Dinner done, it’s time for a snifter. So you’ll need our list of the best bars and nightlife in Fuerteventura.
Then: bedtime. These are the best hotels in Fuerteventura.
The Ugly Duckling
Pretty plates at The Ugly Duckling / Image: The Model Camp
You’ll quickly notice that some of the most highly repped restaurants in Fuerteventura are not solely devoted to Canarian cuisine: as is the case with this small but reassuringly busy spot in Corralejo that excels in Scandinavian cooking (with a bit of southern Spain thrown in for good measure). Pretty much everything, from Danish beef stew to the rich, dense chocolate brownie dessert, shows care. Three courses for €29 keep this place packed in peak season.
Calle Abubilla, Corralejo
facebook.com/restauranttheuglyduckling
La Frasquita
Obviously, you can’t come to Fuerteventura and not eat seafood. The best fish restaurant in Caleta de Fuste – and, some say, the whole island – is this easy-going restaurant on Playa del Castillo. Outdoor tables here are in hot contention most weekends but the Spanish-style seafood is top-notch: from the pulpo al mojo de ajo (octopus in mojo sauce) to the flavour-packed gambas al ajillo (spicy shrimp). Only-on-holiday highs guaranteed.
Calle Cinco, Castillo Caleta de Fuste
facebook.com/Restaurante-La-Frasquita
Casa Santa María
A perfect spot for a sunny lunch / Image: Alamy
It’s well worth a visit to Betancuria for this flowery, Andalucían-style courtyard with a kitchen that does prettied-up plates of traditional Canarian cooking, focusing on goat dishes such as the hearty carne de cabra compuesta (goat casserole). Shed the calories with a slow wander around the village: be sure to take a peek at the 17th-century church.
Plaza Santa María de Betancuria 1, Betancuria
casasantamaria.net
Restaurante Avenida
Away from Corralejo’s main drag is this simple, nothing fancy, family-run spot that’s jam-packed with cheerful locals most nights of the week. On the menu you’ll find piled-high plates of well-cooked seafood such as the house-special paella de mariscos (seafood paella) or the delicious sepia a la plancha (grilled cuttlefish), served with tangy Canarian mojo verde and chunky chips. Portions are stacked; prices are low. You’ll be back.
Calle General Prim 11, Corralejo
facebook.com/avenidarestaurantecorralejo
El Patio Andaluz
The best value tapas in town
For authentic, seriously good value tapas in Corralejo, this small homey newcomer to the city’s Old Town is pretty hard to beat. Either do the set lunch (three courses and a glass of wine is €10) or order from a trim, easy-to-navigate menu of beautifully prepared small plates. Stand outs include the sizzling gambas al ajillo and the chipirones a la plancha. Or just do a quick sandwich and a beer for less than €5.
Calle La Milagrosa 1, Corralejo
facebook.com/Elpatioandaluz2020
El Goloso del Cotillo
If you’re road-tripping to the north-east of the island then add this delightful, beach-side French café in El Cotillo as the lunch stop. Just behind Playa de los Lagos, expect fresh-from-the-oven baked treats from buttery croissants and crispy pain aux chocolat to more sizable snacks such as chunky cheese and ham sandwiches and desserts like lemon meringue or the suitably sinful pistachio tarts. Coffee is ace and there’s a roof terrace with sea views.
Calle Pedro Cabrera Saavedra, 2, El Cotillo
La Jaira de Demian
The best restaurant on the island?
Sure, everyone loves the no-frills, old school joints, but for fresh, elegant cooking with a more contemporary spin, this brilliant Puerto del Rosario restaurant comes highly recommended from those that know. With an absurdly good value lunchtime menú del día (three courses for €12), chef Demian does the kind of creative, carefully presented plates of meat and seafood you’d pay a bunch more for in a big city. A strong contender for the island’s best restaurant.
Calle la Cruz 26, Puerto del Rosario
facebook.com/lajairadedemian
El Mirador
For a longer sit-down meal in El Cotillo, this likable time-forgotten restaurant on rocky Playa del Muellito comes with friendly service and views of the Atlantic from its sunny roof terrace. There’s meat on the menu but, really, seafood is its strongest suit. Simplicity is key here – a plate of salty pimiento de padrón, some crispy puntillitas fritas (fried baby squid) with a squeeze of lime and a glass of local white wine.
Calle del Muelle de Pescadores, El Cotillo
facebook.com/Restaurante-El-Mirador/
La Bodega de Jandía
Cured ham and cheese – what could be finer?
Where do you go for some solid, country-style Canarian cooking? Answer: this rustic bodega on a cobbled street in Morro Jable, a town on the island’s south coast. Sure, it’s about as far away as it gets from Corralejo but for those that bother, delicious local specialities like mousse de gofio (a Canarian grain-mousse pudding), as well as some of the best tapas in town, awaits. Be sure to order the oh-so-tender, slow-cooked carrillada de cerdo (pork cheeks) with apricot.
Calle Diputado Manuel Velázquez Cabrera, 4, Morro Jable
facebook.com/labodegadejandia
La Playita
Occupying what feels like its own small stretch of sand on Playa Corralejo, this buzzy seafood spot is raved-about for its delicious paella de mariscos, but is also known for its epic, grilled-seafood platters. Either way, this a fun occasion restaurant with happy, heart-on-sleeve service to either open or wind up a trip to Fuerteventura. Call ahead for those coveted beach-side tables.
Calle Colón, Corralejo
+34 9285 36371