Lanzarote Going Out

Food and Drink

The majority of international restaurants are restricted to the main holiday resorts of the south and the capital, Las Palmas. Away from these areas, traditional Canarian cuisine is easy to find. Unsurprisingly for an island, fresh fish features highly on many a menu, always accompanied by the ubiquitous duo of papa arrugadas and mojo sauce.

National specialities:

• Seafood, particularly sama (sea bass), vieja (parrotfish), dorado (sea bream), squid, sardines and tuna.
• Conejo al Salmorejo (rabbit in sauce).
• Puchero (chorizo sausage, bean and potato stew).
• Morcilla (sweet black pudding), a popular starter.
• Mojo sauce (a paprika or coriander dip).
• Papas arrugadas (small potatoes boiled in their skin with plenty of sea salt).
• Gofio (a flour made from toasted cereal crops), flavouring everything from soup to ice cream.

National drinks:

• Malvasia (a sweet dessert wine, as favoured by Shakespeare).
• Tropical, Reina and Dorada are the favoured island brews. 

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Some restaurants include a service charge in the bill. Tipping is discretionary and usually involves rounding up the charge to a maximum of around 10% in resort and hotel restaurants, and just small change in bars, taxis and smaller local restaurants.

Nightlife

Though not as boisterous as neighbouring Tenerife, Lanzarote does have a buzzing nightlife scene centred on the bars and clubs of Centro Atlantico in Puerto del Carmen. The dance clubs scattered along the length of Calle Jose Antonio in Arrecife will provide more of a Spanish feel, but bear in mind the locals don't consider going out to a club until at least midnight.

Many bars welcome children and it's not unusual to see toddlers sat with their parents through the late hours. Early evening usually involves a certain amount of paseo, the Spanish custom of family strolls. The parade is usually a combination of holidaying families choosing which restaurant to eat in and locals spending time together outdoors.

Shopping

Despite Spain's entry into the European Union, the Canary Islands have special status as a free trade zone with minimal import duties. Because of this items such as alcohol, tobacco, perfume and electrical goods all tend to be priced cheaper than in the UK, though fake designer goods are prevalent and guarantees should be fully scrutinised.

Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen offer the widest array of shopping choices. The island's markets are also a good way to find locally produced handicrafts and souvenirs. The Sunday market in Teguise is by far the largest.

Canarian basketry, embroidered lace, pottery, aloe vera products and anything bearing the designs of Cesar Manrique are the island's most popular souvenirs.

Shopping hours: Monday to Saturday 0930-1300 and 1700-1900 are the usual hours, though some bigger shops and those in tourist areas tend to stay open all day until 2200. Most shops are closed on Sunday.
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