Guardamar is a fine example of Valencian southernmost Mediterranean cuisine. Located at the mouth of the River Segura, it is one of those rare places where tradition is based both on land and sea products.

Guardamar has restaurants representing Spanish regional and International cuisine from many different countries. Nevertheless, local cuisine is best represented by its small fishing fleet: giltheads, groupers, sea bass, flounder, turbot, cuttlefish, shrimps and the renowned Guardamar King Prawns.

These two products are the pride of Guardamar since they can only be found in very few places and it is hard to match Guardamar’s quality.

For example, the “Guardamar Nyora” has been included in the “Ark of Flavours”, a project promoted by the Slow Food Movement in Valencia. The ark only admits the most treasured jewels of our gastronomic culture and the “Guardamar Nyora” is one of them. It is a small red sweet bell pepper, which provides flavour and aroma and an unmistakable personal seal used in paella rice and other regional recipes.

The Guardamar King Prawn is known for its high quality. It is found in areas where the river’s sweet water meets the sea’s salty waters. In the Region of Valencia both Guardamar at the southern regional border and Vinaròs, at the northern regional border, are the producers of this quintessential luxurious King Prawn. This is the main reason why both towns have been twinned. Make sure you taste the Guardamar King Prawn with its three coloured tail: purple, red and yellow.

Since 2005, Guardamar’s Cuisine Week has become a must for the most demanding palates. It is organised by a select group of restaurants, members of the Guardamar Restaurateur Association in collaboration with the Guardamar Council Tourism Department.

During the week, the restaurants serve a wide and varied tasting menu that must include at least a plate with our small sweet red bell pepper and another with the King Prawn”. The same tasting menu can be ordered both for lunch or dinner during the cuisine week. Each year, one of the restaurants organises a Grand Opening Dinner for 100 guests whilst another organises a Wine Tasting event with wines from the Alicante or other Spanish Mediterranean wine areas.

The Guardamar Themed Historical Tapas Route has been held every year –since 2012– during three weeks straddling the months of October and November. A theme from Guardamar’s history is chosen each year and tapas must bear in mind that historical inspiration. More than 20 establishments –including tapas bars and restaurants– participate in this themed route. The themes chosen so far are: the Iberians (2012), the Phoenicians (2013), the Arabs (2014) and the Romans (2015).

This route has achieved great prestige in the Vega Baja del Segura and other neighbouring districts to the North and South.

A tapa and a drink are served for a small reasonable price. Clients “do the rounds” to several other establishments and many choose to come back another day or evening till the full rounds are done.

The final programme should be published in the first half of October. Clients also vote for the best tapa of the year.