Restaurante La Placeta
Hidden inside a restored 16th-century mansion just off Plaza de España, La Placeta serves some of the most honest Canarian cooking in the city — think slow-braised kid goat with papas arrugadas, fresh vieja a la plancha and a house mojo rojo that regulars have been known to ask for by the jar. The central courtyard, shaded by a centuries-old dragon tree, is one of the most atmospheric dining rooms
What to Order
Start with the caldo de pescado — a clear, intensely flavoured fish broth made from the day's catch — which locals treat as a restorative cure-all. Follow it with the cherne al mojo, wreckfish fillets grilled over wood and served with the restaurant's signature green mojo and a heap of wrinkled potatoes boiled in sea-salted water.
For dessert, the bienmesabe (a dense almond and honey cream) served with a scoop of local gofio ice cream is a combination that tastes like the Canary Islands in a single spoonful.
The Space Itself
The building dates to the early colonial period and the courtyard retains its original stone fountain and carved wooden gallery on the upper floor. Lunch here on a warm afternoon, with dappled light filtering through the dragon tree canopy, is an experience that outlasts the meal itself.
Booking ahead is strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings, when locals fill every table. Midweek lunches are more relaxed and the set menu (menú del día) offers exceptional value.
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