After ten years living on the Costa Blanca, I've eaten my way around Calpe more times than I can count. From a €2 coffee and tostada at a local bar before a morning hike up the Peñón, to a long Sunday lunch with local wine on the terrace overlooking the Olla salt lagoon — Calpe genuinely punches above its weight when it comes to food. This guide covers where to eat in Calpe across every budget and occasion, with honest opinions and no filler.
The Pescadores Quarter: Start Here
If you only have one meal in Calpe, eat it in the Barrio de la Pescadora (the old fishermen's quarter, sometimes spelled Pescadores). This tight cluster of streets behind the port is where the real restaurant scene lives. It's entirely walkable and, crucially, it's where locals eat — not just tourists.
Restaurant Mena (Calle Delfín) is probably the most famous address in town. Run by the same family for decades, it does rice dishes and fish the old-fashioned way. The arroz a banda here — rice cooked in fish stock, served with alioli on the side — is genuinely one of the best things I've eaten on the Costa Blanca. Book ahead at weekends, especially in May and June when the terraces fill fast.
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Find rentals →El Puerto sits right on the port itself and does excellent grilled fish by the kilo. It's touristy, yes, but the fish is fresh off the boats docked ten metres away, so the quality justifies the price. Get the dorada a la sal (sea bream baked in a salt crust) if it's on the specials board.
La Bocaina is a smaller, less well-known spot just off the main drag where I've had some cracking lunches — great tapas, cold beer, and a terrace that catches the afternoon sun beautifully in May.
Best Paella and Rice in Calpe
Calpe is serious rice country. The proximity to Valencia, the quality of local seafood, and the tradition of cooking over open fires makes this one of the best places on the coast to eat paella and arroces.
Restaurant Ifach (near the base of the rock) does a reliable paella valenciana as well as a knockout arroz negro (black rice with squid ink and alioli). The views up at the Peñón from the terrace make it worth visiting for the atmosphere alone.
Casa El Mosquit is a local favourite with a slightly retro vibe — plastic chairs, paper tablecloths, and absolutely outstanding rice. It's the kind of place that looks unassuming from outside but has regulars who've been coming for 20 years. Try the fideuà (a noodle-based paella variant) if you want something a bit different.
One tip: paella is always ordered for a minimum of two people and takes 20–30 minutes to cook. Don't rush it, order some bread and olives, and enjoy the wait.
Chiringuitos on the Beach
May is the perfect month for a chiringuito lunch in Calpe — warm enough to eat outside, but not yet the full summer crush.
Chiringuito Arenal Bol sits directly on the Playa del Arenal Bol (the northern beach, closest to the town centre). It does solid fried fish, cold drinks, and has sunbeds for rent if you want to combine lunch with a beach afternoon. Nothing fancy, but exactly what you want after a morning swim.
La Olla is technically a sit-down restaurant near the salt lagoon of the same name, but it has an outdoor terrace that feels very chiringuito in spirit. The location is stunning — you're looking out at flamingos on the lagoon with the Peñón looming behind you. The grilled prawns here are excellent.
Budget Eating: Where Locals Actually Go for Cheap Lunch
Look, Calpe has its share of overpriced tourist menus. Avoid anything with laminated photos of food outside. Instead:
Bar El Borrego (in the old town, near the market) does a proper menú del día for around €12–14 — three courses, bread, and a drink. It's packed with construction workers and local families at 2pm, which is always a good sign.
Mercado Municipal de Calpe (the covered market, open weekday mornings) is great for picking up fresh fruit, local cheese, charcuterie, and embutidos to take back to your apartment for a self-catered lunch. Far cheaper than any restaurant and the produce is excellent.
If you're staying in one of our holiday rentals in Calpe, this is genuinely one of the best things about having a kitchen — pop to the market in the morning, grab some fresh fish from the fishmonger, and cook lunch yourself for a fraction of the restaurant price.
Dinner & Drinks: The Calpe Evening Scene
Calpe isn't Benidorm — and that's a compliment. The evening scene is relaxed, family-friendly, and centres around the old town and the port area.
Restaurante Peix & Brases on Avenida Gabriel Miró is where I'd take someone I wanted to impress. Smart but not stuffy, excellent wine list, and the grilled fish and seafood are consistently superb. Expect to pay €35–50 per head with wine.
For tapas and wine before or after dinner, the small bars along Calle Santa María in the casco antiguo (old town) are great. Bar Ximo is a favourite of mine — unpretentious, good local wine by the glass, excellent jamón.
La Bodeguita near the church does a nice line in craft beers and pintxos if you're after something more informal.
Practical Tips for Eating in Calpe
- Lunch is the main meal: Most restaurants serve lunch from 1:30–4pm and dinner from 8:30–11pm. Kitchens are often closed in between.
- Reservations: Essential on Friday/Saturday evenings and for any paella restaurant at weekend lunch, even in May.
- Tipping: Not obligatory in Spain, but rounding up or leaving 5–10% is appreciated.
- Menu del día: Always ask for it at lunch — it's almost always better value than ordering à la carte.
- Parking: The port area has a paid car park. For the old town restaurants, park at the free car park near the town hall and walk.
Stay in Calpe and Eat Like a Local
The best way to experience Calpe's food scene is to base yourself here for at least a week — and booking direct through JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com. That's real money back in your pocket for restaurant meals.
Browse our holiday rentals in Calpe or search all available properties for your dates. Most of our Calpe apartments have full kitchens, and we can point you towards the market, the best local shops, and our personal restaurant recommendations when you arrive.
Calpe in May is genuinely magical — warm evenings, no queues, and tables available at the best restaurants without booking six months ahead. Don't sleep on it.
