Following my family getaway to Gran Canaria, I wanted to share some of my favorite foodie moments on the island – from traditional dishes and popular food souvenirs to the restaurants, cafes, and bars we discovered along the way.

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What to Eat in Gran Canaria

Canarian Cuisine & International Foods in Las Palmas

While Canarian cuisine shares many similarities with traditional Spanish food from the Iberian Peninsula, Gran Canaria offers some unique staples that make it stand out. Thanks to its island setting, it’s a paradise for seafood lovers, and the subtropical climate makes it the perfect place to try local bananas (plátanos de Canarias) as well as other exotic fruits you won’t easily find elsewhere in Spain.

At the same time, Las Palmas – as the capital of the Canary Islands – is a great place to explore international flavors and Spanish tapas. Since I was traveling with kids and seniors, most of the adventurous tastings were left to me and my husband. The kids happily stuck with burgers, pizzas, and pasta, while the older generation enjoyed classic Spanish tapas.

What I really appreciated about Gran Canaria was how easy it was to find something for everyone. Here’s a recap of the standout Canarian foods we tried during our 5-day trip, along with some restaurant recommendations.

Traditional Canarian Foods in Gran Canaria

1. Papas Arrugadas

Papas Arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce) is arguably the most iconic dish from the Canary Islands. While it’s a staple in nearly every local restaurant or tapas bar in the Canaries, you can occasionally find it as a popular traditional meal across mainland Spain as well. Small salty potatoes are boiled in their skins and served with mojo – either the red mojo picón (spicy) or the green mojo verde (herb-based), or even both.

2. Gofio

Even though I had visited Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura before, I only tried gofio for the first time in Gran Canaria. Made from ground toasted cereals, it can be prepared in different ways, though the most traditional version is mixed with fish or meat broth, sometimes served with raw onion. Personally, it wasn’t my favorite local dish, but my husband enjoyed it, while the kids flat-out refused to try it!

3. Canarian Goat Cheese

Gran Canaria turned out to be a great place to taste local cheeses. I tried cheese plates, grilled cheese, and fried queso asado, usually served with a sweet fruit sauce. You’ll also come across queso frito (breaded and fried cheese). At the Mercado de Vegueta in Las Palmas, I saw different varieties, like the famous Cortijo de Caideros cheese.

As for food souvenirs, the Canary Islands are mostly famous for their goat cheeses. Some of the most popular varieties across the islands include Queso Palmero (La Palma), Queso Majorero (Fuerteventura), and Queso Conejero (Lanzarote). In Gran Canaria specifically, look out for Guía regional cheese, Cortijo de Caideros, made from a mix of sheep and cow’s milk – a rarity in the goat-cheese-heavy Canary Islands. You can find my detailed guide to Spanish cheeses in this post.

An interesting tapa we tried in Las Palmas was local cheese blended with both red and green mojo, served as a spread – simple but so delicious.

4. Carne Fiesta

I had never heard of Carne Fiesta before our trip, but after visiting the Cueva Pintada Museum in Gáldar, we stopped at a local bar where it was listed as one of the Canarian specialties. Essentially, it’s marinated pork served with fries – simple, rustic, but full of flavor. We ended up really enjoying it.

5. Garbanzada

A Canarian take on chickpea stew. It’s a hearty comfort dish, though traveling in the summer heat I wasn’t in the mood for it. Still, we spotted it on plenty of menus, so it could be a great option for those visiting in cooler months.

6. Seafood

Thanks to its Atlantic setting, Gran Canaria is a seafood lover’s paradise. I particularly enjoyed the abundance of seafood restaurants in Puerto de Mogán, where you can dine right by the water. The preparation techniques are similar to mainland Spain, but the freshness makes all the difference. Among the dishes we tried were boquerones fritos (fried anchovies), mejillones a la marinera (mussels in tomato and wine sauce), and pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus).

7. Bananas and Exotic Fruits

Another typical thing to try in Gran Canaria is bananas and banana-based products. Beyond the famous Plátanos de Canarias (smaller and sweeter than regular bananas), we sampled rare varieties like blue bananas, strawberry bananas, apple bananas, as well as other tropical fruits like egg fruit and mangoes.

A great spot to explore these is the market Mercado de Vegueta in Las Palmas. While a bit overpriced, I found it worth it for the experience, since many of these fruits are nearly impossible to find elsewhere in Europe. You can catch a glimpse of them in my TikTok and IG videos.

