🍲 Caldero: a specialty of Torrevieja and La Mata

During your stay in La Mata, don’t miss the chance to taste caldero, one of the most emblematic dishes of the Costa Blanca.

Born from fishermen’s tradition, this savory dish was originally prepared on board the boats with the day’s catch. Cooked in a large cast-iron cauldron (caldero in Spanish), the fish simmered with garlic, pepper, tomato, and saffron, creating a rich and fragrant broth.

Today, caldero is still served in the traditional way:

• First, the fish with its garlic sauce (allioli)
• Then, tender rice, cooked in the broth to absorb all the flavors of the sea.

A generous, authentic, and convivial dish, to be shared with family or friends, available in several restaurants in Torrevieja and La Mata.

Restaurant : La Mar de Bien

🥘 Paella: the must-try of Spanish gastronomy

It’s impossible to stay in Torrevieja without enjoying a delicious paella. An iconic dish of Mediterranean cuisine, it comes in several versions: the traditional paella valenciana (with chicken and rabbit), the mixed paella (meat and seafood), or the popular paella de mariscos, prepared with prawns, squid, and mussels.

Slowly cooked in a large iron pan (paellera), paella captivates with its rice infused with saffron and flavorful broth, offering a unique and authentic taste.

In Torrevieja and La Mata, you will find many seaside restaurants serving it as a convivial dish, perfect to share with family or friends, right by the Mediterranean.

👉 A typical meal that turns every lunch into a real celebration!

Restaurant :  Vela Beach la Mata

🥖 La Coca de Verduras

Coca is a kind of savory tart, similar to a Mediterranean pizza but without cheese. It is made with a thin, soft dough topped with grilled vegetables such as red and green peppers, eggplant, onion, and tomato.

👉 It can be enjoyed hot or cold, as a starter, tapas, or even a light main dish.
It is an essential part of the traditional gastronomy of the Costa Blanca and can easily be found in local bakeries and restaurants in Torrevieja and La Mata.

Restaurant : Seaview International restaurant

🐟 Seafood Tapas

• Boquerones en vinagre: anchovies marinated in vinegar and olive oil.
• Pulpo a la gallega: Galician-style octopus, served with paprika and olive oil.
• Chipirones a la plancha: grilled baby squid, a must-have in any tapas bar.

Restaurant : Él Rincon