Our Favourite Restaurants
Here are some of the restaurants and bars we like to go to, although there are many more. We never eat Indian food in Spain so cannot recommend any. Please remember that, as with all restaurants, a lot depends on the staff in the kitchens on the night, so sometimes standards can slip. Also be aware that most bars serve food all day but stop at 9pm. In July and August Friday and Saturday nights get very busy and it is best to book.
QUESADA
The nearest restaurants are up the hill, so you turn left when you leave the property and walk uphill until you get to the top.
The first pub you will see is Coopers (it has a ball pond for young children), which has an indoor restaurant and a large area outside for eating. This is run by English people and has an English feel to it. The menu is varied, with lots of English dishes, and is reasonably priced. They have satellite television and have on a board outside a list of the football matches they plan to show. In the summer they have a large screen outside as well as inside. They also have live entertainment at the weekends, and hold other events such as quizzes during the week.
If you head left (as you face Coopers) you will come to some white steps. They lead to a couple of small bars which sell reasonably priced food all day and into the evening. Sunset La Vida faces west so is a good place to get the last rays of sun. Currently they have a regular singer there on Sunday evenings.
At the far end of these bars is Antica, a large Italian restaurant run by Germans, which has been there for years. Typical Italian dishes (pizzas and pasta are really good). Not particularly cheap, but they have a lovely terrace which is great because of its elevated position and it is not close to the road. In summer they often have entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings. Below, slightly round the corner out of sight, is a Chinese which is very good value.
From here you can walk to Claptons, a bar which has a small inside and outside eating area. They do food all day long and into the evening.
Just along from Claptons, there is a bakery, which also operates as a café, serving cakes, pastries and snacks until about 5pm.
On the other side of Claptons there is an Italian restaurant called Gran de Pizzeria. Again this has been there for years and is popular, but some dishes i.e. steak are not cheap.
This is the main town of Quesada where you will find a variety of bars and restaurants. Start at the Arches and walk along the main road (Avenida de Las Naciones).
Oscars is on the left. This is a small restaurant with a small outside eating area (has limited opening times in the off season). It has 1920s décor and always shows films and stars from that era and is run by a couple of ‘theatrical’ gay guys. They have a good day time and night time set menu, plus al la carte. All the food is home made and the desserts are particularly good.
Banana Tree – on left – serves Thai and Asian food. Been there for years and is popular. Food is good and reasonably priced. Set evening menus available.
On the right look out for a road called Sola. On the left is Las Figueras, serving Spanish food – good for paella – reasonably priced – but closes at 9pm and does not open Sundays. On the opposite side of the road is La Boheme, which has a variety of dishes served French style. There is a set menu for lunch and evening time. Indoor only, pleasantly quiet, makes a change from the noisy main street restaurants, not suitable for children.
Amsteleria – on left. This is a large bar and restaurant. Upstairs there is a large ball pond with lots of seating for parents to eat, drink and supervise at the same time. Downstairs is the bar and restaurant. Some of the tables have a lager (Amstel) tap in the middle, so people can help themselves.
Continue walking until you come to a junction and facing you will be the Municipal Centre. Go left in front of the Centre and after a turning left there is El Goyo’s restaurant . This is a friendly Spanish run restaurant, and they serve a lovely mixed Paella. The food is good, but we think the starters can work out pricey.
If you come out of El Goyo’s and turn right, take the first right turning which leads to some bars and restaurants.
The Bells and La Campana are two separate restaurants, but run by the same Hungarian people. They do very reasonable set price day and evening menus, as well as a la carte.
Continue walking and turn to the left and you will be back on the main street. Head left towards the Arches and turn right in front of the garage. In front of you will be Mulberry’s, which is popular and serves a wide range of food.
Turn left out of Mulberry’s and you will be in Los Arcos, which is the road in front of the Arches as you enter Quesada. Turn right and you will find a few places for snacks and drinks in this road. Notably, Laurel and Hardy’s is a large restaurant with an outside terrace. The menu is varied, they do a set evening menu, prices are perhaps slightly more. Very popular though.
Wok Buffet, Avenida Salamanca, Dona Pepa 2. There are a few of these Wok Buffets dotted round, but the nearest is this one. You can eat as much as you like for about 9 euros per head. You select the ingredients you want for your main course stir-fry and they cook it for you.
There is the Country Club on Calle Toledo (near the Aeropuerto Road). It has a nice sized swimming pool and it serves food and drink all day, both to members and non members. It hosts various shows including tribute bands. There is a Bowling Club next to it, which also serves non members and has a variety of entertainments.
GUARDAMAR
There are loads of restaurants and bars in Guardamar, but during July and August it can be difficult to park there in the evenings. Also, as there are so many places to go locally which we can walk to, we seldom go there to eat. However, there is a lovely promenade lined with eateries, great for day time tapas, and a lovely ambience in the evening. However, they are very busy during July and August and you do pay for the view of the sea.
The only restaurant we go to with any regularity is a pension called Jaen. It is on the main drag through Guardamar called Avenida Pais Valencia. It is owned by Spanish people and all dishes are cooked in a Spanish way (even moussaka is slightly different ). It is basic inside, they only have fans, and the table cloths are paper, on which they write the bill at the end of the meal. They start you off with a mixed salad with alioli and loads of bread, while you wait for your starter, and then your main course, and dessert if you can manage it (we have yet to eat dessert). This is all for eight euros per person. Their house wine is one euro for a litre carafe.
To get there you head for Guardamar on the 332, go past that first roundabout that leads of the beaches (playas), and then take the first exit off the next roundabout going into Guardamar. This is the Avenia Pais Valencia, and Jaen in quite a long way up on the left hand side. It has blue and white striped blinds which are always visible. They open at 7pm and there is usually a queue to get in, as they do not take bookings, so either arrive early or wait for the next sitting. Tables are available again from about 8.30pm onwards.
BENIJOFAR
This is a small town close to Quesada, but not close enough to walk. Drive out of the arches, straight at the first roundabout, then first right at next roundabout, signed for Benijofar. The first restaurant is on the left at the beginning of the town, called La Symphonia. It is run by an Italian guy and the décor is interesting and the food good. Set menus are available, as well as a la carte. They do a lovely mixed fish or meat grill, and the fish soup is delicious.
Continue along the main road until you come to where the road bends to the right, there is a turning to the left and in front there is a square with a water feature. To the right of the square there is a café which sells cakes and snacks, and a restaurant called Raffaellis. It is run by an Italian family and they serve home made food. They do a day and evening time set menu which is good value, plus a la carte. It is a small restaurant with limited space outside, and it is best to book if you want to eat 8’ish, or for more than two people.
BENIMAR
Continue through Benijofar to the roundabout – go straight on and up the hill is Benimar. Here there are a collection of bars and restaurants. Notably the Yellow Rose of Texas which serves Mexican food. Their steaks are usually really good.
FLAMENCO
On the road to Torrevieja (CV905) there is a large restaurant on the right set back with parking in front called Villa Salada. It has flamenco shows and horse shows at the weekends. You can pay for a set buffet style meal with the flamenco show, or there is an a la carte seating area, to one side of the stage, where the view is perhaps not so good. The set meal starts at 7pm and the show commences with a classical guitarist first at about 8pm.