Best Restaurants in Calpe: From Michelin Stars to Hidden Local Gems

Where Should You Eat in Calpe? 🍽️

Calpe’s dining scene divides neatly into three areas. The Peñón de Ifach headland and the Av. Juan Carlos I corridor are home to the town’s most celebrated fine dining. La Fossa beach area is where you will find a broader mix of international cuisines and relaxed terrace dining. And the road between Calpe and Benissa (the old N-332) has become a destination stretch in its own right, with several well-known spots drawing diners from across the region. For the full picture, read on.

⭐ Michelin Star Restaurants in Calpe

Calpe holds a remarkable distinction: it is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants within a small coastal town. That is more starred kitchens per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

🌟 Audrey’s — Creative Valencian Haute Cuisine

Named after Audrey Hepburn and located within the AR Diamante Beach hotel on Avenida Juan Carlos I, Audrey’s is the flagship of chef Rafa Soler — one of the most respected figures in Valencian gastronomy. The restaurant holds one Michelin star and one Sol Repsol, and its tasting menus (Roots, Origin, and Garden) are built entirely around the seasonal produce of Valencia’s culinary landscape: Dénia red prawns, Santa Pola langoustines, local rice varieties, and ingredients sourced from small Valencian producers. The bread, baked to a family recipe, and the house extra-virgin olive oil from thousand-year-old trees in Castellón, are details that set the tone for everything that follows. This is cuisine with genuine soul — technically refined, but rooted in place.

Open: Wednesday–Sunday (lunch Fri–Sun, dinner Wed–Sun). Closed Monday & Tuesday. Good for: Tasting menu experience, special occasions, serious food lovers Vibe: Elegant, calm, intensely focused on the plate

🌟 Orobianco — Italian Haute Cuisine with Mediterranean Views

Perched on the hillside above Calpe with sweeping views of the bay and the Peñón de Ifach, Orobianco is in a category of its own for setting alone. But the kitchen more than justifies the location. Under the direction of Paolo Casagrande — the three-Michelin-star chef behind Lasarte in Barcelona — with head chef Andrea Drago leading the kitchen daily, Orobianco earned its Michelin star in the 2024 guide following a brief hiatus. It holds the distinction of being the only Italian restaurant in Spain with a Michelin star, and is ranked among the best Italian restaurants outside Italy by the prestigious 50 Top Italy guide. The tasting menu is the way to experience it: refined Italian technique applied to the finest Mediterranean produce, with views that make the whole experience feel entirely removed from the ordinary.

Good for: Special occasions, fine dining, views, Italian cuisine at its highest level Vibe: Sophisticated, spectacular setting, exceptional service

🌟 Beat — French-Mediterranean Haute Cuisine

(Currently closed for refurbishment. Expected to reopen Easter 2026.)

When Beat reopens, it will return as one of the most compelling fine dining propositions on the Costa Blanca. Helmed by chef José Manuel Miguel — the only chef ever to have earned a Michelin star in both France and Spain — Beat is located at The Cookbook Hotel and presents a menu that fuses the precision of contemporary French technique with the vitality of the Mediterranean. The restaurant offers several tasting menus including a vegetarian option, and the views across to the Peñón de Ifach provide a fitting backdrop for food of this ambition. One to book the moment it reopens.

Good for: French-Mediterranean haute cuisine, tasting menus, serious occasions Vibe: Bright, modern, ambitious — a genuine culinary event

🏅 Komfort — Bib Gourmand Mediterranean Kitchen

Also within The Cookbook Hotel and sharing the same chef as Beat, Komfort holds the Michelin Bib Gourmand — the guide’s recognition for exceptional quality at reasonable prices. During Beat’s renovation, Komfort has temporarily relocated to Mare restaurant on La Fossa beachfront, making it the most accessible it has ever been in terms of setting. The menu centres on rice dishes and grilled meats using fresh local produce, and represents outstanding value for the quality on offer. It is worth noting that a Bib Gourmand is a significant Michelin distinction — not a star, but a meaningful endorsement of consistency and value.

