El Charcón

El Charcón is a harbour-front seafood restaurant in Puerto de Tazacorte, the small fishing port on the western coast of La Palma in the Canary Islands. La Palma is one of the more undervisited of the larger Canarian islands, known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, dense laurisilva forest, and some of the clearest skies in Europe (it hosts the Roque de los Muchachos observatory). Tazacorte's harbour is a working port, and El Charcón sits at the waterfront where the fishing fleet moors, giving it direct access to the freshest catch available. The restaurant's centrepiece is lobster — Canarian spiny lobster, when available — either grilled, baked, or served as the foundation for a caldero (rice stew in the lobster's own broth). The price of lobster fluctuates with availability and is usually calculated by weight; it is worth confirming the day's price before ordering. Beyond lobster, grilled fresh fish is the daily constant: typical species include vieja, cherne, and sama, all caught in the surrounding Atlantic. Seafood rice — a rich preparation similar to caldero, made in the kitchen's fish stock — is listed as a sharing dish for two or more. Banana desserts reflect La Palma's fertile agricultural interior, where the island's prized small bananas are grown. Sunset views from the harbour terrace, where the sun drops into the Atlantic across the open sea to the west, are remarkable in clear conditions. Prices are mid-range: mains average €17, and lobster costs more by weight.