Hip & trendy Tenerife
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010
Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
These travellers are discovering a different side to this popular Canary Island where traditional Canarian culture, local food and wine, and cutting edge architecture and design are proving a big attraction for those seeking a more upmarket and stylish holiday. Some suggestions below on cool places to sleep, eat, drink and play for the hip and trendy traveller: Sleeping – Tenerife has plenty of five star luxury resort hotels and the number of boutique style hotels is increasing, especially in the lesser known northern region. Below is a selection of places to stay that are considered boutique and offer their own unique ambience: Hotel San Roque is a contemporary hotel built in an 18th century aristocratic house in the unspoilt town of Garachico with fantastic views of Mount Teide. The hotel has 20 rooms, 8 duplexes, 2 junior suites and 2 suites all with designer furniture and contemporary art on the walls. www.hotelsanroque.com Hotel Taburiente is an old hotel built in 1966 that has been completely refurbished and updated with a stylish and contemporary finish, located in Tenerife’s chic capital, Santa Cruz. The hotel features a fantastic laid back lounge bar that is worth having a drink in even if not staying here. www.hoteltaburiente.com
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
Tenerife is fast becoming a ‘hot’ destination for the hip and trendy traveller who seeks to stay in boutique hotels, dine out at chic restaurants and sip cocktails at stylish bars.
Hotel Quinta Roja is an old ancestral mansion dating from the 16th century in the historic town of Garachico. The architecture is typical Canarian Baroque and it is a charming mix of modern facilities with authentic historical features. www. quintaroja.com Royal Gardens Villas– this five star boutique style property offers 28 villas with private pools and opened its doors in 2006 in the south of Tenerife, on the Costa Adeje. Each villa offers exquisite design and modern elegance, and the location on a cliff side over looking the sea is superb. www.royalgardenvillas.com Eating - Head for the more Canarian towns, such as Puerto del la Cruz or the fashionable capital, Santa Cruz to enjoy traditional tapas and typical local dishes including fresh fish with the spicy ‘mojo’ sauce, island stews and the Canarian speciality of ‘papas arrugadas’ salted wrinkly potatoes. In Puerto de La Cruz the Régulo (C/Pérez Zamora,16) is set within a beautiful Canarian mansion house situated in the heart of the historical old town and offers some of the finest cuisine and wines in the city.
For award winning Canarian cuisine one of the best restaurants on the island is El Jable (Bentejui,9, San Isidro) inland in the town of Granadilla in the south that offers dishes produced from local produce including baked smoke goat’s cheese on a bed of coriander mojo sauce and the islands freshest fish. Drinking – The south of Tenerife is where visitors will find an abundance of bars, pubs and nightclubs, but for more stylish nightlife head to the north and Puerto de la Cruz that is earning a reputation as a sophisticated holiday destination. There are many bars and nightclubs, especially along the Avenida Cruz.
The island’s capital, Santa Cruz is also one of its ‘best kept secrets’ and those seeking vibrant nightlife that is most definitely Spanish should plan a night out in the city. The Noria District is the newest and coolest part of town to head for the hippest bars. It is also popular among families, as there is a friendly and welcoming environment. Tenerife’s southern Costa Adeje has seen a re-vamp of its nightlife in recent years and there are many upmarket, cool bars and clubs opening up. One of these is the lavishly decorated El Faro Chill Art, overlooking the Playa Puerto Colón that has transformed itself from a laid back club into a vibrant and chic venue since opening in July 2007. It’s billed as one of Tenerife’s ‘best kept secrets’ and is a great place to start the evening and watch the sun go down on
British Guild of Travel Writers 2010 - Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January
For something more rustic the Lucas Maes (Barranco La Arena, 53 La Orotava) is a restaurant in an old-colonial style house with fabulous views from the terraces and gardens of El Rincon and Puerto de la Cruz. Diners can enjoy specialities such as tartar of tune wrapped in cucumber, mustard seeds and pork crackling.
the Zen terrace. Later in the evening the club hosts world class DJ’s, live bands, comedy and magic shows. Casinos - If you fancy trying your hand at the gambling tables there are three casinos on the island - Casino de Taoro at Puerto de la Cruz, Casino Santa Cruz in Hotel Mencey in Santa Cruz and the Playa de las Americas Casino in the Gran Tinerfe Hotel. - Ends -
Tenerife Tourism Corporation For more information visit www.webtenerife.com or contact Raquel Fonseca Email: raquel@humewhitehead.co.uk Tel: (0) 20 8334 7026