← All restaurants in La Laguna
As of August 2026 (updated regularly)
La Laguna has established itself as Tenerife’s gastronomic capital. This university town is fundamentally different from the southern tourist hotspots: it is here that locals, students and foodies dine, rather than mass tourists. The city’s 12 best tapas bars are therefore not to be found in traditional guidebooks, but rather in the side streets around Calle Herradores and in the colonial squares of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Creative interpretations, traditional Canary Islands dishes and pintxos feature equally prominently on the menus.
Tapas in La Laguna: What visitors need to know
The daily rhythm of the Canary Islands is essential for an authentic experience of the tapas bars in La Laguna: lunch service begins at 2 pm, with the ‚menú del día‘ costing between 8 and 10 euros and offering the best value for money in the city. In the evening, the scene doesn’t really get going until 8 pm, when students and locals start filling the bars in the side streets off Herradores. Menus are often available in Spanish only, and smaller establishments prefer cash payments. Table reservations are generally not required.
Tips for your visit
The alleyways around Calle Herradura are packed with 132 bars, where Canary Islands potatoes with mojo sauce are passed across the counters. The chequerboard-like layout of the UNESCO-listed old town leads to small eateries whose noticeboards advertise local goat’s cheese. In the evenings, university students take their places on stools at narrow bar tables.
Breakfast is served in 148 cafés, before the scent of grilled chorizo fills the afternoon air. Wines from the slopes around La Laguna sit in open carafes alongside plates of pickled olives. Near the cathedral, the proprietors serve fried squid on black earthenware plates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to get to the tapas bars in La Laguna?
The tapas bars are concentrated in the grid-patterned old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is easy to explore on foot. La Laguna can be reached via the tram line from Santa Cruz de Tenerife as well as via numerous TITSA bus routes. Due to the narrow streets and limited parking spaces, drivers are advised to use the multi-storey car parks on the outskirts of the old town.
Are there any tapas bars in La Laguna with outdoor terraces or sea views?
As the old town is situated on a plateau in the north of the island, there are no sea views, since the town is not directly on the coast. However, many of the 132 bars have outdoor terraces in the pedestrianised areas and on the squares of the historic city centre. These terraces are particularly pleasant places to spend time in the mild evening hours.
Which tapas bars in La Laguna are also frequented by locals?
As a university town, La Laguna attracts many students and locals, who tend to frequent the bars away from the main thoroughfares. Popular venues are those serving local wines from the fertile surrounding countryside as well as Canary Islands specialities. If you’re looking for places with a local crowd, you’ll often find them in the side streets around the cathedral and the university.
Opening hours and other details are subject to change; please check before visiting.
All restaurant profiles for the Canary Islands can be found at www.Kanaren-Kleinanzeigen.com.