Prepare to eat like a local. Here are six hidden and relaxed spots that prove Gran Canaria’s best dining isn’t always found under neon lights.

Forget the laminated menus and English breakfasts for a minute. Gran Canaria has another culinary world hiding behind its coastal glitz, a network of informal country kitchens, mountain taverns and seaside shacks where locals eat like they actually live here (because, well, they do).
This is all about real Canarian food, cooked slowly, served proudly, and best enjoyed with a glass of local wine and nowhere to be.

So loosen the belt, grab a hire car, and prepare to eat like a local. Here are six hidden and relaxed spots that prove Gran Canaria’s best eating isn’t always found under neon lights.
 
1. Casa del Caminero - Fataga
Set just off the winding road between Maspalomas and San Bartolomé, this rustic roadside gem looks like nothing much, until you step inside.
The scent of grilled meat hits first, followed by the sight of locals tucking into mountains of papas arrugadas (salted potatoes) and mojo sauce.
Try the goat stew - rich, tender, and slow-cooked with wine and herbs - and the view from the terrace will make even the most scenic drive worth pausing for.
 
2. Bodega Los Berrazales - Agaete Valley
Half vineyard, half coffee plantation, this family-run bodega near Agaete is paradise for those who like their lunch with a story.
After a short tour, you sit down under vines to a tasting of their own wine, cheese and jam. Everything here is local, right down to the bread. It’s not fancy, just authentic, relaxed, and as Gran Canarian as it gets.
 
3. Restaurante La Cofradía de Pescadores - Arguineguín
Blink and you’ll miss it. A simple whitewashed eatery near the fishing harbour, this is where the fishermen themselves eat.
Order whatever’s fresh that day. Maybe vieja (parrotfish) or calamares a la plancha and sit outside watching the boats bobbing in the sun. Prices are almost suspiciously fair, portions generous, and flavour unforgettable.
 
4. Casa Brito - Arucas
Tucked in the backstreets near the rum distillery, Casa Brito is where Arucas locals go for a proper long lunch.
The décor’s part farmhouse, part family living room, and the menu reads like an edible love letter to Gran Canaria - slow-roasted pork, local cheeses, and rabbit in red wine sauce.
The waiters are warm, chatty, and likely to tell you which cousin made the chorizo.
 
5. Mirador de la Cilla - Artenara
Dining here feels like eating on the edge of the world - the restaurant literally sits inside a cave overlooking a 1,200-metre drop.
It’s simple fare - grilled meats, fresh bread, papas - but you’ll struggle to focus on your fork when the clouds drift past below you. It’s the kind of place you come for lunch and stay until sunset.
 
6. La Cueva de la Tea - Tejeda
In one of Gran Canaria’s prettiest villages, this café-bistro blends mountain charm with Mediterranean heart.
The owner bakes cakes daily (the almond tart is legendary) and serves hearty soups, cheeses and ropa vieja (chickpea stew) with local wine. Be sure to grab a terrace seat - the view of Roque Bentayga framed by almond trees will make you forget time exists.
 
 Why Stay (and Eat) Local?

• Authenticity: You’ll taste Gran Canaria as it really is, slow, simple, delicious.
• Connection: Chat with owners who cook and serve their own dishes.
• Value: Real food for local prices, not “tourist menu” inflation.
• Sustainability: Locally grown produce supports small farms and families.
• Character: Every table, terrace and crumb tells a story.