As of: October 2026 (updated regularly)
Restaurante Chipi-Chipi has racked up more than 9,000 reviews – a record amongst the restaurants in Santa Cruz de La Palma. The capital of the island of La Palma boasts a cuisine that thrives on local traditions, not on translated menus. Fresh Atlantic fish is served, accompanied by papas arrugadas with red mojo. The 12 best restaurants in Santa Cruz de La Palma are tucked away in the alleyways behind the Avenida Marítima, not on a tourist strip. Palmero wine from the island accompanies the dishes, whilst palm honey made from the sap of the Canary Islands date palm adds the perfect finishing touch to the desserts.
Canary Islands cuisine right by the colonial harbour
Between 2 pm and 4 pm, Tasca Luis – which has racked up 1,076 reviews – fills up. The ‚menú del día‘ costs between 10 and 14 euros for a three-course meal including a drink. In the small restaurants behind Avenida Marítima, menus are often only available in Spanish. Card payments are accepted, but cash remains the more reliable option. Outside of Holy Week and August, bookings are generally not necessary. Restaurante El Casino at 15 C. Anselmo Pérez de Brito is one of the restaurants that opens as early as lunchtime.
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Along Calle O’Daly, with its wooden balconies, the restaurants are housed in buildings with colonial-style façades. Twenty-three restaurants are spread across the old town and the harbour promenade. Andares La Palma and Restaurante Chipi-Chipi share the address Juan Mayor 42 – two kitchens on one street. Around the Church of El Salvador, tables spill out onto several squares, where ‚Palmero‘ features on the menu.
Nine bars are crammed into the alleyways off the main thoroughfare. Seven cafés are situated where the view opens out onto the Atlantic or where the façades cast shadows. At Avenida Marítima 55, Mestizo Restaurante makes the most of its proximity to the water; a few doors further along, at number 70, Restaurante Mexicano Ajúa serves its fare. Restaurante Lucy has a 4.7-star rating based on 318 reviews and is located on the second floor at Av Los Indianos.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are restaurants in Santa Cruz de La Palma open?
Most of the 23 restaurants in Santa Cruz de La Palma open at around 1 pm for lunch and from around 8 pm in the evening. Many establishments close between 4 pm and 8 pm, and are often closed on Sundays or Mondays. Restaurants serving Canary Islands cuisine, such as Tasca Luis, often serve Palmero wine as early as lunchtime.
What’s the best way to get to the restaurants in Santa Cruz de La Palma?
The restaurants are clustered in the old town around Calle O’Daly and the squares near El Salvador Church, all within easy walking distance. Visitors from out of town can park their cars in multi-storey car parks near the harbour, as the narrow streets of the historic city centre are largely closed to traffic. From the harbour, it’s just a short walk to the centre with its colonial-style façades.
Are there any restaurants in Santa Cruz de La Palma with outdoor terraces or sea views?
Many of the 23 restaurants set up tables outdoors, particularly along the Avenida Marítima and in the central squares. Restaurants on the harbour promenade look directly out onto the Atlantic Ocean and the jetties, including Mestizo Restaurante at number 55. Some of the characteristic wooden balconies on the Avenida Marítima serve as shaded terrace seating areas.