Why Benidorm is Not Just Beaches but Also Gastronomy
Benidorm has a reputation as the “city of skyscrapers” and endless summer – and it’s deserved. But behind the bright resort image lies another reason to visit year-round: the food. And not just “random tourist food,” but a very diverse, lively, and at times surprisingly authentic culinary scene. The secret is simple: Benidorm has long been a city of cultural fusion. People from Madrid and Valencia, British and Belgian visitors, Basque families, and French couples all come here, bringing their habits: the habit of enjoying proper snacks, quality rice, fresh fish, vermouth before lunch, and dessert at any time of the day.
If you want to experience Benidorm “through taste,” you don’t need to go far from the sea. The best foodie spots are concentrated in three areas: the Old Town (Casco Antiguo) around the church and viewpoints, the “Basque area” with pintxos and tapas, and the Poniente Beach and port area, where it’s easiest to find seafood, fish dishes, and perfectly cooked rice.
This guide gathers places where taste is maintained for a reason: either because they are historic bars with a regular clientele, because the establishment has a clear specialization (pintxos, rice dishes, seafood, gourmet cuisine), or because they function as a gastronomic “magnet” for locals.
How to Read a Benidorm Menu: A Mini Foodie Dictionary
- Arroces – rice dishes (not just paella). In Benidorm, popular options include seafood rice and “a banda” (cooked in fish broth), as well as drier versions prepared in a pan.
- Fideuà – a “noodle paella”: short vermicelli instead of rice, usually with seafood.
- Caldero / suquet – fish stewed in sauce, often with potatoes or rice, giving a distinctly Mediterranean flavor.
- Pintxos / pinchos – small snacks served on bread (Basque tradition). In good spots, the display looks like a gastronomic exhibition.
- Montaditos – mini sandwiches, often warm, ranging from simple to very “chef-style” creations.
- Vermut – vermouth as an aperitif: usually before lunch, served with an olive, orange, and light snacks.
Two Perfect Foodie Routes
Route #1: “Old Town and Pintxos” (3–4 hours)
Perfect for your first evening: stroll through Casco Antiguo, visit bars “for a glass and a snack,” don’t stick to one place, and experience the city as a set of small impressions. Start early to catch the sunset at the viewpoint, then move into the “bar corridor” for pintxos.
Route #2: “Rice, Sea, and a Calm Dinner” (2–3 hours)
Choose one strong restaurant serving rice dishes or fish, reserve in advance, and make the evening the “main event”: good wine, perfect broth, seafood, and dessert without rushing. This route is for those who prefer one “anchor” dinner rather than ten chaotic small bites.
Best Foodie Spots in Benidorm
La Cava Aragonesa – a tapas legend with a huge wine list
If you are in Benidorm for the first time and want to see “how it really works,” start at La Cava Aragonesa. This is a place with character: dense atmosphere, lively noise, a display of snacks, regular customers, and a feeling that everyone knows why they are here. La Cava is great for different scenarios: you can just have a glass and a couple of pintxos, or enjoy a full evening with wine, boards, and hot dishes.
What to order: start with the pintxos display (ask for “un surtido” – assortment), add a ham/cheese board, and pair with something warm (croquettes, fried calamari, or seasonal dishes of the day). If you enjoy tasting, ask for local wine recommendations and do a “flight” of 2–3 glasses.
Tip: come either at opening for a calmer experience or at peak hours to feel the “lively” Benidorm. Popular spot, queues possible on weekends.
Address: Plaza de la Constitución, 2, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 966 80 12 06
Website: lacavaaragonesa.es
Google Maps: view on map
Grupo Aurrera (Benidorm) – for a “bar marathon” in one block
Benidorm offers a rare comfort for food lovers: several different food formats within a short distance. Grupo Aurrera is the perfect example to build an evening “step by step”: start with pintxos and a glass, move on to more substantial snacks, and finish with a hot dish. The concept is clear: quality display, good products, fast pace, and understandable gastronomy without extra “Instagram decoration.”
La Brasería Aurrera – meat and grill when you want a “main dish”
Group website: https://grupoaurrera.com
After pintxos, a real plate is best with grilled meats, steaks, fire-grilled dishes, and sides of grilled vegetables.
Address: C. de Santo Domingo, 10, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 965 02 29 69
Google Maps: view on map
Pintxos Aurrera – pintxos display “like in San Sebastián”
Perfect for the “one at a time” format: take a couple of pintxos, a glass of wine/cava, and move along the route. In good displays, less is more – varied flavors highlight textures and sauces.
Address: C. Costera Hostal, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 618 13 18 73
Google Maps: view on map
La Tapería Aurrera – everyday tapas, done right
Classic option: croquettes, calamari, small warm dishes, simple but well-balanced combinations. Great for sharing.