Good for: Quality dining without the fine-dining price tag, rice dishes, groups Vibe: Relaxed, honest, high quality — currently with a bonus sea view

Entrance of Beat Michelin star restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca

🦞 Luxury & First-Line Dining

🌊 Capri — Seafood Institution on the Front Line

Capri has occupied its prime position on Avenida Gabriel Miró — right on Calpe’s Arenal-Bol beachfront — since 1978. More than four decades later, it remains the benchmark for luxury seafood dining in the town. Fresh fish and shellfish arrive daily from the local fish market: lobster, blue crab, Dénia red prawns, turbot, sea bass — all handled with the care of a kitchen that has been doing this for a long time. The sushi atelier adds a contemporary dimension alongside the more classical Mediterranean repertoire of paellas, fideuà, and whole fish baked in salt. The white-linen setting, Peñón de Ifach views, and impeccable service make it the natural first choice for a genuinely special occasion that doesn’t require a tasting menu format.

Good for: Luxury seafood, anniversaries, long celebratory lunches, oyster lovers Vibe: Elegant, established, unhurried — a Calpe institution

🍾 Puerto Blanco — Harbour Terrace Dining

Positioned by the marina with views over Calpe’s working harbour, Puerto Blanco is one of the town’s most established spots for a quality dinner in a scenically relaxed setting. The menu leans into well-sourced fish and seafood alongside a broader Mediterranean selection — ideal when you want the pleasure of harbour-side dining with a menu that takes quality seriously. Popular with both long-term residents and returning visitors, it occupies a comfortable position between the town’s fine dining scene and its more casual options.

Good for: Harbour views, seafood, relaxed evening dining Vibe: Classic, scenic, welcoming

Seafood platter with lobster and prawns served at Capri restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca

🍝 Italian Restaurants

🍕 Antica Roma — The Town’s Definitive Italian

Antica Roma is widely regarded as the best-known Italian restaurant in Calpe, and its reputation has been built through years of consistent, well-made Italian cooking rather than any particular novelty. Pizza from a proper wood-fired oven, house-made pasta, and a menu that covers the full Italian repertoire without overreaching — this is the kind of Italian that earns genuine loyalty from both locals and returning visitors. A reliable choice for families, groups, or any occasion that calls for honest Italian food done well.

Good for: Families, groups, pizza lovers, casual dinners Vibe: Warm, reliable, genuinely Italian

🍝 Bella Mia — The Newer Italian Worth Watching

A more recent addition to Calpe’s Italian scene, Bella Mia has been building a steady following since opening. The cooking is fresh and unpretentious — classic Italian dishes prepared with care — and the service has earned consistently positive attention. Still growing its reputation, but already a strong recommendation for those who want quality Italian without the wait that Antica Roma can attract in high season.

Good for: Italian cuisine, couples, relaxed evening dining Vibe: Friendly, neighbourhood feel, consistent quality

🍕 Pizzeria Campanari — Old Town Classic Since the 1960s

Campanari is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Calpe, operating from its spot in the heart of the old town for decades. The menu covers the essential Italian bases — pizza, pasta, meat and fish dishes — in a setting that carries the charm of the casco antiguo: narrow streets, old stone, and a summer roof terrace that is one of the more atmospheric places to eat in the town. A reliable, long-established choice that has earned its longevity through consistency rather than trend-chasing.

Good for: Families, groups, old town atmosphere, casual evenings Vibe: Historic, relaxed, traditional Italian

🍕 La Rusticana — Beloved Local Pizzeria

La Rusticana is the kind of neighbourhood pizzeria that every town should have and most don’t. Situated in the centre of Calpe’s main restaurant area, it offers around 30 varieties of pizza on properly light and crisp bases alongside a solid pasta selection — all at prices that make it one of the best-value Italian options in town. Multilingual staff, warm atmosphere, and a takeaway service if you’d rather eat on the beach. Often busy on weekends, so booking a table — especially on the terrace — is advisable.

Good for: Pizza lovers, families, budget-conscious diners, takeaway Vibe: Warm, busy, reliably good value — a local staple

🍝 La Mamma Nostra — Italian by La Fossa Beach

Located close to La Fossa beach, La Mamma Nostra offers quality Italian and international cuisine in a convenient spot for those staying in the beach area. The kitchen covers the full Italian repertoire alongside a broader international menu, and the setting is well suited to a relaxed dinner after a day at the water. A solid choice when location matters as much as the food.

