Where we actually eat.
Honest scores from our own visits, best first. Tap a name for directions. Most places are a short walk from the door.
Our top picks
Our top, top recommendations — if you only try a few, try these.
🇬🇧 British bistro · Río Nalón 12
The steak pie. Go before 7pm for the three-course early bird.
🇮🇹 Italian · Plaza 525
Good chicken, chips on another level.
🌍 International · Av. de la Libertad 325
Book ahead: 623 62 55 62.
🇲🇽 Mexican · Río Nalón 33
Chimichangas. Say no cheese on the starter.
🇮🇳 Indian & English · Río Nalón 38
Set menus day and night. Our curry night, along with Masala Cottage.
🇮🇳 Indian · opposite the police station
Very good curry — the other half of our curry-night shortlist.
🍳 The fry-up · Plaza 525
A proper full English. Morning win.
☕ Specialty coffee · Plaza 525
The best coffee in town, and posh eggs.
🏖️ On the beach · Paseo de la Concha
Breakfast looking over the Mar Menor. 9am–12:30, closed Mondays — book for brunch.
Jamie's food ratings
Tip: lots of the bars along Avenida Río Nalón do an early-bird menu before 7pm — three courses for around €16–17. Eat early, eat well.
Prices change, so check the board outside before you sit down.
- 9/10
Indian
- 🍛 Very good Indian curry — and I stayed dry! ☔️
Early-bird set menu — ask when you book
Calle Isla de Ponet, opposite the police station
- 9/10
British bistro (Bistro Heming-way)
- 🥩🥧 Steak pie was insane! 🤯
Early bird: 3 courses, order before 7pm — around €17
Avenida Río Nalón 12
- 9/10
British pub — breakfasts are the thing
- Breakfast · 9/10☀️ Morning win!
- Dinner · 6/10🌙 Not as strong as breakfast.
Calle del Río Borines 64, Plaza 525 (the Mercadona square)
- 8/10
Italian (Pizzería Sorelle D'Italia)
- 🍗 Chicken was good, 🍟 chips another level!
Calle Río Borines 62, Plaza 525
- 8/10
Mediterranean grill (Restaurante Milo Gastronómico)
- 🍗 Very good chicken thigh.
Menú del día — 3 courses, around €17
Avenida Río Nalón 19 · closed Tuesdays
- 8/10
Chinese & Asian — does takeaway too
- 🥡 Nice Chinese.
Avenida Río Nalón 31
- 8/10
Mexican
- Second visit · 8/10🌯 Chimichangas hit the spot (cheese drama again 🧀😅).
- First visit · 7.5/10🚫🧀 Top tip: ask for NO cheese on the starter.
Avenida Río Nalón 33
- 7/10
British — breakfasts, roasts, evening meals
- 🍽️ Okay for an evening meal, nothing special.
Ask about the evening set menu
Avenida Río Nalón 48
- 2/10
Fast food
- 👎 Not great… but the app vouchers 🎟️ save the day.
Calle Río Borines 62, Plaza 525
Where to wander
Three stretches cover most of the eating and drinking in town. Pick one, walk it, see what's busy. ⭐ = on Jamie's list above.
The 525 strip — Avenida Río Nalón
The one we use most: a long pedestrian avenue of palms and terraces running down to the Mar Menor, a short walk from the door. Open in Maps
One side: La Cafetería Sin Nombre · Zarcos Bar · Restaurante Garden · Acropolis (Greek) · Blue Lagoon Sports Lounge · The 19th Hole Irish Bar · ⭐ Bistro Heming-way · Harry's Bar · Pearl's Place · Annie's Bar · Chef's Table (Indian) · Veni · Rico · ⭐ Fusion · Caledonia Bar · Curry Leaf · ⭐ Delish · ⭐ Penny Farthing · Boochies · Olive · Trocadero · Rivareno Gelato · ⭐ Tipsy Thistle · ⭐ Burger King · La Cafetería · ⭐ Madness Coffee Bar
Other side: Heladería Jijona · Mai Tai Surf Bar · Punto & Coma · Olmo Pan (bocadillos) · ⭐ Milo · El Cortez · The Celt Irish Bar · Belisiosa (Belgian) · La Diva · ⭐ Run · Monkiria · ⭐ Sorelle d'Italia · Grupo Matencio Sports Bar · Fresco Pizzeria · La Bottega del Willy
Paseo de la Feria — the old town
The historic pedestrian boulevard through the centre, from the town to the beach at the old Hotel Balneario La Encarnación. More Spanish, more tapas, churros in the morning. Open in Maps
One side: House Burger & American Grill · Churrería El Pasica · 100 Montaditos · Freiduría Don Pepe · La Gonga Tapas
Other side: J Navarro (bakery, ice cream, café) · Trébol Sports Bar · Imperial Pizzeria · La Vieja Escuela · La Jijonenca (ice cream & waffles) · Oscar Bar Tapería · La Tercia Heladería
The seafront — chiringuitos
Beach bars all along the Mar Menor from Los Narejos to the harbour. Feet in the sand, cold drink, sunset. Just walk the promenade and stop where you like. Open in Maps
Kinita Beach Club · Spinosa Beach Bar · El Barco de Papel · La Sirena · La Laguna Beach · A Estribor · Blue Beach · La Cangreja · 150K · Panadería Ipunto · Atlántida · Palmera's Beach · Buena Vista · Telek-2 · Monty's Bar · Alaska · San Antonio · La Encarnación · Cerca de José · Casa Julián · ⭐ Armonía Beach Club