Going out to eat in Ceuta!

Hello again! I am going to write about places to eat in Cueta.

Well for those who know this city, will know that in general the prices are not cheap. Those who know it, will say that Cueta "the great unknown", a rather high standard of living, where people like to sit down to eat in restaurants. But that is why I am making this post, to show you all, from the cheapest bars to the latest fashionable restaurants for you to enjoy the excellent gastronomy that we have here with a variety and quality that is difficult to find in other Spanish cities. The gastronomy in this city consists of fresh fish at amazing prices compared to any other part of the peninsula: typical Spanish dishes and thanks to neighbouring country, the Arabic food, which in my opinion is the most delicious in the world. The star dish of Ceuta are chicken hearts which you can order as a portion or the most typical, chicken heart sandwiches with potatoes and mayonnaise. I will also talk about cafes and cake shops because the other thing that stand out in the city is its cakes and some pubs.

- Cafetería Manhattan: It is close to the port and it is probably the most famous café in Ceuta. It is really cheap and incredibly good. This café has a lot of Arabic sweet things, Moorish tea and natural fruit smoothies. It is essential to try the breguas (a kind of triangle shaped pastry filled with chicken, seafood or cheese), raifas (Pancakes: my favourite are with cheese and honey, cream cheese and tuna or nutella) and zazas (a natural milkshake with a lot of ingredients). They also do kebabs and sandwiches...

Puerto Marina Local b12, Ceuta, España

Av. Cañonero Dato, 14, 51001 Ceuta, España

- Cafetería Monalisa: It is beside the Manhattan and which consists of exactly the same things but it is new and more expensive.

Av. Cañonero Dato, 21, 51001 Ceuta, España

- La Terraza del Estrecho: The same idea as the Manhattan but more tea, milkshakes and cakes. The amazing thing about this place is the views where you can enjoy some unique sunsets.

Carretera de Benzú, before you get to La Mujer Muerta.

- Oasis: For me, the best Arabic restaurant, it is in the Monte Hacho and you have to go by car because it is above everything, in front of a viewpoint with views of the whole city. Anything that you ask for is amazing although I especially remember the pinchitos de kefta (Morocan kefta kebabs), pinchitos morunos (Spanish pork kebabs), arroz picante (Spicy rice), couscous de pollo a la moruna (Moorish chicken couscous) y pastela (Morocan pie).

Urb. San Antonio, 89, 51005 Ceuta, España.

- Bugao: Has very elaborate designer tapas. Here the tapa pays for part of the drink and is worth more or less 3€. It is all delicious and particularly the Russian salad, the sea urchins and the tuna burgers.

Calle Independencia, 15, 51001 Ceuta, España.

- La Nueva Terraza: One of the newest places in the city. The owner from Tarifaand has brought a lot of the dishes that they make with tuna. One of best fish dishes I have tried in Ceuta. Tartar y tataki amazing, gallo rebozado (battered John dory) is €10 and croquetitas de choco (chocolate croquettes). The prices are a little higher than average but you have to pay for the quality of the food and the place (in the marine town and with glass walls), it is well worth it. The truth is, the staff were very attentive and if you order a special or something that isn't on the menu, they can make it. I asked for vegan options and they told me without a problem. And the homemade cakes...needless to say... They are my favourite.

Juan Pablo II. Puerto Deportivo, 51001 Ceuta, España

+34 956 51 67 63

- El Santuario: Is an incredible place with a patio inside the Royal walls, on summer nights it is beautiful with fairy lights hanging from the plants. The decoration inside is very eclectic and all of the names of the dishes are saints. Their speciality is the tostas (a kind of open sandwich), which are very for a very good price, considering the quality, especially the Smoked cod with piquillo peppers and the Meat, mushroom or chocolate croquettes. I advise you to call and reserve a table because sometimes it is booked for weddings or baptisms or there is no room because it is full.

Av. San Francisco Javier, 3, 51001 Ceuta, España

+34 956 51 52 34

- Pizzeria D'Armando: A classic in the city. It is an Italian place whose star dish, is lombo al Pepe (Pork tenderloin with a creamy pasta), which it has made so famous that now a lot of bars serve it as a tapa, with the same name but the sauce never has the same flavour. They have two places, one on Plaza Ruiz with a more elaborate menu and products imported from Italy (I advise you to order Sangre de Judas to drink, like Lambrusco but much better) and the one in the Poblado Marinero with a set menu and live music every Thurday night.

Plaza del Teniente Ruiz, 51001 Ceuta, España

Poblado Marinero local 26, 51001 Ceuta, España

+34 956 51 75 13

- El Bistró de George: I love this restaurant. It has very elaborate dishes and delicatessen (high quality meats and cheeses), although the menu will change. They were the ones who started with the idea of live music that the D'Armando later took. The truth is the group called Zyryab musical does really well and they play jazz-blues-flamenco, although I don't really know if it is the same group but the musicians repeat themselves and it is a luxury to listen to them and the singer that I heard had a beautiful voice. The general atmosphere of the restaurant is amazing with a very low light, top quality food and 10/10 staff.

Calle Alférez Bayton, 1, 51001 Ceuta, España.

