In the heart of Alicante “centro” on mushroom street (yes, I said mushroom but not the magic kind) is a cozy little place that serves up some of the best and original tapas dishes along with some unique originals. It’s always packed and does not accept reservations so I would recommend getting there either early or late.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays they are only open from 8PM on, that’s 20:00 in Spanish time, but open for lunch the other days. Crowded, delicious, rambunctious, drunken, mushroom… what more can I say? Oh, very affordable too… Sorry, no reservados here. :-(

The exterior of a restaurant named Chico Calla with a sign that says 'Taberna Alicantina'. The entrance has open black-framed glass doors and a brown fabric awning with the restaurant's name and logo. Inside, warm lighting and a person can be seen at the counter, with shelves of wine bottles and decorated with dried flowers hanging from the ceiling.
Decorative street scene with a large mushroom-shaped structure featuring a cartoon mouse figure on top, and a building with balconies in the background.
Interior of a cozy bar or restaurant with a wooden counter, shelves with bottles, hanging wine glasses, and seating areas with wooden stools and tables, dim lighting.
People dining outside a restaurant on a city street, with colorful buildings and outdoor seating.
A street scene showing a whimsical sculpture of a mushroom with a smiling, black cartoon-like ant on top. Behind it, colorful buildings with balconies and window shutters, and a storefront with a sign partially visible.

Staying on mushroom street, where there’s a ton of bars and restaurants stretching as far as the waistline of your pants will allow, one of our go to places is the El Garaje Bar. An Alicante original and fan favorite, this restaurant, with an entrance on the front mushroom street and one on the back street too, always satisfies with their eclectic offering of great fast food favorites cooked to perfection, and at a price that also always pleases.

The drinks are also low cost and really good too. Make sure to view their menu of the day along with the standard fare. Everything here is amazing, and oh so satisfying. But no reservations and often packed, so go on the early or late lunch time, or the same for dinner.

Critically acclaimed and renowned chefs Alba Esteve Ruiz and Michel Magoni Vergari offer this personal gem that feels more like eating at your mom’s home, if your mom could only cook this good! At the risk of over-selling, the food presented here is exquisite in every single way. From the wine list, the service, ambience and did I mention the food??? You cannot go wrong, even if the price tag was exhorabrant, which it is not! It is one of the best values for a superb high end restaurant you’ll ever find.

Speaking of finding, this is not an easy one, for sure. Make sure you have a reservation, at least for dinner if not lunch too, and bring your GPS. It is in a locals neighborhood on the cliff side area that overlooks the beach. Confused, sure, but it’s worth the effort to get there.

Interior of a modern restaurant with wooden floors, tables, chairs, a stone accent wall, and hanging black pendant lights. There is a bar area with bottles and glassware overhead. Shadows of palm leaves are cast on the ceiling.
Close-up of a modern black and white restaurant sign with the word "alba" in large white letters, mounted on a dark wall.
Plate of pasta with creamy sauce and bacon, set on a dining table with glasses of white wine and a bottle of wine in the background.
The image depicts the front of a building with a sign that reads 'EL MIRADOR CAFETERIA HELADERIA.' There are motorcycles parked on the street in front of the building, and the building has a yellow awning, windows, and balconies above.
A seaside promenade with a paved walkway, benches, and people walking, alongside multi-story apartment buildings, with a view of a beach, the ocean, and a partly cloudy blue sky.
View of a beach with a road in front, lined with palm trees and small buildings, overlooking the ocean with sand and a few people.

For good food, great prices and service along with the best view of the Alicante beaches, look no further than El Mirador restaurant. Sitting outside on the cliff, all of Alicante bay and beaches are laid out before you, while you sip your favorite drink and sample traditional Spanish fare.

Situated on the cliff that looms over the beaches, you can either walk here via old town, or the winding walk bridge that crosses over the roadway from the beach boardwalk. For those less industrious, you can get here by cab or car too. Very locale, so no reservations. Just grab a table and enjoy the views! And the drinks. And the food.

Liberty Kitchen, on a side street in the local neighborhood where the large Mercado sits, feels more like a dinner, but without the crappy chef and bad service. Their daily homemade dishes posted on the blackboard are some of our favorite comfort food. Mine is the burger, my wife’s is anything that is white wine!

We’ve tried all of it, from the appetizers to the desserts, and we have always left happy. The prices are moderate, not cheap and not expensive. I would suggest reservations for a table at night, but for lunch you can pretty much just walk in. But don’t forget to say “ola”….

Street view showing a white building with balconies, a sign that reads 'Liberty Kitchen', a logo with a blue eagle, and storefronts with metal shutters, decorative lights, and trees lining the street under a clear blue sky.
Interior of a cozy cafe with white chairs, a wooden table, a brick wall, and a chalkboard menu. There are flowers in vases on the tables and bottles on a shelf behind the counter.
Restaurant storefront with black and gray exterior, glass door, and white decorative stones with plants inside. Signs indicate it is a fire station exclusive for firefighters. Street in front with paving stones.
Interior of a bar with origami cranes hanging from the ceiling, illuminated white pendant lights, shelves with bottles of alcohol, and a marble-topped counter with bar stools.
Assorted sushi rolls on a plate with soy sauce in the background.

