My aim here is to go into the best fine-dining restaurants you can find in Tenerife, and this in its south and northwest. Previously, I already wrote about two luxury hotels in this very places and about the overtourism on this largest Canary Island. Again, as in my Tenerife lodging post, I do not want to give too many details. This because I am a bit reluctant to advertise a destination that suffers from overtourism already. Yet, I have always a hard time not sharing information I think that might benefit the public.
I start with the best fine-dining restaurants in Tenerife’s northwest and then continue with the ones in its south. As in my last post about luxury hotels on this island, I limit myself on some key points on the respective place, followed by the good and possibly the not so good.
2 of the best fine-dining spots around Buenavista del Norte
In Buenavista del Norte we stayed at Hotel Hacienda del Conde Meliá Collection Golf & Spa.
I had checked out its signature dining-spot beforehand and found that it was worth dining at. Furthermore, we headed out to nearby Garachico
to try out a Michelin listed casual fine-dining place.
1. Restaurant Salazar at Hotel Hacienda del Conde in Buenavista del Norte
Here you get chef Aser Martín’s modern take on food based on local produce and flavors. Two tasting menus are available, a small one (8 courses at 50€)
and a large one (the same 8 courses plus 4 more at 70€). In addition, there is an à la carte menu that consists more or less of the dishes in the tasting menu.
I was positively surprised by the offerings here, be it as to quality or creativity. And you got a true insight into typical specialities of the area, which I always find a a good thing. All the rest was immaculate too, the newly designed interiors,
the arrangement of the food and the expert service. The only suboptimal thing was maybe that as a hotel guest you have no reason to dine here more than once. This because it would be a repetitive affair (not enough choice).
2. Restaurant El Rebojo in Garachico
(Michelin Bib Gourmand)
On offer at El Rebojo is modernized Canarian cuisine. And this in a pretty location in Garachico’s historic town center
The atmosphere in here is laid-back,
the staff was friendly and helpful. The menu is original, in addition to the usual three-course meal, you have a section called “Sea Bites” (10-15€). You can pair them with wines: 4 Bites with 4 Wines (30€) , 2 Bites with 2 Wines (15€). As to wine, it is an important factor here. They have excellent wines by the glass, and you can also buy them onsite. Tasting menus are available too, priced at 65 and 80€.
As to the food, we mainly ordered seafood, among other a fabulous wahoo starter (19€). Everything we had was well made and tasty. Also the dessert we shared, Almond in three Textures with Chocolate and Chilli, was great.
There was nothing at this dining spot I did not like.
6 of the best fine-dining spots in southern Tenerife
While we lodged at the western end of Costa Adeje – at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach – Adults Only –
we also headed further east in order to dine at the best restaurants southern Tenerife has to offer. Having said that, we mainly dined at our hotel featuring three Michelin star restaurants with four stars in total.
I begin with the places outside our hotel before diving into Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach stupendous gastronomy.
1. Restaurant Qapaq in Los Cristianos
(Michelin listed, Guía Repsol Recommended)
This is the place of Rosalía Díaz Cieza, born and raised in Peru. Of course, you get Peruvian food here, although with the one or other Mediterranean touch. And she has has run this eatery since 2019.
The food my husband and I had at Qapaq was remarkable. You can select from several sections on the menu: 100% Peruvian, Wok-Chifa, Mediterranean Peruvian-inspired and Robata Grill.
In addition, there are two tasting menus (55 and 68€). We had Ceviche and Tiradito from the first section (22/19.50€) and two different fishes from the grill (23/24€). And we were thrilled!
Do not expect a dining spot with a cool vibe. Restaurant Qapaq is a simple eatery.
The service was okay but nothing extraordinary. Yet, this place is definitiely worth coming here for the excellent Peruvian food!
2. Restaurant Kensei at Hotel Bahía del Duque on Costa Adeje
(Michelin listed, 1 Sol Guía Repsol)
At Kensei they serve contemporary Japanese food. You can make your choice out of several sections: raw section, sushi, main courses and desserts. Alternatively, you may opt for the Tasting Menu Kensei (90€) or the Chef Tasting Menu (160€). As we always find it challenging to put together a balanced meal when sushi is involved, we went for the the smaller tasting menu.
And it was a feast for the eyes and the palate, from A to Z. Chef Victor Planas really knows his job! As to the ambiance, it is a hip, relaxed location, completely kept in dark colors.
Although the service was persuasive in general, there was a minor letdown at the start of our dinner. After we had made our order, they forgot us for half an hour. When we inquired with a server about our food, the restaurant manager appeared and apologized formally. And they were able to catch up without us feeling rushed.
3. El Rincón de Juan Carlos at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
(2 stars Michelin, 3 Soles Guía Repsol)
As you might have guessed from the awards, high-end cuisine in on offer here. The spot’s name (the corner) is to be taken literally. You dine here at the western corner restaurant on the hotel’s top floor.
