Hotel

Les Monges Palace

This recently modernised boutique hotel has 23 rooms in the heart of Alicante's winding old town. In a building dating from 1912, Les Monges offers a cool mix of old and new. Wrought-iron balconies, heavy curtains, ceramic tiles and antique mirrors are combined with modern furniture and winking photo art. Double rooms from 80 euros. hotellesmongespalace.com

 

Food and drink

Abarrote

Located directly on the esplanade, this bar almost seems a little sober at first glance. Don't be fooled - the selection of creative tapas is anything but boring. There's the salad with smoked eel and apples, the pig's ears with kimchi or Enrique Guardiolo's version of a Nutella bread with the finest olive oil, sea salt and chocolate. abarrotebar.com

 

Nou Manolin

This classic among Alicante's gourmet addresses has been around since 1971 and has had a correspondingly large number of prominent guests. Chef of the century Joël Rebuchon is said to have described the Nou Manoulin as his favourite restaurant in Spain. Without a doubt, the no-frills cuisine and the imaginative interior design of wickerwork and wooden vaults are among the highlights of the local gastronomic scene. grupogastronou.com

 

Monastrell

Since 2020, María José San Román has been sourcing most of her vegetables from a farm that the top chef's son manages biodynamically. "What could go wrong with tomatoes like that!" she says, laughing. The 68-year-old prefers to talk about vegetables and olive oil much more than about her award-winning cooking. No wonder that a visit to her restaurant is one of the most lasting experiences in Alicante. monastrell.com

 

Espacio Montoro

The all-round culinary experience that restaurateur Pablo Montoro has devised is impressive. Anyone who enjoys special effects (keyword dry ice!) will get their money's worth here. Wagyu beef is first flambéed with whisky and then draped on grilled duck liver. Sometimes the noble ingredients almost get into each other's way as foams, airs and emulsions. grupomontoro.es/espacio

 

Bar Manero

First a glass of champagne. Served by a waiter in a slim-fitting black suit. Yves Montand is blaring from the speakers, the floor is made of colourful tiles. Fine hams dangle from the ceiling, oysters, caviar and lobsters lie under glass. This tapas bar looks like an old-fashioned delicatessen. barmanero.es/bar-manero-en-alicante

 

La Taberna del Gourmet

Tapas, tapas, tapas. Very classic and always the best. Whether Russian salad, mussels or prawns, ham, tomato bread or flan - you don't have to worry about the quality of the ingredients here. Accompanied by a spicy Monastrell wine with a hint of elderberry. If you come in the evening, you should have a reservation. The restaurant not far from the town hall is actually always full at peak times. latabernadelgourmet.com

 

Madness Café

If you like good coffee, it's not easy in Alicante. Accordingly, the roastery near the town hall is very busy. At Madness you may have to wait a little longer for that coveted cup, but it's worth it.  "Most Spaniards drink bad coffee," says the barista, "our customers are aficionados". Our breakfast favourite at Madness: muesli with fresh fruit. madnesscoffee.com

 

El Barrio

Not only on summer evenings does the old town at the foot of the fortress transform into a cosy chill-out zone. Although there are plenty of bars and clubs, the atmosphere remains surprisingly quiet and peaceful. Which probably has something to do with the fact that no cars drive here. In the pubs, young and old, smock apron and crop top sit side by side.

 

Shopping

Trendsplant

The organic cotton used to make the T-shirts, shorts and jumpers of this local brand is so soft that you want to wear them right away.  Trendsplant is characterised by good workmanship and simple designs. Only the swim shorts have colourful patterns. Otherwise, an elephant, the label's logo, is the only adornment of the sustainable everyday fashion from Alicante. trendsplant.com

 

Julián López

Of course, you may not need any fabrics at all, no cords, ruffles or trims. Enter anyway, and give in to the colour frenzy. Tens of thousands of fabrics are on offer here. In silk, cotton, terry cloth or linen. Julián López is a paradise for DIY fans. In the basement, you can admire the precious fabrics used to make the traditional costumes for the region's famous folk festivals. julianlopez.es

Discover

Castillo de Santa Bárbara

You can reach the fortress by taxi or by lift. However, it is nicer to climb the castle hill on foot. The short hike is sweaty, but worthwhile. Through steep alleys you reach the rocky, shadeless regions of Monte Benacantil. The fortress grounds are so extensive that the considerable streams of tourists get lost even in the high season. castillodesantabarbara.com

 

Museu de Arte Contemporáneo (MACA)

On the top floor of this airy building are the kinetic sculptures of the artist Eusebio Sempere, who died in 1985. The chrome-plated objects are set in motion every few minutes by an attendant. Sempere's important collection of contemporary art (Miró, Picasso, Tàpies, Chillida) forms the basis of the museum.  The MACA is a wonderful place to come to rest. maca-alicante.es

 

Playa de San Juan

Particularly fine-grained and 3 kilometres long, San Juan beach stretches east of the city centre. Modern apartment buildings, hotels and a wide promenade line the coast. Those who prefer something more intimate can head for the bays at Cabo de la Huerta. Here the beach is rocky, but the coast is particularly suitable for stand-up paddlers or kayakers. alicanteturismo.com