Eating well is a big part of a holiday, and in this corner of the Costa Blanca you won’t be short of choice. Around Playa Flamenca and across Orihuela Costa, traditional rice dishes, fresh fish, neighbourhood tapas and a strong international offering all sit side by side — the result of the many European residents who have made the area their home. Here’s a guide to find your way around.
Rice and fish: the local kitchen
If you’ve come to the Mediterranean, the first thing to try is a good rice dish: Valencian paella, arroz a banda, arroz del senyoret or a soupy seafood meloso. Many restaurants prepare them to order for two people or more, so it’s worth booking and asking ahead. By the coves and at the marinas of Cabo Roig and Campoamor you’ll find houses serving fresh fish and seafood, ideal for a long lunch by the sea. It’s the perfect plan for an unhurried midday.
Tapas, grills and Spanish cooking
For something more casual, tapas are an institution: croquettes, garlic prawns, patatas bravas, ham and a cold beer. There are tapas bars dotted across every residential area, many with a terrace. Meat lovers also have grill houses (asadores) for good chops and char-grilled meats. It’s honest cooking, with generous portions and reasonable prices, perfect for sharing with family or friends.
Zenia Boulevard and international cuisine
A few minutes away is Zenia Boulevard, the largest shopping centre in the province, with a wide dining area: Italian, burgers, Asian cooking, Mexican, well-known chains and options for children. It’s the safe bet when everyone in the group wants something different, or when shopping runs into mealtime. Around the area you’ll also find British, Dutch, German and Scandinavian restaurants, a reflection of the international community living here all year round.
How to choose and book
Our suggestion: alternate a day of rice by the sea with another of neighbourhood tapas and, if you’re travelling with children, keep Zenia Boulevard as a fallback. In summer and at weekends it’s worth booking, especially at the fish restaurants and the better-known grills. We’ve gathered our favourite places, with type of cuisine and distances, in the area food guide, so you arrive with your homework done.
Cooking at home is a plan too
One of the perks of staying in an apartment is being able to cook whenever you feel like it. All of ours have a fully equipped kitchen, and a few minutes away there are supermarkets and a weekly market for local fruit, vegetables and fish. Those staying in Playa Flamenca or Punta Prima find it easy to mix meals out with quiet dinners on the terrace, with fresh produce and at their own pace.
You book directly with us, the owners, with no platform commission. And if you’d like a tip on where to eat depending on which apartment you choose, message us: we know the ground and we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
