Best Restaurants in Ayamonte, Spain august 16, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Andalusia, Ayamonte, Food, Holiday, Restaurants, Spain, Vacation

Find Great Restaurants in Ayamonte

There are surprisingly many excellent restaurants in Ayamonte, the small town on the border with Portugal. Ayamonte has a treasure trove of high-quality ingredients to choose from. With its location right on the Atlantic coast, you can find everything your heart desires, from fish and seafood to shellfish. The hinterland also offers goat and Iberico pig farming, and delicious cheeses are commonly found on menus.

Most restaurants and tapas bars are located in and around the pedestrian streets by the harbor, making it easy to find your way around. While some places may close and others open, we have compiled a list of great restaurants in Ayamonte here.

Some Tips for Dining in Ayamonte

Before we delve into the best restaurants in Ayamonte, it’s important to note the dining hours. Ayamonte is not as touristy as, for example, Malaga, which means dining hours follow local Spanish customs. In Ayamonte, restaurants typically open for dinner at the earliest at 8 PM, often at 8:30 PM. Lunch is usually between 1 PM and 3 PM, followed by coffee and siesta until around 6 PM. Before dinner, a small glass of beer or an aperitif is a good choice.

On Sundays, many locals gather for a long lunch starting at 2 PM. There’s a rush for the best seats in restaurants, so if you want to ensure a spot, make a reservation or arrive early – though not too early! Sunday lunch is a lovely tradition, and the atmosphere in the city is delightful.

NB! This article comes from our extended stay in Ayamonte. We visited the town from January to April, which is likely considered off-season. Except for a few days after Epiphany in early January, the restaurants were busy with both locals and tourists quickly filling the tables. Therefore, it’s recommended to book a table or arrive when the restaurant opens. You can check the opening hours by clicking the links to the restaurants below.

What Do We Like to Eat?

Before we get to the recommendations, here are a few words about the types of restaurants we write about and what we look for when choosing. Restaurant visits are a significant part of our vacations. We don’t necessarily eat expensive food, but we always choose local and regional ingredients. We’re also always on the lookout for great food experiences and prefer to try something we haven’t tasted before. So, keep that in mind when deciding whether to follow our recommendations.

Now, let’s sit down at the table!

8 Great Restaurants in Ayamonte

LPA – The Culinary Bar

Let’s start with the best first! LPA is, in our humble opinion, probably the best place to eat in town. You don’t need to travel all the way to Seville to experience exclusive city vibes, as they are right here! Plush sofas, mirrors, and quirky decor complete the dining experience. We intentionally link to LPA’s Facebook page because you really need to see more food photos from there than we’ve included below. Please click the link to reserve a table, as it’s almost always full.

We chose three small starters, including a foie gras ice cream cone, all beautifully presented on wood, bone, or other lovely displays. Main courses included a fish and seafood lasagna, canelloni with oxtail, and finally, a lamb shoulder served as Peking duck, with small tortillas and various fillings. We planned to end with their mojito ice cream but had to admit defeat. It was SO delicious, and we’ll definitely be back!

Meraki Tapas

Right across from LPA is Meraki Tapas, one of the many other really good places to eat in town. With its unique atmosphere and outstanding gastronomic experiences, Meraki has become a favorite destination for both locals and visitors from near and far.

The restaurant offers authentic Spanish flavors, from classic tapas like presa and croquettas to innovative creations that delight both the palate and the eye. The atmosphere at Meraki Tapas is stylish yet relaxed. Whether you’re dining with a loved one or just looking for a truly delicious food experience, Meraki is a great choice.

Tierra Y Mar

In addition to Meraki and LPA, Tierra Y Mar is also right at the top. No matter when you feel like dining at this beautiful restaurant with its classic blue facade, you should make a reservation. It’s always busy, even on a Tuesday evening in January!

While many other restaurants in Ayamonte offer classic dishes, Tierra Y Mar serves tapas with a twist. We loved their Bacalao with a creamy cheese sauce, the deconstructed croquettas with turkey, and the spicy chorizo. However, the best part was the welcoming service; we felt very well taken care of. Tierra Y Mar is perfect for a fine dinner with business associates, a celebration, or just to indulge someone special!

La Casona

At La Casona, you’ll also enjoy a great meal! Here you’ll find all the classic tapas dishes you know and love. Plus, a wonderful atmosphere as the restaurant fills with locals who come to eat well and generously. It’s very authentic and local, and there’s plenty of space. If you’re a larger group looking to dine together, this is where you should book a table.

We tried their delicious croquettas, a platter of local specialties, Solomillo (a cut from the Iberico pig), and a superb dish of Cazón en Abado. The latter is a dish you shouldn’t miss. The crispy pieces of dogfish are marinated in vinegar and plenty of spices and then breaded before frying. Enjoy!

Meson La Serrania de Macías

If you’re looking for a lovely lunch, Meson La Serrania de Macías comes highly recommended. The restaurant, with its pig out front, is located right by the town’s small square, Plaza de la Coronación. Here, you can enjoy a beer and a snack while watching the charming life of the town.

The restaurant, which also has an attached charcuterie, is especially famous for its exquisite ham. So, feel free to order a plate of sliced jamón, but save some appetite for a tapa or two. Note that when you order larger racións, the portions are very large. We ended up with a huge plate of revuelto and five large Iberico meatballs wrapped in eggplant. It was delicious but a bit too much for two people.

Bar El Pupa

If you’re looking for a quick lunch tapas without too much fuss, we highly recommend “the red tapas bar,” as we ended up calling it… We may have already revealed that we visited more than once! The place is easy to love, with spot-on service and equally great food.

