To know where to eat in Alcossebre, it helps to know what to eat first. The cooking of this town on the Castellón coast blends the sea (fish, seafood and rice dishes) with the market gardens of Alcalà de Xivert, the municipality it belongs to, famous for its tomata de penjar, artichokes, almonds and olive oil.
Where to eat by the sea in Alcossebre
Alcossebre's restaurants with sea views are concentrated in two areas:
| Area | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| Las Fuentes promenade and marina | Restaurants by Las Fuentes beach and the entrance to the marina, such as El Náutico and La Terraza del Náutico, in the yacht club building |
| Cargador seafront promenade | The town's main beach, with bars and restaurants along the promenade |
If you're staying in town, you can get around both areas on foot. And if you'd like to try inland cooking, the old town of Alcalà de Xivert is about 9 km away (12 minutes by car).
Rice: oven-baked, a la marinera and a banda
Rice is the most sought-after dish in Alcossebre. According to the town's official tourist board, its typical dishes include arroz al horno (oven-baked rice) and arroz a la marinera (seafood rice). In the coastal restaurants you'll also find the usual varieties of Valencian seaside cooking:
- Arroz a la marinera: rice with fish and seafood, cooked in fish stock.
- Arroz al horno: an inland rice dish, baked in an earthenware dish in the oven.
- Arroz a banda: the rice and the fish are served separately.
- Seafood paella and fideuà: the most popular orders on the seafront terraces.
Rice dishes are usually served for a minimum of two people, so ask when you book.
Fish, seafood and suquet de peix
The sea shapes Alcossebre's cooking. Its typical dishes include suquet de peix, a fishermen's stew of fish and potatoes, and octopus with potatoes. The area also prizes the Vinaròs king prawn, from the neighbouring harbour. Ordering the fish of the day or a seafood platter to share is the simplest way to taste what this coast has to offer.
Tomata de penjar d'Alcalà de Xivert
The area's star product is tomata de penjar, a tomato hung in clusters so that it keeps for months. It has been grown in Alcalà de Xivert for more than a century, in the Estrella, Punteta and Moradeta varieties, and holds the Comunitat Valenciana Quality Mark, the Castelló Ruta de Sabor label and the Marca Parcs Naturals.
Every October the Fira de la Tomata de Penjar is held in its honour.
Inland and market-garden dishes
The cooking of Alcalà de Xivert isn't only about the sea. According to the official tourist board, these are typical too:
- Olla gaspatxera and rostit.
- Rabbit with snails.
- Cocido de pelotas (meatball stew).
- Market-garden vegetables such as artichokes and borage.
Almond sweets
Almonds are another local product and star in the traditional baking: pastissets, carquinyols, rosegons and almendrados. They make a lovely souvenir to take home.
Food fairs and markets
| When | What |
|---|---|
| April-May | Alcossebre Feria Gastronómica (food fair) |
| October | Fira de la Tomata de Penjar |
| Tuesday afternoons (May-October) | Alcossebre street market, near the seafront promenade |
| Friday mornings (all year) | Alcalà de Xivert street market |
The exact dates of the fairs change every year: check them on the Alcossebre tourist board website.
What to drink with your meal
Olive oil is one of the local products named by the Alcalà de Xivert tourist board, and you'll find it in salads and on toast. With a seafood rice or fish, the usual choice is a chilled white or rosé; with an oven-baked rice or a rostit, a red. Ask at each restaurant which wines from the Comunitat Valenciana they have on the list.
Eating out in Alcossebre out of season
In winter and on weekdays some coastal restaurants open fewer days or close for a break. Before you go, always check their social media or give them a ring. Spring and autumn, with mild temperatures (an average of around 16 °C in spring and 19 °C in autumn), are a lovely time to eat on a seafront terrace without the August crowds.
Tips for eating well in Alcossebre
- Book in summer and at Easter, especially if you want a seafront terrace.
- Order your rice in advance if you're a group.
- Try tomata de penjar in season and take a few clusters home.
- After your meal, go for a stroll: the Las Fuentes promenade runs all the way to the marina.
If you'd like to eat by the harbour, the Club Náutico building gives you two options for rice dishes and fish facing Las Fuentes beach: Restaurante El Náutico, on the upper floor, and La Terraza del Náutico, right on the beach on the ground floor. And if you're after something to do after dinner, in summer, at Easter and on New Year's Eve the Kalymnos nightclub opens just a few steps away, on the same promenade.