Tenerife Going Out
Food and Drink
National specialities:
• Sama (sea bass), vieja (parrotfish), dorado (sea bream), squid, sardines, tuna.
• Conejo al Salmorejo (rabbit in sauce).
• Puchero (chorizo sausage, bean and potato stew).
• Morcilla (sweet black pudding).
• Mojo (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), appearing in everything from soup to ice cream.
National drinks:
• Malvasia (a sweet dessert wine, as favoured by Shakespeare).
• Dorada and Reina are the two 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
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.
Alternative night-time pursuits include the island's casinos, shows and several cinemas.
Shopping
Several markets operate in the southern coastal towns. These mainly sell second-hand books, replica sunglasses, fashion items and bric-a-brac. Farmer's markets are the place to buy locally produced fruit, vegetables and cheese at discount prices.
In Santa Cruz, the Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa (African Market) is a popular daily hangout for bargain hunters, souvenir seekers and food shoppers alike.
Canarian basketry, hand-made lace and linen tableware are the island's most famous 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. Most shops are closed on Sunday.
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