Where to eat in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

One of the things I love about visiting Lanzarote is the incredible fish and seafood, plus masses of tapas. How I don’t waddle back onto the plane is a mystery. So I’ve picked a few of my favourite restaurants, the best places to eat in Playa Blanca with kids.

While normally I’d focus on the ones which are great with kids anyway, this being Spain, it means everywhere is pretty family-friendly. High chairs are standard, some have kids’ menus but all are happy to adapt adult dishes to toddler appetites or even create something special.

My daughter’s first trip came aged three months (when she wasn’t eating much, I admit) and we’ve been back regularly over the following decade, so they’ve definitely stood the test of time.

For places to stay in Playa Blanca with kids, check out these villas from Jet2Holidays

Restaurante Brisa Marina, Playa Blanca

Right in the heart of Playa Blanca – by the perch with the two parrots – Restaurante Brisa Marina (Juan El Majorero) is as full of Spanish family groups as tourists.

You’ll find a lot of Canarian favourites here, including the famous papas arragudas, the small salty potatoes in their wrinkled skin with mojo sauce, plus wonderful fish and seafood and a kid’s menu.

In peak season, you can expect queues but it’s worth the wait – staff are busy but friendly, so not the best if you’re short of time, but otherwise slip into Spanish time, gaze out to the water and relax.

La Taberna tapas bar, Marina Rubicon

A visit to the marina’s market is another regular favourite whenever we visit Playa Blanca, with lunch by the seafront after browsing the stalls.

And La Taberna is perfect for lunch, with a whole string of tapas options (plus child-friendly options on the menu if they don’t fancy sharing) at shady tables overlooking the sea.

It’s easy to get carried away, with deep-friend baby squid, garlicky prawns, a whole string of meat and fish dishes, plus side dishes galore. Save room for ice cream around the corner though.

It’s worth remembering that everywhere along this stretch gets very busy on market days, Wednesday and Saturday, so try to arrive a little earlier on these days.

For more ideas, check out my guide to the Canary Islands with kids

Bistro de Puerto, Marina Rubicon

Formerly the Cafe del Mar, this is another of my favourite spots along the marina – not least for its fantastic ice cream.

Around the corner from the restaurant proper, there’s a takeaway section with a huge range of flavours and some of the best ice cream in Playa Blanca so we always make a stop even if we don’t eat in.

But if you want a sit down meal, the menu here includes enormous (really, huge) pizzas and fresh fish.

There are plenty of restaurants to pick from here, all with a great view of the yachts and sea, but with incredibly slow service at some others, Bistro del Puerto also gets extra points for its staff.

Restaurante Luna Rossa, Playa Blanca

It might seem odd to be recommending an Italian restaurant in Spain, but Luna Rossa is so good, it would be a crime to miss it.

Further west from the main stretch of Playa Blanca, along the seafront towards the lighthouse at Punta Pechiguera, there are some great views out to Fuerteventura (it’s worth booking ahead if you want a table right by the balcony).

The menu has masses of choice, including fresh fish, but also some great seafood pasta (including squid ink versions on the specials) and pizza – if, like my daughter, you can’t finish the whole one, you can take it away too.

Add in little touches like complimentary dough balls (forget Pizza Express, these are salty, pillowy and addictive), delicious wine, desserts and some of the friendliest staff we came across and it’s well worth visiting.

Restaurante Mar Azul (formerly Restaurant Placido), El Golfo

A short drive from Playa Blanca, El Golfo is always worth a trip – for the food as well as the scenery, including the bright green pool of Charco Verde.

After driving through Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape and past the salt pans, the white buildings of El Golfo suddenly appear overlooking the sea.

Again there’s a string of restaurants along the coast overlooking the sea – our favourite was always Restaurant Placido, which now seems to have combined with next door Restaurante Mar Azul, but it just as good.

Fabulous paella (if someone will share), limpets in season, wonderful baby squid and a whole selection of fresh fish – so fresh you’ll see them on the beachfront with the catch at times – plus local classics like mojo sauce for the bread and Canarian potatoes.

They will also whip up some chips for a small girl with big blue eyes and a beseeching gaze… And you can spot the chef cleaning fish down on the rocks by the waves, watched by expectant seagulls!

We come here pretty much every time I visit Lanzarote, easily one of my favourite places to eat near Playa Blanca.

There are also shady umbrellas and glass panels for days when the sea breeze is blowing, and a playground at the edge of the village – although Minnie was just as entertained by the cats prowling for leftover fishy scraps.

For more ideas of things to do in Lanzarote with kids, check out this post for my top 10

Former favourites: now closed

These great child-friendly restaurants in Playa Blanca have sadly now closed but you’ll find alternatives to all of them above.

El Peregrino, Playa Blanca

This might not have the sea views of some of the other tapas bars in town, but the food easily makes up for it.

Chalked up onto the blackboard there’s cheese and meats galore, some fantastic twists on classic tapas such as steak with onion marmalade or artichokes with ham, and some great wines by the glass.

It’s on Calle Correillo, keep an eye out for the barrels at the front.

For more ideas, check out my guide to the Canary Islands with kids

Images copyright MummyTravels

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