Mar Azul Restaurant

Mar Azul has unit 9 on Tabarca's central beach, on the front line, with the terrace looking over the water. It is run by Mar Valera, the fourth generation of a family of restaurateurs, according to the Alicante press, and it has a Solete from the Repsol Guide.

From capellán to lechola

The Repsol Guide classes it as Mediterranean cooking and points to three dishes: chopped tomato with capellán, boiled bay prawns and soupy rice with lechola. Lechola is one of the fish used to make the island's caldero, which Repsol also recommends, along with shellfish. The Tabarca guide from the Alicante Tourism Board explains how the caldero is served: first the rice, then the fish with boiled potato and alioli. Repsol also notes that there are vegan options, in case someone at the table does not eat fish.

What it costs

Repsol places it below €35 per person. The restaurant does not publish a menu with prices in any source we have been able to consult; if you are going to order prawns or shellfish, ask the price of the day.

Terrace, access and booking

It has a terrace, takes bookings and Repsol marks it as an accessible establishment, a useful fact on an island without cars where you walk from the quay along the beach promenade. Book on 965 960 101; in summer, the terrace fills as soon as the mid-morning boats arrive. It posts its daily life on Instagram as @marazultabarca. The opening hours appear neither in the official guide nor in Repsol: if you go out of season, call beforehand.

How to fit it into the day

Given where it is, it is the most convenient lunch after Tabarca beach or the snorkelling in the marine reserve: you come out of the water and the table is a few steps away. If you crossed from Alicante at the weekend, remember that the return boats leave at 14:30 and 17:00.