Best Restaurants in Alicante, Spain: Eat Like a Local at These 37 Spots eightyflavors.com

Based on my culinary experiences in my former hometown, here is a list of the 37 best restaurants in Alicante, Spain.

Alicante itself is underrated in Spain. Overshadowed by Madrid, Barcelona, and the Basque Country, this Mediterranean city quietly boasts several Michelin-starred restaurants, celebrity chefs, and some of the country’s most underpriced wines.

Alicante’s Playa San Juan is home to some of the best arrocerías (rice restaurants specializing in paella and its many cousins) outside of Valencia—a serious honor.

But here’s the catch: Alicante is also very popular with northern European tourists (mainly British, German, and Scandinavian). With direct flights from across Europe, it’s easy to stumble into tourist traps serving mediocre tapas instead of local excellence.