Where to Eat and Drink in Playa de San Juan (2026)
From decades-old paella spots to beachfront seafood, vegan fusion, and the bars worth staying out for - our local guide to eating and drinking in Playa de San Juan.
Playa de San Juan is where a lot of Alicante actually goes to eat at the weekend. It is a long, easy beach a short TRAM ride from the centre, and the food runs from proper old-school paella places that locals have loved for decades to newer spots doing something a bit different. Here is how we'd work through it, whether you want a long lunch by the sand or a few drinks after dark.
The classics: paella and fresh fish
San Juan is paella and seafood territory, and a few places have been doing it for generations. Casa Julio is the one Spanish families pile into at the weekend, with close to 5,000 reviews to prove it. Casa Domingo is the same story: a long-standing local favourite that just keeps turning out good paella and fresh fish to a loyal crowd.
For paella with a slightly more modern hand, Daksa does authentic Valencian rice dishes with a few contemporary twists. And if you just want honest fish at a fair price without the tourist markup, San Fish is where the locals quietly go.
Beachfront with a view
If the point of the day is to sit by the sea, a few spots make the most of it. Pelican does fresh seafood right on the beachfront and is consistently one of the highest-rated in the area. Azul Playa is the more upmarket option, with sea views and a focus on seafood, good for when you want to make more of an occasion of it. Qué Rico is the relaxed, family-friendly beachfront choice for paella with your feet near the sand.
Something a bit different
Baobab Soul Kitchen is the standout if you want a break from fish and rice. It is global vegan fusion and, going by the reviews, it converts plenty of committed meat-eaters. It is one of the highest-rated places in San Juan, full stop.
CIRCO leans theatrical, with creative Mediterranean cooking and a bit of show to it, right on the beachfront. Petímetre is the wildcard: modern Mediterranean with golf-course views, a little out of the beach strip, good if you want something quieter.
Coffee and a casual bite
Not every meal needs to be a production. El Molí Pan y Café is the neighbourhood café for fresh bread, a proper bocadillo, and decent coffee, which is exactly what you want mid-beach-day.
Drinks after
San Juan has a genuinely good bar scene. Frontera is the legendary rock bar, the place for music lovers and live shows. Texaco is a former petrol station turned industrial-chic bar that has somehow become a local institution. For something more low-key, BeerLand has a serious beer selection, and Máster Pub is the spot for a sunset drink with sand between your toes.
Want the full rundown on San Juan nightlife? We go deeper in our guide to the best bars in Playa de San Juan. Or browse everything in the area on our restaurants directory.