Best Restaurants In Benidorm | For Discerning Foodies
Looking for stylish places to eat in Benidorm? We ate our way through the coastal town this summer, and this is our take on Benidorm’s best restaurants.
Written by: Lesley Stewart | May 2025
Benidorm might be best known for its sun-drenched beaches, but its exceptional food scene deserves just as much attention.
I recently spent a week in Benidorm, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect - there’s no getting away from the town’s reputation for offering little more than basic pub grub and laminated menus.
However, we discovered a town quietly — and confidently — plating up some of the best food on the Costa Blanca.
These days, Benidorm boasts a growing number of upscale restaurants that showcase local ingredients and modern culinary creativity. From elegant beachfront dining to authentic tapas tucked away in the Old Town, Benidorm’s food scene offers some truly memorable places to eat.
And if you know where to look, you'll find restaurants that rival those in any major Spanish city.
This is our carefully curated guide to the best restaurants in Benidorm.
Quick Guide: Benidorm’s Best Restaurants
D·Vora Gastrobar: Rooftop dining in the Old Town with stunning sea views and modern tapas in a chic, intimate atmosphere. My favourite eatery in the town.
Restaurante Ulia: Classic seaside restaurant on Poniente Beach serving traditional Spanish seafood in a relaxed, sunlit setting.
Exótico Restaurante: Stylish fusion of Asian and Mediterranean flavours near Levante Beach, with creative dishes in an elegant space.
Urban Beach: Trendy beachside spot on Levante Beach with fresh, flavourful dishes and a cool, laid-back vibe.
Llum del Mar: Fine dining at the Villa Venecia Hotel overlooking Mal Pas Beach, serving refined Mediterranean cuisine with panoramic views.
Strat: Creative, contemporary cooking above Cala de Finestrat, offering a unique twist on Mediterranean flavours in a serene, scenic setting.
La Taperia: Located in tapas alley, a street packed with top-rated tapas bars, perfect for a lively, authentic Spanish evening out.
My Top Picks for the Best Hotels in Benidorm:
H10 Porto Poniente: stunning luxury hotel on Poniente beach (hotel | holiday)
Barceló Benidorm Beach: contemporary, adult-only stay on Levante Beach (hotel | holiday)
Hotel Primavera Park: chic hotel with boujee rooftop cocktail bar (hotel | holiday)
Melia Benidorm: stylish stay with pools, eateries, and all-inclusive option (hotel | holiday)
Boutique RH Canfali: boutique hotel in incredible oceanside position (hotel)
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Travel tip: The best way to explore the Costa Blanca is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Spain, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Enterprise, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car and driving in Spain is quite easy. Book your car with Discover Cars here.
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Getting there: If you’re flying from the UK and looking for a perfect beach hotel + flights, I recommend holidays with Jet2holidays. My favourite package holiday airline, they fly from most UK airports, include heaps of luggage, and easy resort transfers. Check out Benidorm holidays here.
Your Guide To The Best Restaurants In Benidorm
1. D·Vora Gastrobar
Address: Plaza Sant Jaume, 1, 03501 Benidorm
Located in Benidorm’s Old Town, D·Vora is a stylish restaurant attached to the RH Canfali Hotel. Its biggest draw might be the view—the dining room and rooftop terrace overlook the sparkling Mediterranean, making it a gorgeous spot for lunch on a sunny day.
The interior is modern and warm, with soft tones, sleek furniture, and a refined yet relaxed feel.
What to order: Their take on Spanish dishes is refined and contemporary. Try the Iberian pork with sweet potato; it was easily one of the best things I ate on the Costa Blanca, and the presentation was equally stunning. Our group also loved the crispy octopus and crisp Caesar salad.
But the real highlight was the Cecina de Astorga, a delicious bowl of cured meat with foie gras, honey, and pistachio.
The wine from nearby vineyards is a thoughtful touch; a dry rosé from the Alicante region is a refreshing and versatile choice that pairs well with a variety of dishes here.
2. Restaurante Ulia
Address: Avenida Vicente Llorca Alós, 15, 03502 Benidorm
If your idea of a perfect meal includes a sea breeze and a view of the Mediterranean, Restaurante Ulia is the place to be.
This family-run restaurant is perched right on Poniente Beach and offers a relaxed, classic atmosphere with maritime touches and big windows that flood the space with natural light. The service is warm, and the pace is unhurried — perfect for long lunches or sunset dinners.
What to order: The classic Spanish menu is extensive but house speciality is arroz (rice), a traditional paella served in a huge pan. We had an exceptional chicken and vegetable paella, and devoured plates of crispy calamari alongside traditional croquettes.
