Food in Santa Pola
- Wine tip: Spanish wines are graded by the length of time they have been aged, the best wines carry gran reserva labels; these have been aged both in oak and in the bottle.
- Food tip: When buying food in supermarkets and local stores, look out for Denominación de Orígen on speciality goods, this certifies their authenticity and is a good indication of quality.
Our mouthwatering Santa Pola menu
Santa Pola is known internationally for its succulent seafood and flavoursome rice dishes. Desserts here are also excellent and often still made in the traditional way.
If you’re cooking on a BBQ, be sure to pick up freshly caught fish from the harbour. If you’re eating out, then follow our guide to the best dishes in town.
Warning – don’t read this guide if you’re on a diet, it will just make you hungry and send you straight to the fridge…
Appetisers
Salted fish dishes are the best way to prime the palette for a fine meal. Amongst the best are mojama (salted tuna), empanadas de mero (fish pasties) and coca de sardinas (an open sardine tart).
We can also recommend cigalas (crayfish) and gamba roja a la plancha (red prawns) which often come sizzling from the grill.
Main meals
Rice dishes are incredibly popular in the Valencia region, with each town having it’s own specialty. Santa Pola’s most famous meal is Arroz a banda, a full-bodied fish stew.
Paellas are an excellent choice for a rich main dish, including paella de marisco (shellfish paella). For a lighter main course, pick freshly caught pan-fried fish.
If you’re not a fan of fish, there will be good alternatives at every restaurant, ask your waiter what they recommend. We’d suggest trying the arroz y costra (a meat-based paella topped with a baked egg crust).
Desserts
Sinfully rich desserts are a Santa Pola tradition, so be sure to eat at a restaurant that hand makes their own. Try sweet hojaldres de cabello de angel made from puff pastry, coca boba (crazy tart) or rollitos, deliciously sweet rolls.
The locally made ice cream and granizados, frozen drinks with a slushy texture, make a refreshing end to the meal.
Despite the tempting desserts, you’ll find the Spanish lifestyle a healthier one, which is why so many people buy retirement property here.