At Bar El Pupa, you’re given a small menu and a pen, and you simply mark your choices. 3-4 tapas are perfect for two slightly hungry adults, and you can always order more. We’ve tried and can recommend most dishes, but a quick order would always include a flamenquin, croquettas, revuelta de bacalao, and carrilladas, tender pork cheeks in a wonderful spiced sauce. Order a caña, a small beer, or a good glass of red wine.

Margallo

If you want to venture into town and try something truly local, swing by Margallo. You’ll find it in the small streets behind the ferry to Portugal. Look for the sign reading “Bar del Pescaito Frito,” made of the finest glazed tiles.

At Margallo, you can get three things: tomato salad, fried fish, and squid. Order a plate of each, and preferably with a beer. Remember to bring wet wipes: the fish and squid are eaten with your fingers, and like the tomato salad, everything tastes heavenly!

Super Frango

Another fun fast-food bar can be found at the bus station on the edge of town. With Portugal so close, customs and traditions cross the border, and this is one of the really good ones. Portuguese Frango is a delicious dish inspired by the country’s history and spicy flavor.

This traditional dish involves marinating chicken in a sauce made from piri piri, the small chilies. This culinary heritage comes from Portugal’s former colony Mozambique, where the chili pepper originates. Frango chicken is not an extremely spicy dish but is simply flavored and tasty. The chicken is marinated in the red sauce and then slowly grilled over an open flame, keeping all the juices inside the meat.

At Super Frango in Ayamonte, a whole chicken costs 8 euros (2024), and you can get it with fries or rice. There are also cold cuts in the display cases and the popular Portuguese pastries, Pastel de Nata. There’s only take-away for lunch, but the place is still highly loved by the locals, especially on Sundays when the line is long.

Good Bars in Ayamonte

After a meal, you might crave a little drink to wash it down. There are plenty of cozy bars in town, but don’t wait too long! The locals tend to go out early and head home early as well. Perhaps it was just because it was early in the season when we were here from January to April, but the town rarely comes alive after midnight. However, the nightlife peaks on Friday afternoons and Saturday lunchtimes.

People especially gather at Plaza de la Laguna, the town’s large square. While children run around playing ball, there’s a lively atmosphere in the many bars and cafés around the square. In the evening, it’s much quieter. People also meet just around the corner at the bars next to Margallo, the fish bar.

At Plaza la Lota near Meraki Tapas, there’s also a bustle at the watering hole, with several bars around. However, the coziest spot is around the corner at Delicatessen Merkajamón, which is a combination wine bar and charcuterie. If you haven’t had dinner yet, you can indulge in jamón, exquisite tapas, and delicious cheeses – and wash it down with a good glass of red wine or a sherry. If you want more, hams hang on the walls, and shelves and displays overflow with wines and cheeses that you can buy to take home.

At Tabanco la Peñita, you can enjoy views of Castro Marim, along with great beers and snacks. It gets really lively on Saturday afternoons, so come and enjoy the atmosphere. Be sure to choose their large cheese platter, as shown in the picture, or some anchovies served on the sweet flatbread, Inés Rosales.

… and a Good Place for Cake!

In Ayamonte, people love cake, and it’s usually enjoyed in the afternoon. From lunch until the late evening meal at 9 PM, your stomach might start to rumble. It’s nice to have a piece of cake to tide you over. Ayamonte offers several great patisseries that you shouldn’t miss.

On the pedestrian street, you’ll find Cafetería Museum Centro, which is open all day. Here, there’s a smaller selection of good cakes, and the locals also enjoy a bread with tomato. On the other side of the park, there’s another lovely patisserie, Cafetería La Flor de la Canela, with a larger selection of cakes and other sweet treats. Finally, at the large square, Plaza de la Laguna, most bars and cafés have a cake display case where you can indulge.

You can also try the crispiest churros every morning – except Sunday – at the two stalls right by the food market. For 1€, you get 8 delicious churros! The pictures below are from each of the three places, in chronological order.

Where to Stay in Ayamonte?

Ayamonte, with its charming city life and scenic surroundings, is a true Andalusian gem just waiting for you to visit. Our extended stay in the city provided us with a lifetime experience, and we will definitely return another time. Ayamonte is there, tempting with its charm. It’s easy to book a few nights on the way to Portugal – or just because.

The city boasts a range of lovely hotels, and if you wish to vacation in Ayamonte, there are several options for a comfortable stay. Most tourists opt to stay near the beautiful beaches, particularly in Isla Canela, which also features a popular golf course. Along the beach, you’ll find plenty of delightful beach hotels, which you can explore by clicking the link here: Beach Hotels in Isla Canela.

If you prefer to stay in the city, the best hotel in town, Hotel Parador de Ayamonte, offers the most splendid view of the river and over to Portugal. For a more budget-friendly option in Ayamonte, the hotel apartments in the old monastery, Posada El Convento Mercedario (pictured), are highly recommended. Here, you stay close to the center in fully equipped apartments with views of the city and the sunset from the rooftop bar.

You can see all other hotels in Ayamonte by clicking here. You can also perform your own search for hotels in Ayamonte right here:

Booking.com

Where We Stayed During Our Long Stay Holiday in Andalusia!

For us, it has always been a dream to travel south as winter approached in Denmark. Pack the suitcase, lock the door, and just head off to the light and warmth. In Ayamonte, we found the perfect town house that became the setting for our three-month workation.

The charming blue and white town house, Flor de Sal, is located right at the top of the town, overlooking the salt flats. From the top terrace, you can also see the large Guadiana River and across to Portugal, and south all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Inside, the charming decor was in the same blue and white color scheme, and it had everything we needed, including a workspace with a desk. In short, the house was everything we had been looking for: authentic, cozy, and with a private courtyard where we spent many hours grilling and just lounging in the afternoon sun. Read more about renting Flor de Sal by clicking on the pictures and links.