Pavarotti
Our Italian on foot from the villa: fresh pasta, pizza from a wood fired oven and a list of Italian wines. The room is relaxed and children are welcome, so it works on the first night when nobody wants to drive.
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Islantilla guide
Restaurants in Islantilla: where we eat
Ten places we go back to, from lunch by the beach to a long dinner in Ayamonte. Book ahead in July and August.
Restaurants in Islantilla
Entreolas
On the beach front near the marina, with fresh fish and seafood and lighter Mediterranean plates. Come for a long lunch after a morning on the sand and sit outside with the sea in front of you.
MapRestaurants in Isla Cristina and La Redondela
Brasería Casa Serrano
A grill with more than ten cuts of beef, from ribeye and T bone to fillet. Start with the tomatoes with pancetta, then order a mix of cuts for the table and share.
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Doña Lola
Modern Spanish cooking with a view over the river. The room is large and easy going, which makes it one of the few places that takes a group of ten without fuss. Book ahead.
Book a table
La Sal
On the main square of Isla Cristina, with tables outside. Order the pulpo a la gallega, octopus with potatoes and paprika, and watch the square fill up in the evening.
MapRestaurants in Ayamonte
LPA The Culinary Bar
A gastrobar near the harbour, run by its Italian chef and owner, that reworks Spanish and Mediterranean dishes with local produce. The wine list is long. Book well in advance.
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Meraki
Tapas with a modern touch on the same square as LPA, with tables inside and out. Order the tuna tartare with mango and kimchi, and leave room for dessert.
MapRestaurants across the border in Portugal
Portugal is one hour behind Spain, so a 21:00 booking there is 22:00 at the villa.
Grand Salon
The dining room of the Grand House hotel: regional Portuguese cooking brought up to date, on a menu that changes with the season.
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Grand Beach Club
The same hotel’s place on the sand, casual and right by the sea: seafood, grilled fish and salads.
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Fuel
International dishes with local produce in a relaxed room: burgers, tapas and salads, and a good stop after a day on Monte Gordo beach.
MapQuestions
What are the best restaurants in Islantilla?
Our favourites in Islantilla itself are Pavarotti for Italian, a 10 minute walk from the villa, and Entreolas on the beach front. Within 25 minutes you also have Doña Lola and La Sal in Isla Cristina, Casa Serrano in La Redondela, and LPA and Meraki in Ayamonte.
Where can a group of 10 eat near Islantilla?
Doña Lola in Isla Cristina has a large room that suits groups, and Casa Serrano in La Redondela works well for sharing. Book ahead and say how many children are coming.
What time do people eat dinner in Islantilla?
Late by northern European standards: most kitchens open for dinner around 20:00 and fill up after 21:30. Lunch runs from about 13:30 to 16:00.
Is it worth crossing into Portugal for dinner?
Yes, Vila Real de Santo António is about 35 minutes away. Remember that Portugal is one hour behind Spain.
Stay three minutes from the beach
Villa La Caleta sleeps 10 in Urbasur, at the west end of Islantilla, with a private pool, heated on request.