If you've visited Moraira before, you already know it's one of the prettiest little towns on the Costa Blanca. But there's something many first-timers don't expect: the food and wine scene here is genuinely outstanding. Not in a flashy, tourist-trap way — in the real, slow-food, local-producer kind of way that reminds you why Spanish cuisine became a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. After ten years living here, I still discover something new on the plate every season.
September is arguably the best month to eat and drink in Moraira. The summer crowds have thinned, the restaurants aren't turning tables every 45 minutes, and the local grape harvest — the vendimia — is in full swing just inland. If food and wine are important to you on holiday, you've chosen the right place and the right time.
The Muscat of Teulada-Moraira: A Wine Worth Travelling For
Most visitors have no idea that Moraira sits in the middle of one of Spain's most distinctive wine-producing zones. The DO Alicante designation covers the region, but it's the Muscat grapes grown around Teulada-Moraira specifically that have put this corner of the Costa Blanca on the wine map. The local cooperative, Celler del Roure in nearby Teulada (a 7-minute drive inland), produces bottles you simply cannot buy outside the region — which makes them worth seeking out.
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Find rentals →The Muscat here is different from what you might know. Yes, there are sweet, dessert-style Moscatels, but also dry, aromatic whites that pair brilliantly with local seafood. A cold glass of dry Moscatel with a plate of gambas rojas from the Denia fishing boats? That's a combination I've been recommending to guests for years and never once had a complaint.
Celler del Roure, Carretera Teulada-Moraira, Teulada — open Monday to Saturday. Pick up a few bottles to enjoy on your terrace. Prices start around €5 for a local white, rising to €15+ for reserve bottles. If you're self-catering, this is one of the best stops you'll make.
Must-Try Dishes in Moraira
Moraira's food identity is anchored in three things: the sea, the Valencian hinterland, and a healthy dose of Moorish influence that still shows up in the local arroz dishes and the use of almonds, saffron, and citrus.
Arroz a Banda — This is the dish. More than paella (which is actually a Valencia city thing, purists will remind you), arroz a banda is the fisherman's rice of the Costa Blanca. The rice is cooked separately in a rich fish broth, then served alongside the fish used to make that stock. Order it for two at Restaurant La Gioia or Restaurante Breakers on the seafront and take your time.
Gambas Rojas de Dénia — The red prawns from Dénia, just 20km up the coast, are among the finest in the Mediterranean. They're expensive (expect €25–35 for a ración) but completely worth it. Simply grilled with sea salt — nothing else.
Esgarraet — A classic Alicantine salad of roasted red pepper and salt cod, dressed with olive oil. Found in most traditional tapas bars in Moraira's old town. Try it at Bar La Bodeguita near the castle — a proper local place that hasn't changed much since I first walked in years ago.
Coca de Recapte — Think of it as a Valencian flatbread topped with roasted vegetables, anchovies or tuna. You'll find it at the weekly market (Fridays) and in the bakeries along Calle Colón.
Fideuà — Like paella but made with thin noodles instead of rice, cooked in squid ink or seafood broth. Restaurante El Portet at the beach of the same name does a reliably good version.
Local Food Shopping: Where to Buy Like a Resident
If you're staying in a holiday rental in Moraira — which I'd always recommend over a hotel for the Costa Blanca, especially if you're self-catering — then knowing where to shop is essential.
Mercado Municipal de Moraira — The small covered market near the port is open every morning except Sunday. Fresh fish arrives around 9am. The vegetable stalls are run by families who grow most of what they sell. In September, you'll find beautiful late-summer tomatoes, figs, and the first of the autumn almonds.
El Pulpero — A deli-style shop on the main street that stocks local cheeses (including the excellent Tronchón from inland Valencia), jamón from the sierra, and a good selection of local wines and olive oils. Perfect for assembling a serious picnic.
Supermercado Mercadona, Benitachell — For your weekly shop, the Mercadona in nearby Benitachell (10 minutes by car) has an excellent fresh fish counter and stocks local produce at proper Spanish prices.
Eating Out: When and Where
A tip that took me a season or two to fully embrace: eat on Spanish time. Lunch at 2pm–3:30pm is when the kitchen is at its best, the menú del día (a two or three-course set lunch with wine) is available, and the locals are actually eating. Dinner before 9pm in Moraira will find you largely alone in the restaurant — which is not always a bad thing for ambience, but the energy picks up considerably after 9:30pm.
For the best value eating, ask for the menú del día at lunch. Most places in Moraira offer one for €14–18, including wine, bread, and dessert. It's the way to eat well without spending a fortune.
For a special evening in September, book a table at Restaurante Baret de Moraira in the old town — a small, creative place with Valencian-rooted cooking that changes with the season. Reservations essential.
Cooking Classes & Experiences
Several local operators offer paella and tapas cooking classes for visitors — a brilliant half-day activity, especially if you're visiting with family or as a couple. Cook & Taste Costa Blanca (search locally or ask your rental host) runs small-group sessions using market ingredients. You eat what you cook, drink local wine throughout, and go home knowing how to make a proper sofrito.
Staying to Enjoy It All
To really do Moraira's food and wine scene justice, you need time — a week minimum, ideally two. Staying in a holiday rental in Moraira means you can shop the market in the morning, cook lunch on the terrace, stroll to dinner in the evening, and wake up slowly with no checkout pressure. It's the only way to travel here, in my view.
Check out our available properties in Moraira — and book directly through JV Properties. You'll save up to 18% compared to Airbnb prices for the same properties, with no platform fees eating into your holiday budget. That's money better spent on an extra bottle of Moscatel.
September availability goes quickly. If you're reading this and the dates are there — book them.