For a more immersive experience, head to Mundo del Plátano, where you can tour a banana plantation and enjoy tastings of banana-inspired products – from spreads and sweets to even banana champagne.

For must-try and must-buy Spanish sweets, check out this detailed guide.

8. Local Rum – Arehucas

Gran Canaria is also home to the Arehucas rum distillery, one of the island’s most iconic and oldest brands. While I’m not much of a rum connoisseur, I found the visit educational. Interestingly, the variety I liked most was one of the cheapest ones they offered for tasting, which probably says a lot about my lack of expertise in fine spirits! The premium rums were a bit too strong for me, but for fans of aged liquors, this stop is definitely worth it.

Where to eat in Gran Canaria: Best Restaurants and Cafes

Here are a few restaurants, cafes, and foods I really enjoyed in Gran Canaria, even though they aren’t part of the traditional local cuisine. These are great options for picky eaters or for anyone who enjoys trying a variety of cuisines while on vacation:

• Helados Peña la Vieja – The most popular ice cream spot in Gran Canaria. There’s usually a line, but the ice cream is absolutely worth it.
• Sol & Luna (Puerto de Mogán) – Fantastic for fresh seafood with a lovely setting by the water.
• Restaurante Mi Vida (Puerto de Mogán) – This restaurant caught my eye while I was walking around thanks to its unique design. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to eat there as it was fully booked, but the reviews are excellent – so my instinct was right. I’ve saved it for my next trip to Gran Canaria.
• Chef Deniz (near Hotel Livvo Fataga) – Great place for juicy, flavorful burgers in Las Palmas.
• Gustobistro – A delicious, lesser-known Italian restaurant in Las Palmas where I loved the fresh pasta.
• Antico Café – Perfect for indulging in authentic Italian pastries.
• SURU Cocktail Bar (Maspalomas) & La Panthère Noire (Las Palmas) – Both excellent choices for cocktails in stylish settings.
• Trattoria Pizzeria Calabrè – This is the most popular pizza place in Las Palmas, and we had planned to visit but unfortunately didn’t manage to. Since we often had abundant lunches, it didn’t fit our schedule – the restaurant was only open a few days per week at lunchtime, focusing mostly on dinner service. If you decide to go, be sure to double-check their opening hours.

Food Tours and Souvenirs in Gran Canaria

As I’ve already mentioned, in Gran Canaria we visited the banana plantations at Mundo del Plátano and the Arehucas rum distillery. If we hadn’t been traveling with kids, I would have loved to join a food tour with a local guide for tastings in Las Palmas or a boat tour with tastings in Mogan, or even visit some of the wineries in Gran Canaria. However, since we had recently traveled to La Rioja, we thought that both a rum distillery and wineries might be too boring for the little ones – so instead, we chose experiences that felt newer and more engaging for all of us.

When it comes to food souvenirs, there were plenty of tempting options in Gran Canaria. Since we were traveling without a car, I decided not to buy too much along the way, thinking I’d do the shopping at the airport instead. Unfortunately, to my surprise, the airport selection turned out to be much smaller and noticeably more expensive than what I had seen in local shops.

The prettiest souvenir shop I came across during our 5-day Gran Canaria itinerary was right in front of the Cueva Pintada archaeological site in Gáldar. They had everything from olivina jewelry (typical of the Canary Islands) to typical magnets, keychains, and plenty of food delicacies. I’m glad I took photos there, as now I can share them on the blog so you can shop smarter than I did – by setting your eyes on the local foodie treats you want in advance and buying them at the right places.

Read more about the Canary Islands:

• Epic Tenerife Family Holidays: All You Need to Know (read it)
• 10 Best Spanish Islands to Visit (read it)
• Top Beautiful Places in The Canary Islands (read it)
• 5 Days in Lanzarote: Cool things to do in Lanzarote (read it)
• A Visual Guide To The Cactus Garden in Lanzarote (read it)
• Ultimate 4-Day South Tenerife Itinerary (read it)
• An Ultimate One Week in Tenerife Itinerary (read it)
• Gran Canaria or Lanzarote: The Canary Island I Liked More and Why (read it)
• How to Explore Gran Canaria Without a Car: Top Tips for Easy Travel (read it)
• Where to Stay in Gran Canaria: Best Areas for First-Timers (read it)
• Gran Canaria with Kids: Best Places to Stay & Fun Things to Do (read it)
• Tenerife or Gran Canaria: Where Would I Return? (read it)
• Best Hikes in Fuerteventura (read it)

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