Let’s face it, you can only eat so much Spanish food, but don’t tell the locals that! If you have a yen (get it, yen) for Japanese sushi, without spending all of your yen (get it, yen) then head for this awesome eatery in the same locale neighborhood as the El Mercado.

My wife and I consider this to be one of the best places for sushi that we know of, and we know a lot… The decor, ambiance and service are just as great as the food, which has a wonderful variety for even those who don’t like raw fish. And the prices are super reasonable. But you’ll need a reservation, for sure.

If unique is what you seek, and who doesn’t, then look no further than La Marmita restaurant in a converted home in the neighborhood by the Plaza de Toros. Not sure what the name really means, something about a pot, which has no relationship to the amazing cuisine this place delivers.

Every chef inspired dish is expertly prepared and delivered in an atmosphere that oozes special charm. It is one of our favs, and is more romantic than a picnic in heaven! Okay, maybe not that romantic, but pretty darn romantic… Just make a reservation and take the walk, although many will want to take a cab.

A dining room with a table set for four, featuring white tablecloths, wine glasses, and plates. The room has multiple arched doorways, wall decorations, and woven circular ceiling fixtures. The floor has patterned tiles.
Indoor dining area with a table set with a vase of white flowers, glassware, and plates, and an arched doorway leading to another room with wall art and furniture.
Window display with bottles of Alicante wine, a wine glass, grapes, a photo frame, and a sign with the text 'Alicante'.
The image shows the entrance of a restaurant called Chefian, with a black door and signage displaying the name. There is a small tree in front of the building, two signs on the wall to the right of the door indicating awards or recognition, and a balcony above with closed shutters.
A decorative fountain with sculptures and a tall ornate building with balconies, framed by tall palm trees under a bright blue sky.
Bar counter with tomatoes, meats, cheeses, and salads, with liquor bottles, glasses, and a coffee machine in the background.

On the main square “Luceros” where the underground tram station is, with a great view of the central fountain, is Cheflan restaurant. Serving scrumptious Spanish food with a twist, making every dish memorable. Whether sitting outside and enjoying the incredible view and people watching or in the comfy interior, you will be delighted by the offerings in food and drinks, as well as the reasonable prices and helpful service.

Open all days from 9 to 5 and then 8 to midnight, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy all that Alicante has to offer. Dinner reservations, whether inside or out, are suggested during prime time. But other than that, you can stroll on in.

We’ve added the restaurant D’Tablas for one reason, okay, two reasons… tasty cheap tapas and good sangria. Located two streets off of the marina is this crazy and fun dump with as much ambiance as a thirty year old travel trailer and a punk band from the 80’s.

If you can get in, which you may if you go on off hours or not during the summer high season, you can grab tapas on blocks of wood from the servers as they walk by with a smorgasbord of delights. They total your bill up by counting your number of wood blocks and beverage glasses, with each board costing around one euro. But beware, the beer and wine don’t, and I’ve never left with a bill under 30 euros. Damn it!

Exterior of a small restaurant or cafe with a red facade, open entrance door, and three large windows showing patrons inside. Several posters advertising tapas and drinks are on the outside walls, with prices listed. There are outdoor wooden tables and stools near the entrance.
Interior of a small cafe with a stone countertop bar, wooden chairs, a wall-mounted TV, and a drink station with a red coffee machine and shelves with bottles.
Plate with fried fish, fried calamari, fried small fish, lemon wedges, and two bowls of mussels in broth with lemon wedges.
Outdoor café with people dining, yellow menu boards, and palm trees in front of a pale blue building on a sunny day.
Outdoor cafe with stacked chairs and tables, menu board, palm trees, utility poles, and a clear blue sky.
People relaxing on the sandy beach with palm trees, wooden walkway, and high-rise buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.

This is the most unusual and yet super chill place on Alicante beach, and take my word with much better food, ambiance and for sure prices than any of the “on beach” tourist restaurants. Right off the tram tracks, you can sit in the sun taking in the beautiful beach scenes while drinking and dining the day away, and for less than an overdue parking ticket at the beach parking lot.

Their hours only go on till around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, depending on how they feel. But who would want it any other way? They may be open in the evenings after 8PM in July and August, but I wouldn’t bet on it! LOL

Facade of a bakery or pastry shop named Manero with wooden framing, red awning, rear-lit display windows showing baked goods and bottles, a decorative window with a peacock design and grapevine, and the words 'Productions Gourmet' on the glass.
Interior of a cozy cafe or restaurant with wooden tables, bar stools, shelves filled with bottles and jars, hanging plants, decorative mosaic tile flooring, and soft lighting.

About two or three blocks from D’Tablas towards the town center lies the exact opposite type of restaurant, fancy, find and expensive. Manero. With every dish expertly prepared from the freshest and finest ingredients, it’s no wonder that the prices are high. For the food and the drinks, so be prepared to pay for the experience. During the high season reservations are suggested and there is a larger and less crowded back dining room that you could ask for.

It is super fun with high energy and, did I mention high prices? But it is definitely worth the visit, if just for a drink and one or two of their lesser fare items. As everything they serve is delicious and well worth the visit.