Taberna del Puerto (Alicante)

Taberna del Puerto is a well-established harbour-front restaurant in Alicante, positioned near the waterfront on Carrer del Puerto. Alicante's seafood tradition is distinct from that of Valencia city — shaped by the Mediterranean waters of the Costa Blanca and the fishing ports of Dénia, Santa Pola, and Torrevieja — and Taberna del Puerto is one of the restaurants that most faithfully expresses this coastal identity. The star product is the gamba roja de Dénia, the celebrated red prawn from the deep waters off Dénia, renowned throughout Spain for its sweetness and umami depth. The kitchen serves these prawns simply — à la plancha or a la sal — to let the product speak. The signature rice dish is arròs amb crosta, a Valencian speciality in which cooked rice is covered with a beaten egg and finished under the grill until the top forms a golden crust; this dish is closely associated with the Alicante interior. Caldero de pescado — a fishermen's rice-and-fish broth — is another house speciality. The dining room is relaxed and comfortable with warm service. Open daily for both lunch and dinner, the taberna is a reliable address for Alicantino seafood without the formality of the city's fine dining scene. Reservations are recommended, particularly at weekends.