The problem with the Noria district in Santa Cruz is that there are just so many gorgeous looking bars to choose from when you fancy a bit of tapas.
Noria has some of the most picturesque streets in the capital with the one that runs from the Iglesia de la Concepción all the way to the bridge beside the TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes) being the pick of the bunch. Here, amongst the pastel coloured cottages and palm trees is a thriving café society where individualistic bar/restaurants cater for a post work crowd and shoppers during late afternoon before transforming into lively venues for night owls after it gets dark.
We’ve tried a few of these bars and are slowly working our way through the rest. The latest was the Mirador de la Noria at the ‘quieter’ end of the street below the tower of the Iglesia de la Concepción. The Mirador de la Noria is situated inside a lovely old building, but the best seats are those in the semi-pedestrianised street where you can watch the Santa Cruz world go by.
Tapas in the Sunshine: The Food at Mirador de la Noria
Like many of the places in Noria, the food at the Mirador de la Noria is on the creative side. Some of the ingredients will be familiar – jamón ibérico, selection of chorizos, entrecote etc. – although the finished product that turns up on your plate is likely to have more flair than the name might suggest.
We opted for the day’s offer of five set tapas for €10 and shared it between two of us.
Anyone who’s eaten a lot of the standard tapas in Tenerife will already know that it varies not a lot from traditional restaurant to traditional restaurant. Not this time.
First up was a selection of three tapas on a slate; a savoury goat’s cheese and avocado salad in a glass, cylindrical prawn pastries with a sweet salsa and crispy croquettes on a light, bubblegum coloured sauce. A colourful selection that was perfect for picking at in the sunshine.
The next two had a bit more substance. Papas arrugadas arrived on a bed of melted almogrote (a savoury cheese pate from La Gomera), a nice deviation from tradition, whilst a tapa-sized piece of steak was accompanied by mash potatoes and mojo rojo (pepper sauce).
It was a wonderful little mix that, whilst it was never going to have us rubbing swollen bellies, was just right for a light lunch in the sunshine. As there were plenty of other interesting items on the menu, a return visit will definitely be on the cards.
With friendly service and a superb location in an historic part of Santa Cruz, Mirador de la Noria is an excellent choice for some tasty and creative, street-side tapas in Tenerife’s capital.
Mirador de la Noria – Calle La Noria, 6 (next to the Iglesia de la Concepción; Santa Cruz; (+34) 922 082 738; open 12.30pm – 2.30 am daily, closed Sunday; tapas selection €10, weekday special meal offer €9.95.
Jack is co-owner, writer and photographer for BuzzTrips and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a contributor to online travel sites and travel magazines. Follow Jack on Google+
The tapas were lovely and delicate and we enjoyed them immensely, but you must have attended a sale as the tapas as you describe cost 9.50€ each person which we considered reasonable
You’re right, the tapas selection was €10. We shared it between the two of us and it made a nice light lunch. I’ve changed the text to reflect this. Thanks.