Of course, you find here no modest place but a generous, contemporarily furnished dining room. Plus, you have the most fabulous views.
Two brothers are at work at El Rincón, Juan Carlos (chef) and Jonathan (pastry chef) Padrón. They do this together with their wives who are responsible for the front of house and are sommeliers too. It has been a family business for more than 20 years. In 2021, they moved it to Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach.
On offer at this restaurant is new Canarian cuisine, and this in the form of a single Tasting Menu (170€).
You get many small dishes (we had 13), divided in Welcome, First Station, Second Station and Desserts. All the accolades are well-earned, everything we got was top-notch. We especially liked the snacks and the desserts. The Sweet Tree was impressive served along with the petit fours. However, the experience was overly lengthy. They had announced three hours but in our case it lasted four hours – we only got the snacks after twenty minutes. We had also ordered the Artisan Bread Service (9€ extra per person). Unfortunately, it turned out to be the same bread we had for breakfast at the hotel every morning. These two issues diminished the excellent impression we otherwise had of El Rincón de Juan Carlos.
4. San Hô at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
(1 star Michelin, 1 S0le Guía Repsol)
The dining experience at San Hô combines culinary influences from Japan, Peru and the Canary Islands. Two young chefs – Adrián Bosch and Eduardo Domínguez – are at the helm, and this in an open kitchen.
The setting is nice, modern and minimalistic with lots of wood and stone. You can choose among two menus: Esencia (120€) and San Hô (145€). The former can be enhanced by (costly) additions (caviar, wagyuA5 and carabinero). My husband and I opted for the Esencia Menu without the extra dishes.
And we relished it! All the courses were amazing, but the stars were for me the Buenavista Prawn with Ginger Beurre Blanc as well as the excellent selection of petit fours.
San Hô was my favorite dining spot among the many great gourmet places at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach. There was nothing I did not like. Even our seats just across the open kitchen, with open doors to the outdoor area, were ideal for the not overly warm temperatures we had. In any case, I was astonished to see that the terrace was full of guests. When it comes to the service, it was immaculate. In my opinion, if you can only have one dinner at this hotel, go for San Hô.
5. Il Bocconcino at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
(1 star Michelin, 1 Sole Guía Repsol)
If you are looking for an Italian restaurant unlike any other, you are right here. Chef Niki Pavanelli, originally from Bologna, knows how to persuade with a unique progressive Italian cuisine that stays long in the memory. When dining here, you are spoilt for choice, you can opt for à la carte, the Identidad Menu (110€) or the Il Bocconcino Menu (13o€).
We had the latter and were delighted by the offerings. While the bread course was paired with rather hearty sausages, the rest was refined and elaborate. My personal highlights were the two pasta dishes and the dessert, the chef’s take on Zuppa Inglese.
As to the setting, we got seats on the lovely terrace.
Yet all the other guests did, although the weather did not cooperate. Actually, a chilly breeze was blowing. The couple who arrived at the same time did not stay long and demanded to dine indoors. We did not follow their example, although we should have. High-end dining and cool, breezy weather are not a good match. And I cannot understand that Il Bocconcino provided service outdoors in these weather conditions. In spite of everything, the premises are nice, and the staff did a good job.
6. Starfish Atlantic Grill at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
(Guía Repsol Recommended)
Victor Bossecker, executive chef at Hotel Royal Hideaway Corales Beach, is responsible for this restaurant. Actually, it is his flagship establishment. The motto here is: union of fire and sea. Yet meat is available too. As to its space, it is an open-air setting.
There is an open kitchen with a semi-open dining room plus an outdoor area with heaters.
My husband and I opted for the former, which was alright. Though it was not exactly warm, it was manageable. In terms of ambiance, it was the least upscale dining spot we visited at this hotel. I would label it as smart casual. The staff at Starfish Atlantic Grill was hospitable and informative, we felt well at ease.
As to the food, we did not order from the extensive à la carte menu. Instead, we went for the Atlantic Menu (75€).
After all, they specialise on food as the name of the place suggests. It turned out to be a good choice. They served lots of fish, partly Peruvian- or Mexican-inspired (tiradito or taco). The main was a tasty blue butterfish. Plus, the two desserts were delicious. I only would have liked the food to be more seasoned.
My Tenerife content
While this post was about some of the best fine-dining outlets in south and nordwest Tenerife, the last concerned two luxury hotels in the same areas. My reporting on the largest Canary Island started with a look at its overtourism, which has become a serious concern. Therefore, I cannot really recommend traveling to Tenerife, at least if you plan to explore its sights. This may be different if you want to remain at your hotel most of the time. Anyway, for the sake of completeness, I included information on where to stay and dine in style on this island in the Atlantic too. However, I am unsure whether to return to Tenerife any time soon.
Date of stay: March 2025
Pin it for later
The post 8 of the best fine-dining restaurants in south & northwest Tenerife, Canary Islands/Spain first appeared on Swiss Traveler