Good for: Beach-area dining, families, Italian and international menu Vibe: Relaxed, convenient, casual

🍝 Ristorante From Italy — Sea Views and Authentic Italian

Positioned on Avenida Rosa de los Vientos with views towards the sea, Ristorante From Italy takes its name seriously — the kitchen is built on genuinely homemade Mediterranean-Italian cooking: antipasti, fresh pasta, pizza, meat, and shellfish. An open kitchen adds a theatrical dimension to the dining experience. Consistently well-reviewed for authenticity and value, and one of the better options in the La Fossa area for a proper sit-down Italian dinner.

Good for: Authentic Italian, couples, sea view dining Vibe: Lively, open kitchen, genuine Italian character

Outdoor terrace of Antica Roma Italian restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca

🇧🇪 Belgian & Northern European

🍺 Makarpi — Authentic Belgian on the Costa Blanca

Makarpi is something genuinely rare on the Costa Blanca: a family-run Belgian restaurant that takes its culinary heritage seriously. Located near La Fossa beach on Avenida Rosa de los Vientos, it delivers the classics with real conviction — moules-frites, Flemish stoofvlees (beef stew), vol-au-vent, proper Belgian croquettes, and a carefully chosen selection of Belgian beers to accompany them. The atmosphere is warm and personal, the service attentive in the way only a small family-run place tends to be. An essential stop for Belgian visitors and a genuine discovery for everyone else.

Good for: Belgian cuisine, beer lovers, a change of pace from Spanish menus Vibe: Cosy, personal, family-run — feels like Belgium by the sea

🍟 Mayo’s — The Belgian Local Institution

If Makarpi is the refined Belgian option, Mayo’s on Avenida Europa is the institution. Long-established and firmly embedded in the expat community’s affections, it offers the same northern European comfort food traditions — moules, steaks, frites, Belgian beers — in a more pub-like, convivial atmosphere. A place where you can settle in for the evening, the second round comes naturally, and everyone seems to know each other by the end. Particularly popular with Belgian and Dutch visitors.

Good for: Belgian and Flemish cuisine, groups, long evenings, expat crowd Vibe: Lively, unpretentious, community feel

Makarpi Restaurant in Calpe

🥩 Steakhouses & Grills

🔥 Bambero — Modern Steakhouse

Bambero brings a more contemporary steakhouse sensibility to Calpe — quality cuts, a considered drinks list, and a setting that feels a step up from the town’s more casual grill options. For those who want a proper meat-focused dinner with some attention paid to the full dining experience rather than just the steak on the plate, Bambero is the current standout in this category.

Good for: Steak lovers, date night, quality meat in a modern setting Vibe: Contemporary, focused, well-executed

🥩 El Toro — Established Steakhouse

El Toro is one of Calpe’s most established meat restaurants and has been a reliable fixture on the dining scene for years. A straightforward, well-run steakhouse offering quality cuts and a menu that covers the full grill repertoire. Popular with locals and visitors alike who want a dependable meat-focused dinner without the premium price tag of a fine dining kitchen.

Good for: Steaks, grills, casual groups, reliable meat dining Vibe: Established, straightforward, consistently popular

🍖 El Santo — Steakhouse & Pizzeria in the Old Town

El Santo has been operating in Calpe’s old town since 1983, which makes it one of the longest-running restaurants in the casco antiguo. The hybrid steakhouse-pizzeria format means it appeals to a broad range of tastes — proper cuts of meat alongside wood-fired pizza — in a setting that benefits from the atmosphere of the historic quarter. A particularly good option when the group includes both meat and pizza lovers and a compromise is required.

Good for: Groups with mixed tastes, old town dining, steak and pizza Vibe: Long-established, characterful, old town setting

🐻 Grizzly’s — The Road Classic Between Calpe and Benissa

Grizzly’s occupies a legendary spot on the Carretera Calpe-Moraira, between Calpe and Benissa, and has become one of those places that internationals across the region seem to find their way to eventually. The setting is American-rustic with a charming wooden interior full of carved bears, a large terrace, and an atmosphere that is reliably good-natured and welcoming. The menu covers burgers, ribs, steaks, BBQ chicken, and wood-fired pizza — hearty, generous portions at solid prices. The ribs in particular attract devoted repeat visitors. Not a fine dining destination, but one of the most enjoyable and consistent casual eating experiences in the area.

