Eating out

Eating in Torre del Mar splits neatly in two, and knowing which one you want saves you a walk.

The seafront

The promenade is where the chiringuitos are: beach restaurants built on the sand. This is where you eat the espeto, sardines threaded onto a cane and grilled over a wood fire in an old boat. It is a lunchtime dish and a seasonal one, at its best from spring to autumn. Alongside it you will find fried fish, pescaíto frito, and seafood sold by weight.

The centre

Inland from the beach, around Calle del Mar and Avenida de Andalucía, are the tapas bars, the cafés and the everyday restaurants. This is the part that stays open all year, and in winter it is where the town actually eats.

Three practical notes

• Seafood is priced by weight. Ask what a portion costs before you order. That is where the bill surprises people.
• Spanish mealtimes. Lunch runs from about two, dinner rarely starts before nine. Turning up at seven for dinner means an empty dining room.
• Book in August and on festival weekends, particularly for a table on the sand.

The full restaurant directory, with around 80 places sorted by cuisine and each one verified, is in Spanish.