A traditional guachinche — a family-run seasonal restaurant where local farmers sell homemade wine and simple food from their own production. Quintessentially Canarian, rustic and very cheap.
Guachinche La Cruz is a traditional guachinche in the La Orotava valley on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Guachinches are a uniquely Canarian institution: family-run seasonal restaurants established by farmers who, under a traditional licence, are permitted to sell the wine they have produced on their land alongside simple home-cooked food. They are regulated so that only the farmer's own wine and basic accompaniments may be served — and the result is invariably authentic, inexpensive, and deeply rooted in Tenerife's rural food culture. Guachinche La Cruz operates in the hills above La Orotava, one of Tenerife's most traditionally Canarian towns, during the seasonal window that typically runs from October to April — corresponding to the period after the grape harvest when the new wine is ready to drink. The food is simple and homemade: potaje (vegetable stew), papas arrugadas, chorizo cooked on a plancha, and whatever the family has prepared that day. The wine, which visitors are there primarily to drink, is the young unfiltered house wine from the farm's own vines, served in ceramic jugs or glasses at extraordinarily low prices. The setting is typically a converted farm building or barn with basic trestle tables and benches. No reservations are taken; no menu exists beyond what is available that day. A full meal with wine rarely exceeds €18 per person. Guachinches like La Cruz represent a disappearing tradition and a genuinely irreplaceable experience of Tenerife's rural food culture.
Good to know
- Hours
- 12:00–16:00 (seasonal, typically October–April)
- Reservations
- Not required
Location
Camino Cruz Alta, 38300 La Orotava, Tenerife
28.3900, -16.5220 View on map
Highlights
- Authentic guachinche experience — farmhouse wine sold directly by the producing family
- Young unfiltered house wine from the farm's own La Orotava valley vines
- Simple home-cooked Canarian food: potaje, papas arrugadas, chorizo a la plancha
- Seasonal operation (typically October to April) — the definitive Tenerife winter tradition
- Prices among the lowest in the Canary Islands — full meal with wine under €18
Tips for visiting
- Guachinches open and close seasonally without fixed dates — call ahead or ask locally to confirm it is open
- No credit cards are typically accepted — bring cash
- Arrive by 13:00 as the food runs out when it runs out; no fixed menu means no guaranteed availability later
- The wine is the point — order a jug and pair it with whatever is on offer that day
Accessibility
Traditional guachinches are typically in converted farm buildings with uneven floors, low ceilings, and basic facilities. Wheelchair access is generally not possible. Outdoor seating, when available, is on gravel or earth. The physical setting is rural and informal.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a guachinche?
A guachinche is a traditional Tenerife institution: a farm that holds a seasonal licence to sell its own homemade wine alongside simple food to visitors. It is a centuries-old tradition and a cornerstone of rural Tenerife food culture.
Is Guachinche La Cruz open year-round?
No. Like all guachinches, La Cruz operates seasonally — typically October to April, when the new wine is ready. It closes entirely outside this window. Always confirm before visiting.
Can I book a table?
No reservations are taken. Seating is first-come, first-served, usually at communal trestle tables.
Is the food safe for people with dietary restrictions?
The food is home-cooked and the family usually has a limited number of dishes. Vegetarians can often find potaje and papas arrugadas; those with allergies should ask the family directly as there is no printed allergy information.