Good for: Ribs, burgers, groups, families, casual nights out Vibe: American-style, fun, buzzy, reliably busy — book ahead in summer

Exterior terrace of Bambero restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca

🌍 International Cuisines

🌶️ El Torito — Mexican

El Torito fills a genuine gap in the Calpe dining scene with a reliable and popular Mexican kitchen. Tacos, fajitas, burritos, guacamole, and margaritas — the classic Mexican repertoire done with enough care to keep locals coming back regularly. A natural choice when the group can’t agree on Spanish food, or simply when the occasion calls for something different and festive.

Good for: Mexican food, groups, casual dinners, families Vibe: Colourful, lively, informal

🍛 Indian Curry — Indian Restaurant

Indian Curry is the established Indian option in Calpe, providing the full subcontinent repertoire — curries, tandoor dishes, biryanis, and naans — in a setting that caters well to the large British expat and tourist contingent in the area. A dependable go-to for those missing a good curry, and notably popular in the evening.

Good for: Indian cuisine, British visitors, curry nights, families Vibe: Casual, familiar, reliable

🍱 Everest Tandoori — Indian-Nepali in the Town Centre

Everest Tandoori is Calpe’s other well-regarded Indian option, this time with a Nepali influence that gives the menu a slightly different character. Located centrally in Calpe town, it is run by a resident Nepali chef and offers freshly prepared Indian and Nepalese dishes to a consistently high standard. Takeaway is available — a useful option for self-catering visitors in the area. Often recommended alongside Indian Curry as the two best options in town for spice lovers.

Good for: Indian-Nepalese cuisine, takeaway, curry lovers Vibe: Casual, central, reliable quality

🥢 Oriental Garden — Chinese & Asian Buffet

Oriental Garden is Calpe’s most-reviewed Chinese restaurant — a Chinese and Asian all-you-can-eat buffet that has built a loyal following for its generous spread, friendly service, and excellent value. Covers the full Chinese repertoire alongside Japanese-influenced dishes including sushi. A practical and popular option for families, large groups, or anyone wanting a relaxed, low-fuss evening with plenty of variety.

Good for: Families, groups, value dining, Chinese and sushi variety Vibe: Lively, casual, great value — always busy

🍣 Aoi Teppanyaki — Japanese Teppanyaki & Sushi

Strictly speaking, Aoi Teppanyaki sits on the Calpe-Moraira coast road, just outside town — but it draws diners from both and earns its place on this list comfortably. The concept is built around a live teppanyaki show: chefs cook directly on a hot iron plate in front of guests, which turns dinner into a genuine experience rather than just a meal. The wider menu covers sushi, sashimi, maki, and a broad set menu selection. Sea views, a kids menu, and a reputation for exceptionally warm service make it particularly well suited for special occasions and family celebrations. Booking is strongly recommended.

Good for: Special occasions, families, Japanese cuisine, teppanyaki experience Vibe: Entertaining, friendly, memorable — the best Japanese option in the area

Dining table with sea view at Aoi Teppanyaki restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca

🥘 Traditional Spanish & Paella

🍚 El Cantonet — Traditional Paella & Rice

El Cantonet is one of Calpe’s most respected names for authentic Valencian rice cooking. The paella and rice dishes here are made in the traditional way — the right pan, the right fire, the right socarrat — and the atmosphere is as Spanish as it gets. A perennial favourite with locals and in-the-know visitors who understand that the best paella in town is rarely found at the places that advertise it loudest.

Good for: Paella, Valencian rice dishes, traditional Spanish cooking Vibe: Authentic, local, unfussy — the real thing

🥘 El Cantal — Paella by the Sea

Another strong choice for rice and paella, El Cantal pairs traditional Valencian cooking with a setting that makes the whole experience more enjoyable. A worthy alternative to El Cantonet when booking is difficult, or simply worth visiting for its own merits.

Good for: Paella, rice dishes, seafood, lunch Vibe: Relaxed, honest, Spanish

🍸 Old Town & Fusion

🌿 Enigma — Fusion Mediterranean in the Old Town

Set within Calpe’s atmospheric old town (casco antiguo), Enigma takes a creative approach to Mediterranean cooking — fusion-influenced dishes, careful presentation, and a menu that evolves more frequently than most of its neighbours. The setting alone is worth the visit: whitewashed streets, the historic quarter’s quiet atmosphere, and a restaurant that feels genuinely independent rather than tourist-facing. A good choice for an exploratory dinner with something to talk about.

