristics.
Frangollo: To end the meal with something sweet, we recommend one of Lanzarote's typical desserts, Frangollo. Similar to a very sweet flan, it's prepared with flour, milk, egg, sultanas and sugar.
Barraquito: The most typical coffee of the Canary Islands is the barraquito. It's an intense and sweet drink prepared with coffee, condensed milk, liquor, lemon and cinnamon. Delicious!
The guachinches of Lanzarote
The guachinches are traditional home-cooked restaurants offering traditional Canarian dishes in large portions for a very affordable price, making them the ideal choice when choosing where to eat in Lanzarote.
Best places to eat in Lanzarote
When it comes to enjoying the authentic gastronomy of Lanzarote, you'll have no problem finding restaurants all over the island. Depending on what you're looking for, you'll find all kinds of dishes and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.
If you want to find the best restaurants in Lanzarote and enjoy delicious eat fresh fish and seafood, the best thing to do is to visit a coastal town such as Arrieta, Órzola, Costa Teguise, Arrecife or Puerto del Carmen.
For more traditional Canarian dishes and to get away from the more touristy places, we recommend visiting the restaurants of some inland towns such as Yaiza, San Bartolomé, Teguise or Nazaret.
