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Where to Stay and Eat in Alicante- Alicante City Guide

Published on Tuesday 28th of June, 2005

There are some great little places to stay in Alicante city and some wonderful food to be had. This guide offers you some suggestions.

Places to Stay – Budget

Pensión "La Milagrosa" (tel 96-521-69-18, Calle Villavieja 8; singles/doubles with shared bathroom €12-15/24-30) has the essentials for those of you living on the cheap: a shared kitchen to cook, an area to do laundry and a scenic rooftop terrace to relax on. The rooms are a little cramped, but spotless. Although scaffolding has dampened the view of the Iglesia de Santa María from rooms 20-24, nothing has altered their dramatic view of the Castillo de Santa Bárbara.

A view of the sign at the entrance of Les Monges Palace.

Rarely does a budget traveller wish that their home was as nicely decorated and comfy as a hostal. Don't think that it's possible? Check out Hostal Les Monges Palace (tel 96-521-50-46, email info@lesmonges.net, Calle San Agustín 4; singles with shower €24, doubles with shower/bath/sauna-jacuzzi €35/48/78). Each room is fitted with satellite TV, radio, telephone, heating and air-con (€4.5 extra for usage in €24/35 rooms). Private parking is €8.

Arriving on a late night train? Your shortest walk is to Pensión Galicia (tel 96-592-50-93, Calle Arquitecto Morell 1; singles/doubles with shared bathroom €17/22.50, doubles with bathroom €27, Jul-Aug €18/24/30). It‘s pleasant, clean and has nice sized rooms. Check-in is open 24hours. It is also the nicest of the options within two blocks of the bus station.

Places to Stay– Mid-Range

Hotel Rambla

(tel 96-514-45-80, email hotelrambla@terra.es, Rambla Méndez Núñez 9; singles/doubles with bathroom €42/55, Jul-Aug €72/82) has 46 modern rooms with TV, heating and air-con.

TRYP Ciudad de Alicante

An avenue of palm trees leads to the Tryp Gran Sol hotel which is back dropped here by the omnipresent Castillo Santa Barbara.

(tel 96-521-07-00, email tryp.alicante@solmelia.com, Calle Gravina 9; singles/doubles with full bathroom €81/89, weekend rates €57/69) is a swank step up from Hotel Rambla and is nicely located next to the MUBAG. Private parking (€7) and buffet breakfasts (free on weekends) are available.

Holiday Inn Alicante

Located a bit further out of town, the Holiday Inn in Alicante (tel 96-601-10-00, email expresshialc@retemail.es, Avenida De Elche 112, more info) has rates starting from €40. With great Mediterranena views from most rooms, this hotel is located close to the IFA Exhibition Centre, but at driving distance from downtown.

Places to Eat

There are dozens of typical low key Spanish eateries dotted around Alicante that serve traditional meals for good value. One such place is El Corsario (tel 96-521-49-27, Calle San Agustín 1; menús average €7.5; open 8am-4pm/8pm-2am Mon-Sat). Try the sepia (cuttlefish).

The Alicante region is known for its multitude of fine arroz (rice) dishes. There is no better place to try them than Darsena (tel 96-520-75-89, email restaurante@darsena.com; average rice dish €10; open 1.30pm-4.30pm/8.30pm-11.30pm Mon-Sat). Their menu contains no less than 144 varieties of rice, including the region's specialties known as arroz a la alicantina (rice with mussels, king prawns and chicken), arroz a banda (rice cooked in fish broth) and caldero (fish followed by a rice stew).

If you are craving paella, and are on a tight budget, El Pollo Pancho (tel 96-521-31-28, Calle San Francisco 32; paella €3; open 11.15am-3.15pm Mon-Sat) dishes out tasty portions for take away.

Restaurante Kebap (tel 96-522-92-35, Calle Italia 2; main course €5.70; open 1.30pm-4pm/8pm-12am daily) is a popular Turkish restaurant with a lively atmosphere, friendly service and meals that will make you think about skipping breakfast and coming back tomorrow.

Vegetarian or not, you will enjoy L'indret (tel 96-521-66-14, Calle Garcia Morato 5; menús average €8; open 1pm-4.30pm Mon-Sat). Fernando and Tony, the two colourful owners/cooks/waiters, prepare two different creative vegetarian menús each day.

Self-Catering

Shop the Mercado Central(Avenida Alfonso X El Sabio 10; open 7am-2.30pm Mon-Sat) or the well stocked Mercadona (Calle Juan de Herrera 14; open 9am-9pm Mon-Sat) supermarket.

Next: Getting Around in Alicante