- El refectorio: One of the most well known restaurants in the city where people usually celebrate special events like weddings, baptisms and work dinners. The owners Jose Mari and Rafa are specialists in seafood and has a great wine cellar. It is also located in the marine town with great views.

Poblado Marinero, Local 37, 51001 Ceuta, España

- Impacto bocadillos: The most famous sandwich bar in the city. I don't understand how they still haven't become a franchise because this sandwich bar is always full and it cannot deal with so many orders. They have all kinds of sandwiches but their special characteristic is the mayonnaise. No one knows the secret formula of this mayonnaise that has such a UNIQUE taste.

Poblado Marinero

C. C. Polígono Virgen de África, local bajo 1

956 517 166

956 517 167

- El Vicentino, Campana and Africana and Pastelería Nabil: Are the best cake shops in the city, each one has its own special touch but all of them are worth it; it is rare for a ceutí to go to a relatives house without bringing tray of cakes. Vizantino is a favourite of many people for its cakes; Campana has amazing chocolate millefeuille and palmier filled with kinderbueno and other delicious flavours; Africana is best knows for its meringues and it is the favourite for communion and christening cakes... ; and Pastelería Nabil is the best to buy Arabic sweets and food.

V: Calle Alférez Bayton, 3, 51001 Ceuta, España

C: Calle Cdad. Trujillo, 1, 51001 Ceuta, España

A: Calle Real, 56, 51001 Ceuta, España

N: Between the Morro neighbourhood and beside the pharmacy.

- Camperos: It doesn't really matter where you order them but the most typical thing about Ceuta is that when a group of people get together, and they don't want to go out to eat or make food, they order campero at home. Camperos are huge sandwiches on a kind of round ciabatta bread, they make anything you ask for and cost about 3€. Normally people order camperos to share between two people and like I said at the start, the typical sandwich is chickens hearts with mayonnaise and some places do them with potato as well.

- La fragua: Very good quality tapas that are different to other bars.

Calle Sgto. Mena, 7, 51001 Ceuta, España

- El Albedrío Gastrobar: Also has tapas and very complex dishes and the staff are lovely, there is always a very good atmosphere and everyone is laughing. It is one of those that is best to go to at Christmas or on other special dates.

Calle Jaudenes N°31, 51001 Ceuta, España

- Restaurante El Lucas: Fresh fish and seafood at a very good value for money.

Avenida Martinez Catena s/n (a new street, next to the petrol station), 51001 Ceuta, España.

+34 956 50 94 87

- La esquina ibérica: A lot of tapas at a very good price. The classics are the patatas bravas which by the way in Ceuta are different from how they do them in the peninsula, and they also have very good Iberian dishes.

Calle Jáudenes, 4, 51001 Ceuta, España

- La trastienda: Without a doubt the best fish tapas bar. Amazing prices and with very delicious fresh fish and I also want to point out that they make cachopo, which is a kind of giant Cordon bleu for a minimum of three people.

Calle Jáudenes, 25, 51001 Ceuta, España

- El mentidero: They have just been refurbished and have opened a parlour where people can order dishes. The have tapas and really cheap dishes which are quite good. Fried fish, small sandwiches, patatas bravas...

Calle Queipo de Llano, 20, 51001 Ceuta, España

- Bar Las Fuentecitas: This place is incredible. It is inside the market and is perfect to go to for a mid-day drink or go for food. It is practically a market stall with a couple of small tables outside and a long bar where they serve some large tapas, amazing. I think that whatever you order, they have, because everything is always fresh and they do a good vermú or a small wine at really cheap prices.

Calle Teniente Jose Olmo, Ceuta, España

- El cortijo: A tapas bar with very low prices. Their speciality is the musaka.

Calle Cervantes, 12, 51001 Ceuta, España

- La taperia de Franco: Also has very cheap tapas. A lot of little sandwiches and a very good Spanish omelette.

Calle Teniente Muñoz Castellanos, 36, 51001 Ceuta, España

- La terraza de Menchu: Has dishes and tapas at a very good price as well, but they also have an enormous terrace and very good Moorish appetizers.

Gran vía

- Restaurante gran muralla china: A Chinese restaurant that has been open for 20 years. I've been going there all my life and it's hard to find a place on a Sunday at noon. I love the chicken with almonds, the pork with bamboo and mushrooms and the "shan lo pao frito" (or something like that? )

Plaza Constitucion 4, 51001 Ceuta, España

To go for a drink, there are not really a lot of options but those that I like are:

- Dublin: An Irish pub.

Calle Antioco, 51001 Ceuta, España

- El Cielo: Is a chill-out, open air pub with incredible views, although it has changed and due to its success, it is now more like a club. If you are looking for the chill atmosphere that it had before, go during the week and if you want to go to the fashionable place, go from Thursday to Saturday. Drinks cost between €6 and €8 and a beer is €4.

Avd Compañía del mar s/n, 51001 Ceuta, España

(Parque Marítimo del Mediterraneo)

- Spoon: A chilled out beach atmosphereon the shore, with good music and this summer they have been to play sometimes.

Playa de La Ribera

- Tokio: Is the pub that people usually go to during winter and it is a favourite at Christmas time.

Plaza del Teniente Ruiz, 0, 51001 Ceuta, España

And that is everything! If you have any more suggestions or anything to correct, send me a message. Thank you and I hope that you have liked it :)

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