3. Exótico Restaurante
Address: Avenida de Alcoy, 14, 03503 Benidorm
Tucked away on the seventh floor of the Primavera Park Hotel, Exótico offers something a little different in Benidorm’s dining landscape.
It brings together the best of Asian and Mediterranean flavours in an elegant and oh-so-chic space. Expect dark corners, velvet booths, contemporary design, and creative dishes that are as visually appealing as they are delicious.
I think it’s ideal for a boujee dinner with friends, and during summer, live music during dinner ensures it’s often a lively spot!
What to order: We ordered the tuna tartare (a real highlight), sticky beef bao buns, and Iberian pork, which were utterly delicious. But we also heard good things about the sushi rolls and Thai red curry. The food here is rich, and while the menu changes seasonally, it always leans toward bold, flavoursome dishes.
Tip: Be sure to start or end your night with cocktails on the rooftop terrace; the views, drinks, and DJs by the pool were a real highlight of our Benidorm trip.
4. Urban Beach
Address: Avenida de Alcoy, 17, 03503 Benidorm
Urban Beach is a great option if you want something modern, relaxed, and a little trendy. With sleek interiors, a lively but laid-back vibe, and gorgeous views over Levante Beach, this restaurant is one of my favourite places to eat in Benidorm.
It’s the kind of place where you can dress up for dinner, but feel equally relaxed in your best beachwear for lunch by the sea.
We headed in after a few hours of soaking up the sun on Levante Beach and loved the friendly staff, who helped us navigate the menu and recommended perfectly chilled, crisp local wine for our meal.
What to order: The menu is full of crowd-pleasing favourites. Choose their grilled meats, fish, and fresh salads, all of which are delicious. We also devoured the crispy croquettes (some of the best on our trip), bao buns, and a black angus burger that was full of flavour.
5. Restaurante Llum del Mar
Address: Plaça de Sant Jaume, 1, 03500 Benidorm
Perched atop Benidorm's Old Town within the stunningly chic Villa Venecia Boutique Hotel, Llum del Mar offers a dining experience that's as much about the ambience as the cuisine.
Sadly, we didn’t get to eat here (you need to book well in advance), but it’s on my list for a future Costa Blanca visit.
With floor-to-ceiling windows, diners are treated to panoramic views of the Mediterranean; book a table here for a romantic evening or a special celebration. Inside, the vibe is decidedly upscale, blending modern design with elegant touches that complement the coastal scenery.
What to order: The menu is a tribute to Mediterranean flavours, emphasising fresh seafood and local produce. Signature dishes include the arroz meloso de mariscos (creamy seafood rice) and the lubina al horno (oven-baked sea bass). As you’d expect from a restaurant of this calibre, each plate is artfully presented.
6. Strat
Address: Av. de la Marina Baixa, 10, 03509 Benidorm
Nestled above Cala de Finestrat, Strat is a culinary gem that combines breathtaking sea views with innovative Mediterranean fusion cuisine.
Again, this chic Benidorm restaurant remains on my foodie list; the sun-drenched terrace with views over the sparkling Mediterranean is one I’d seek out in particular on my next trip.
Helmed by MasterChef winner Claire Hutchings and her partner Víctor, the restaurant offers a serene atmosphere where attention to detail is paramount. The contemporary and stylish decor creates a perfect backdrop for the fine dining menu, and though the vibe is undeniably upscale, this eatery prides itself on being an inviting spot.
What to order: Standout dishes include the croquetas de bogavante (lobster croquettes) with a hint of Thai influence, and the bravas mediterráneas (Mediterranean-style patatas bravas), slow-cooked for depth of flavour.
D.Vora
7. La Taperia
La Taperia was our first tapas experience in Benidorm, and wow, it was an incredible experience.
Located on the town’s iconic Tapas Alley, a narrow, buzzing street in the Old Town packed with traditional Spanish tapas bars, La Taperia is a stylish and modern bar with a distinctly upmarket feel. The space is warm and stylish, with dark wood finishes, an impressive pintxos counter, plenty of indoor tables, and a friendly team.
I’d say La Tapería Aurrera adds a bit of refinement to the often raucous alley!
The menu here mixes traditional Basque-inspired pintxos with more contemporary tapas dishes, and the attention to detail and flavour sets it apart from others on the street.
What to order: Try the grilled goat cheese with fried aubergines and honey from the pintxos counter, homemade Iberian ham croquettes, or broken eggs with Iberian ham. Pair them with a glass of local Alicante red, and you’ll be glad you ate here.
