Lanzarote food guide: local specialities and best addresses

Lanzarote's food scene combines the Canarian classics — mojo, papas arrugadas, gofio — with two things unique to the island: dishes literally cooked with volcanic heat, and Malvasía wine grown in the ash of La Geria. This guide adds to our Lanzarote page with the dishes and addresses worth knowing.

In a nutshell

El Diablo: the Timanfaya National Park restaurant, where meat is grilled over the volcano's natural heat.
Mojo and papas arrugadas: the essential Canarian pairing, just as in Fuerteventura.
Malvasía wine: pairs well with fresh fish or local goat's cheese.
La Geria: a bodega route for tastings and cellar tours.

El Diablo: eating grilled food cooked by the volcano's heat

The El Diablo restaurant, inside Timanfaya National Park, uses the volcano's geothermal heat to grill food, with no flame or charcoal involved: a system devised by César Manrique, where meat sits directly above a volcanic pit where the temperature exceeds several hundred degrees just a few metres down.

The experience is as much theatre as it is dinner, with a view over the park's lunar landscape. Booking is recommended, particularly for lunch.

Geothermal grill at El Diablo restaurant in Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote — Chicken skewers placed directly above El Diablo's volcanic pit.

Meat grilled by the volcano's natural heat at El Diablo restaurant, Timanfaya National Park — No flame, no charcoal: only the heat rising from below ground cooks the meat.

Mojo, papas arrugadas and gofio: the Canarian classics

As on the other Canary Islands, a typical Lanzarote meal centres on papas arrugadas (small potatoes boiled in very salty water) served with the two mojo sauces: mojo verde, herby and green, and mojo rojo, made from roasted peppers and chilli. Gofio, a flour made from toasted grains, often accompanies dishes or is served as dessert (gofio escaldado).

Malvasía wine and the La Geria route

The white Malvasía wine, produced in the volcanic vineyards of La Geria, pairs particularly well with fresh fish or local goat's cheese. Several bodegas along the wine route, such as El Grifo, offer tours and tastings.

Wine tasting at the El Grifo estate, on the La Geria wine route, Lanzarote — A Malvasía wine tasting at El Grifo, one of the oldest bodegas on the La Geria route.

Where to eat well in Lanzarote?

Choosing a place that serves the day's catch remains the best rule of thumb along the coast, particularly in villages such as Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen, Órzola — known for its seafood restaurants facing the island of La Graciosa — or El Golfo, by its green lagoon.

In Órzola, at the island's northern tip, Mirador del Roque stands out for its presentation: a skewer of prawns and breaded fish hanging above the plate. The whole grilled fish and the fried seafood platter confirm a simple, generous kitchen, with a view over La Graciosa as a bonus.

Platter of breaded fish and grilled vegetables served at Mirador del Roque, in Órzola, Lanzarote — A generous platter of breaded fish and grilled vegetables, served on an olive-wood board.

Whole grilled fish served at Mirador del Roque, in Órzola, Lanzarote — A whole grilled fish, served with potatoes and a fresh salad.

Skewer of prawns and fish hanging above the plate at Mirador del Roque, in Órzola — The restaurant's signature vertical skewer of prawns and breaded fish.

In El Golfo, by its green lagoon, Lago Verde serves more rustic seafood cooking: a pot of prawns, octopus and mushrooms cooked in garlic, served with papas arrugadas — a good balance between local specialities and seafood.

Seafood, octopus and mushroom pot served at Lago Verde restaurant, in El Golfo, Lanzarote — A pot of prawns, octopus and mushrooms cooked in garlic, served with papas arrugadas.

In Puerto del Carmen, paella remains a safe bet at many seafront restaurants, best shared on a terrace facing the Atlantic.

Seafood and chorizo paella served on a terrace in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote — A generous paella, a classic found in many seafront restaurants in Puerto del Carmen.

And to compare destinations, head back to our Canary Islands guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the El Diablo restaurant?

A restaurant inside Timanfaya National Park, where food is grilled using the volcano's natural geothermal heat, with no flame or charcoal.

What is Lanzarote's culinary speciality?

Mojo and papas arrugadas remain the essentials, paired with locally produced Malvasía wine from the vineyards of La Geria.

Where can you taste La Geria wine?

At the bodegas along the La Geria wine route, such as El Grifo, which offer cellar tours and tastings.

Where's a good place to eat by the sea in Lanzarote?

Villages such as Órzola, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen or El Golfo have the best spots for fresh fish, like Mirador del Roque in Órzola or Lago Verde in El Golfo.