Tarifa (Cadiz) Restaurants

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It was just before 5 PM by the time we had settled into our accommodations at Pension Correo and then walked the short distance to Café Central, a very happening-looking spot in downtown Tarifa. We treated ourselves to a drink after our long day of driving and then finding accommodations before we set off on foot to explore Old Tarifa in more detail.

Dating from 1894, with either sidewalk or indoor seating available, this popular local restaurant has long been a fun place to hang out in Tarifa. It was quite enjoyable just to watch all the activity by both locals and tourists as the action heated up in the evening with patrons either standing at the bar or finding themselves a table. Their web-site says it is "a Spanish style café, bar and restaurant all in one, where you can eat, drink and be merry from the morning right through till midnight. The choice on the menu is endless including everything from traditional tapas and bocadillos (sandwiches) as well as international dishes such as steak, pastas and a variety of fish."

Favorite Dish: It was dark by 7 PM, so returned to Café Central for our evening meal, managing to find a small inside table where we could watch the bustling activity inside. We ordered dishes of 100% veal (6 Euros), a half-ration of tapis meatballs and spaghetti with Bolognaise sauce (5 Euros) with drinks of beer and wine bringing the bill to 19 Euros. Just like in Granada, Sue was quite fascinated by their 'orange crusher contraption' for preparing juice and the lady who seemed to be doing all the work serving customers had a great laugh when we attempted to photograph it! She was quite a bit of fun all round.

Our last visit there was in the morning for breakfast before setting off for points further up the Atlantic coast. We had cheese and ham omeletes to go with coffee and tea (~8 Euros).

National and International Cuisine. This restaurant's food was by far the nicest I had tasted in Tarifa. It has a mixture of seafood and meat dishes so it will suit all palates. It is only a newly opened restaurant, but I'm sure once the word spreads it will be very difficult to get a booking in this place.
Lovely ambience, nice soft lighting. Perfect for a romantic dinner or a dinner with friends. There were also a family there with kids while I was there, and they also seemed to be well catered for.

open 12midday to 2.am

Favorite Dish: The Roast Duck with potato Gratin was very good.

They also have 12 euro lunch menus between 12 and 16.30pm

This is a new restaurant near the central cafe and is really friendly and cosy and serves great food.

Favorite Dish: Honeyed Duck.

Price I quoted below included a nice bottle of wine and a cheese board and two main courses

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This is a mid-ranged restaurant in Tarifa, but so worth the price. The food is amazing and exactly what you'd expect for traditional Iberian cooking. The seafood is incredibly fresh. The atmosphere is that of a wine cellar that is brightly painted yellow. The entrance patio also has seating and is a bit cooler than the interior. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. They also have a really nice wine selection (though their house wine is the only one that is available by the cup). Most of the staff does not speak any English so you will have to do your best "pointy-talky" with the menu because it is in Spanish and English. It is in a great location just off of Sancho IV el Bravo.

Favorite Dish: The Solomillo in roquefort sauce is amazing as well as the sole. Keep in mind that when ordering seafood they will give you the option of which fish you would like prepared based on the weight in kg's. They also serve the fish as is--head, tail and all. The tapas selections are really great as well if you are looking for something lighter.

We didnt actually have anything to eat in Tarifa as we were not there that long, however we did stop by this bar/restaurant.
We sat outside in the sunshine and I had a glass of white wine and Wayne a diet coke.
Really cheap about 2 euros.
The toilets were just inside the bar on the left hand side and were spotlessly clean.

Didnt actually take a picture of the bar but whilst sitting there I took this one of a building across the street that I liked the look of.

In our last visit in July 05 with Jenniferchin, we stopped in tarifa for lunch time, we visited first the busy ones at the beach, ut decided to stop at the one at the entrance of the town in Bolonia, before heading to the Roman ruins.

It was a great deccions, home made food and a real good price:

Home made Gazpacho (not the bottled one!) for 2 euros
Each main dish for around 4,50 and 5 euros

A normal dinner with dessert arund 10 Euros per person.

Enjoy the magic rhythm of beer and Tapas!.

The habit of eating Tapas is a convenient way of enjoying eating, because due to the small size of the Tapas, you can savour many different dishes at a time.


Tapas originate from the old custom of covering ("tapar") the glass of wine with a slice of spanish sausage or ham, in order to protect it from insects.

Almost every bar has a little glass screen that displays the variety of tapas (small portions). Most of them are homemade. "Going for tapas" often means starting in the afternoon, and stopping late at night.

The most popular place for very good value is at "los Mellis". The only disadvantage is that it is impossible to find a free table, if you don’t want to wait 2 hours :-). Very good too is "El Pasillo" (also usually crowded). A nice small bar is "La Cabana de Juan", where you can enjoy delicious "montaditos" (hot sandwiches) filled with varying and interesting ingredients, and the Posada, at the Plaza Fuente.

Besides the kind and friendly treatment that the customer receives; you can feel a sense of magic in the mixture of aromas, the elaboration of culinary delights, the array of spices, the incense, candles melting, mint tea... an experience to be lived!
Every last detail of décor has been thought of. They have succeeded in confabulating a very special and welcoming atmosphere that will overwhelm you with a sentiment of tranquility.
Opening times
You can reserve by phone or by popping in to the tea room during the day. This will give you a chance to taste some of the renowned infusions and you can visit the mini-market
Tea-room: 09:00 - 01:30
(Presently closed for works until March 2004)
Restaurant: 19:30 - 24:00

Favorite Dish: Products:

The coming together of different dishes and flavours from all parts of the globe: Arab, Chinese, Hindú, Thai and the home-made secrets. Every customer will succumb!

In the tea room you will relish the delicious and healthy breakfasts: toast, brownies, cookies, muffins, home-made cakes, pure fruit juices and a variety of teas and infusions from countless countries. Apart from light foods such as stuffed pitta bread, hummus and bagels.

You can taste salads, Rollito Souk, pumpkin surprise, Moroccan assortment, Cous-Cous, Tagine, Pinchitos, Kefta, Sultan meatballs, Hindú curry, Thai curry and delicious desserts: lemon cake with cinnamon, warm chocolate and apple cake, and the exquisite apple croustillant.

They have a small shop with decorative objects and a wide selection of special details