Wine & Tapas Near Alicante: Our Local Toro Tours Guide
We’ll show you where the locals go for real Alicante flavour: regional wines, honest tapas, and easy spots to reach from the city centre and cruise port.
Quick Navigation
- Why Wine & Tapas in Alicante Feels Different
- Local Wines We Love (and Why)
- Tapas That Actually Pair Well
- Best Areas for Wine & Tapas Near Alicante
- Alicante Old Town & El Barrio
- Mercado Central & City Centre
- Day-Trip Wine Villages (Easy from Alicante)
- How to Order Like a Local
- Our Toro Tours Recommendation
- About Toro Tours
Why Wine & Tapas in Alicante Feels Different
In Alicante, wine and tapas aren’t “an activity” — they’re the rhythm of the day. Locals meet, share a few plates, order a regional glass, and let the conversation do the rest.
At Toro Tours, we’re always looking for the most authentic ways to experience the Costa Blanca. And honestly? A good wine & tapas route near Alicante is one of the best “local moments” you can have — especially if you want flavour without crowds.
Below we share how we approach it: what to drink, what to eat, and the areas we personally recommend (easy to reach, high quality, and genuinely enjoyable). This is the kind of guide we’d give a friend visiting Alicante for the first time.
Our local approach at Toro Tours
We don’t recommend “the most famous places”. We recommend what tastes right: honest wine, good produce, and locations that make your Alicante day feel easy.
Want help planning your day? Talk to us here.
Local Wines We Love
Monastrell: Alicante’s Signature Red
If you only try one local grape, make it Monastrell. It’s the soul of this region: warm, expressive, and full of Mediterranean character. Done well, it’s not heavy — it’s balanced, with ripe fruit, spice, and a satisfying finish that pairs beautifully with cured meats and grilled flavours.
Toro Tours tip: Ask for a local Monastrell by the glass before ordering food — then build your tapas around it. You’ll notice how the meal “clicks” into place.
Fresh Whites & Rosés for Coastal Evenings
Alicante also shines with fresh whites and rosés that feel made for the coast. When the sun is still up and you want something crisp and clean, a chilled local white with seafood tapas is one of the simplest pleasures here.
Tapas That Actually Pair Well
Good tapas in Alicante is about ingredient quality, not complicated recipes. When it’s done right, you taste the olive oil, the sea, the seasonal vegetables — and the wine feels like part of the plate, not separate from it.
Our favourite “safe pairings”
- Monastrell + Jamón / cured meats (classic, satisfying, never fails).
- Monastrell + grilled vegetables (smoky, balanced, very local).
- Crisp white + prawns / seafood (fresh and coastal).
- Rosé + mixed tapas (ideal when you want variety).
- Local cheese + a second glass (because this is Alicante).
Best Areas for Wine & Tapas Near Alicante
There are many places to eat and drink in Alicante, but if you want a truly enjoyable experience, the area matters. Here are the zones we recommend most often at Toro Tours, depending on your timing, energy and where you’re staying.
Alicante Old Town & El Barrio
If you want atmosphere, this is the classic. Narrow streets, small bars, and that lively Alicante feeling — especially in the early evening. The key is choosing places that feel local (good turnover, simple menus, quality wine by the glass).
Why choose this area?
Perfect for a relaxed “walk-and-stop” tapas evening — ideal before dinner or as your dinner.
Mercado Central & City Centre
For us, the city centre is where you taste Alicante’s produce at its best. Around Mercado Central, you’ll feel the “daily life” energy: ingredients first, flavours second, and the wine as a natural companion.
Why choose this area?
Great for daytime tapas, quick quality stops, and a more local, less “nightlife” vibe.
Day-Trip Wine Villages (Easy from Alicante)
If you want the full “wine story”, head inland. Small villages and wine areas near Alicante offer a different pace: vineyards, family-run cellars, and that quiet countryside atmosphere that makes the glass taste even better.
This is the kind of experience we love combining with a day tour — you explore a beautiful destination, then finish with local wine and simple tapas that feel earned.
How to Order Like a Local
Here’s what we personally do (and what we suggest to our guests):
- Start with one local glass and decide your next wine after your first tapas.
- Order slowly , tapas is a rhythm, not a checklist.
- Share plates (even as a couple). You’ll taste more, and it feels more local.
- Avoid the “photo menu traps” if you want quality. Choose places with simple, confident offerings.
- Ask for regional wine (especially Monastrell) and let the staff guide you.
Our Toro Tours Recommendation
If your ideal Alicante day includes flavour, scenery, and a plan that feels effortless, we recommend combining local wine & tapas with one of our day experiences.
Many of our guests love finishing a scenic route with a relaxed glass and a few high-quality bites — because that’s when Alicante feels most authentic. No rushing. No crowds. Just the Costa Blanca, the way it should be.
Remember: Toro Tours is here to help you.
Don’t worry about a thing and just enjoy your time on the Costa Blanca with us.
Learn more about us here