Good for: Fusion Mediterranean, couples, exploratory dining, old town atmosphere Vibe: Creative, intimate, off the beaten track

🍷 La Viña — A Known Name

La Viña has earned its reputation as a solid, well-regarded option in the Calpe dining landscape. Known for consistent quality and a menu that covers the Spanish and Mediterranean bases without overcomplicating things, it is the kind of place that gets recommended by locals when asked for a reliable evening out.

Good for: Reliable dinner, couples, Mediterranean cuisine Vibe: Established, comfortable, consistent

🍽️ Lapsus Bistro — Modern Bistro Cooking

Lapsus brings a more bistro-oriented sensibility to Calpe — creative daily specials, a relaxed atmosphere, and the kind of cooking that suggests a kitchen with genuine interest in what it is doing rather than just executing a set menu rotation. A younger, more informal alternative to the town’s fine dining options, and one that has been attracting attention as word spreads.

Good for: Creative bistro cooking, relaxed dinners, curious eaters Vibe: Casual, creative, personal

🥗 Baires — The Newcomer Building Momentum

Baires is newer to the Calpe scene but has been growing its following steadily. Latin-influenced flavours meet a welcoming atmosphere and a menu that offers something a little different from the standard local formula. Still finding its full stride, but already showing enough to be worth a visit — and one to watch as it continues to develop.

Good for: Latin-influenced food, groups, something different Vibe: Energetic, welcoming, growing

Entrance of Enigma restaurant in Calpe on the Costa Blanca

✅ Editor’s Conclusion

Calpe’s restaurant scene is genuinely exceptional for a town of its size. Nowhere else on the Costa Blanca can you walk from a Michelin-starred tasting menu to an authentic Belgian brasserie, a wood-fired Italian, a harbourside seafood terrace, and a beachfront paella restaurant within the same few square kilometres. The three Michelin-starred kitchens alone — Audrey’s, Orobianco, and Beat — give Calpe a culinary identity that extends well beyond the Costa Blanca. But what makes the town truly worth eating your way through is the depth beneath them: the local institutions, the international community’s favourite haunts, and the newer places quietly earning their reputations. Whatever brought you to Calpe, there is a table here worth booking.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michelin star restaurants does Calpe have?

Calpe currently has three Michelin-starred restaurants: Audrey’s (chef Rafa Soler), Orobianco (directed by Paolo Casagrande), and Beat (chef José Manuel Miguel). Beat is currently closed for refurbishment and expected to reopen around Easter 2026. Calpe also has Komfort, which holds the Michelin Bib Gourmand — recognition for exceptional quality at accessible prices.

What is the best restaurant in Calpe for a special occasion?

For a truly special occasion, Orobianco, Audrey’s, or Capri are the standout choices. Orobianco offers unbeatable views alongside Michelin-starred Italian haute cuisine. Audrey’s delivers the most distinctly Valencian tasting menu experience. Capri is the finest choice for luxury seafood in a classic first-line setting.

Where can I eat paella in Calpe?

El Cantonet and El Cantal are both well-regarded for authentic Valencian paella and rice dishes. Capri also offers excellent paella as part of its broader seafood menu.

Are there vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Calpe?

Yes — Audrey’s and Beat both offer vegetarian tasting menus. Enigma and Lapsus Bistro also cater well to vegetarian diners. Most restaurants will have suitable options, but it is worth checking in advance for specific requirements.

Do I need to book restaurants in Calpe in advance?

For Michelin-starred restaurants, advance booking is essential — sometimes weeks ahead in summer. For Capri, Grizzly’s, El Cantonet and most popular spots, booking is strongly recommended from June to September. Outside peak season, walk-ins are more manageable.

What is the price range for dinner in Calpe?

Calpe covers the full range. Michelin tasting menus at Audrey’s and Orobianco start from around €100–€140 per person for food. Capri sits at €50–€80 per person for a full seafood dinner. Mid-range options like Grizzly’s, El Cantonet, or Makarpi run to €20–€40 per person. There is genuinely something for every budget.