Address: C. de Santo Domingo, 6, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 965 02 01 42
Google Maps: view on map
El Bodegón Aurrera – wine bar atmosphere and snacks with drinks
For a more “adult” evening, the bodega format is perfect: wine, cheese, ham, marinated snacks, warm lighting, and calm conversation. A great way to finish the route.
Address: C. de Santo Domingo, 12, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 965 02 00 02
Google Maps: view on map
Arrocería La Marina – rice and paella worth planning ahead
In Valencia, rice is a culture, not just a dish. To experience this in Benidorm, you need a specialized spot where rice dishes are the menu’s core. Arrocería La Marina is such a place: people come for “arroces,” not just “anything to eat.” Rice in good spots balances broth, fire, and timing. Such dishes are rarely rushed; paellas and rice dishes are often made “to order,” so booking and timing is normal.
What to order: ask which rice dishes are best today (season affects seafood and broths). If in a group, order rice for 2–3 people: better for taste and value, as the chef cooks it “properly,” not for one person. Don’t miss signature variations and pre-rice snacks: in the Mediterranean, dinners are stepwise.
Tip: don’t overdo tapas before rice – keep your appetite.
Address: Foia Manera, Partida, Camí del Palasiet, 31, 03503 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 966 86 72 12
Website: arrocerialamarina.com
Google Maps: view on map
Club Náutico Benidorm – seafood and a “sea” atmosphere
For taste and ambiance, yacht club restaurants provide a precise Mediterranean frame: boats, salty air, fish displays, and a calm pace. Order simple dishes where the product shines: fish of the day, calamari, shrimp, mussels, as well as traditionally cooked rice dishes and fideuà.
What to order: fish of the day (ask for “a la plancha”), seafood, and rice/fideuà if reliably made. Start with light snacks and dry white wine – works perfectly in a seaside setting.
Tip: check kitchen hours and come for lunch to experience the “sea club” vibe most strongly.
Address: Pg. de Colón, 2, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Phone: +34 965 77 28 73
Google Maps: view on map
Mercado Municipal de Benidorm – the best way to “taste the city”
The market is a gastronomic X-ray of the city. Here you see what Benidorm lives on beyond postcards: which fruits locals buy, which seafood is popular, how spices smell, and the variety of everyday food. Even if you don’t plan to cook, the market works perfectly as a morning route: coffee, quick purchases, tasting simple products, and feeling “inside” city life.
What to do at the market: pick seasonal fruits (in winter – citrus), try cheese or ham “for tasting,” buy olives and pickles. If you live in an apartment, the market is the best way to make yourself a perfect dinner without a restaurant: good bread, cheese, ham, tomatoes, olive oil, and a bottle of wine – and you’re already a foodie on vacation.
Official city resource (information/announcements): benidorm.org
Google Maps: view on map
How to Plan the Perfect Foodie Day in Benidorm
Morning
- Market: fruits, coffee, small purchases for the beach.
- Light breakfast without overload: if planning rice for lunch, avoid a “heavy start.”
Day
- Lunch “Valencian style”: rice or fish by the sea. Ideally – one main dish, done properly.
- Flavor siesta: a walk, water, short rest – the evening will be stronger.
Evening
- Pintxos marathon: 2–3 places, one glass and 2–3 snacks per place.
- Finale: bodega-style with cheese/ham or dessert.
Common Mistakes of a Foodie Tourist in Benidorm
- Ordering paella “for one”. Rice dishes are better shared: they are cooked properly and the flavor is richer.
- Mixing too many formats. If you are going for pintxos, don’t have a “main dinner” beforehand. Better: light start and gradual build-up.
- Ignoring local wines. Even if you love Rioja, ask for something from Valencia/Alicante – it adds a “geographical flavor” to the trip.
- Trying to cover everything in one evening. A foodie vacation is about pace. Better 3 places with enjoyment than 10 stops with fatigue.
Checklist: What to Try in Benidorm at Least Once
- Pintxos from a “Basque display” (2–3 different flavors).
- Arroz a banda or a good seafood arroz (for sharing).
- Fideuà (if you see a well-prepared version).
- Fried calamari and simple seafood “a la plancha.”
- Ham and cheese as the “final touch” of the evening.
- The market as a gastronomic experience (even without cooking).
Conclusion
Benidorm for a foodie is a city where food lives on several layers simultaneously. On one hand, it’s easy to find the bright “vacation flavor”: pintxos, the sea, a glass of wine, and a lively evening. On the other hand, Benidorm can be calm and precise: rice dishes, fish, and quality ingredients without decorations. The best scenario is not to fight the city’s rhythm, but to flow with it: morning market and walk, daytime – one strong dish by the sea, evening – pintxos route. Then Benidorm will reveal itself not as a “resort,” but as a true gastronomic destination of Costa Blanca.
