When walking on the path above the beach in between Playa Torviscas and Playa la Pinta, as tourists do in their hordes every evening in peak season, anyone would be hard-pushed to avoid the massive castle-like building along the way.
Bistro del Mar – An Elusive Construction
Coming from the Playa la Pinta side, a wrought-iron gate is chained firmly shut and although the menu is still displayed, passers-by get the impression that the restaurant that once was the Bistro del Mar is no longer. Rounding the corner up the hill and a double-take is in order. Could it be possible that a spherical glass-fronted nightclub has landed on the castle roof? Apparently so. But even that looks abandoned and feeble. Walking on by, visitors don't give it another thought, writing it off as a novelty, Mickey Mouse idea that was bound to go wrong. But those who look back before they reach the Terraza House bar next door, to see another set of castle gates open and a restaurant very much in business, will not be disappointed.
Service in Tenerife's Bistro del Mar
The first thing that strikes the potential customer is that there is no restaurant tout trying to get them inside. A novel idea , as every other restaurant in the area has one, but the majestic building and elegant interior speaks volumes - more than a meek restaurant helper could. When diners enter a restaurant however, they do want a bit of attention, which is not generously given at the Bistro del Mar to begin with. Once seated at a grand, medieval table however, the staff are as attentive as diners would expect in a slightly more upmarket eating place.
Quality Food in Tenerife's Castle Restaurant
The food at Bistro del Mar matches its atmospheric decor. Unlike other less formal restaurants in the area, such as Meson Medierraneo and Restaurante Blue Marlin, Bistro del Mar does not offer tapas in set menus. Guests can pick and choose from the fine selection of most revered Spanish specialities. Tapas dishes and starters cost anywhere between 3.50 and 10 Euros, so the prices are also much dearer than surrounding eateries. But the quality of the food is impeccable - the carpaccio of tuna is especially exquisite.
Barbeques and Wine from Tenerife
The food available on the main menu includes fish, chicken, steaks and Italian dishes, which cost from thirteen to twenty Euros. The tuna and salmon steaks are delectable and guests are asked for their preference on how the fish should be prepared – another indicator of quality where other restaurants are lacking. Those who like to attract attention should order chicken or steak, which both arrive sizzling on their own (not so) small barbeques, allowing the diner to choose when to pluck it off the heat and onto their plate. To accompany the meal are a selection of wines from Tenerife, which is another rarity. Although locals will boast about the superior vineyards in the Canary Islands, it isn't easy to actually find the produce on local menus.
Soul and Ambience in the Bistro del Mar Restaurant
Aside from the food, the bohemian castle ambience, with smooth jazz tunes playing in the background, make for a unique evening out in Playa de las Americas. With a vast and moody interior, diners tend to feel enclosed in the fortress, forgetting the coastal setting. Looking outside, however, visitors can take in the vast ocean that lies before them without the bustle from the beach and path below being visible. The restaurant is large and the tables never seem to be filled, as tourists visit the Bistro del Mar for a treat, favouring the cheaper surrounding restaurants most of the time. What the rest of the castle expanse is used for, however, may forever remain a mystery. As might the spacecraft-like addition to its roof.
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