Dining Out in Menorca - How to Do it Like a Local

Along with the exciting array of villas in Spain, the wonderful cuisine is one of the major drawcards. If you're visiting Menorca, you'll be spoilt with a host of delightful choices. The island is home to wonderful restaurants, unforgettable hole-in-the-wall family-run establishments, and dining places perched in astonishing locations. Your major challenge is actually deciding where to go. Here are four simple tips to help you start.

Ask the Locals

Don’t hesitate to ask the locals about what they think. Whether you’re in a hotel or staying in one of the well-appointed villas in Spain, ask someone who lives or works here for their best culinary recommendation. Do they know any delicacy or specialty that is worth trying? Or perhaps they know of a locals-only restaurant off the tourist trail. If you’re setting out to explore the nearby towns, ask them for recommendations there too. After all, they live there, they eat there—they know.

Explore the Locality

Regardless of where you are staying, always make it a point to spend some time exploring the vicinity. Stroll around when it’s safe and comfortable to do so. If you’re staying in one of the villas in Spain on Menorca you may not need to walk very far to discover a restaurant. When you see a place you like the look of, check out the people eating there and find out the restaurant’s own recommendations. Take note of the specials or menu of the day, as well as their corresponding prices. Do the same with every restaurant you encounter so that you’ll get a solid grip on the average price before you make a decision.

Have Fun by Ordering your Food in Spanish

You’re in Spain, so although your entire knowledge of the language may start with ‘hola’ and end with ‘adios’, there is no harm in trying - as long as you do not take yourself seriously. If you’re renting one of the villas in Spain, ask the landlord for some language pointers to get your started. Thankfully, most restaurants in Menorca offer a bilingual menu—you can read the English version, then flip to the local version to order the meal in that language if you like. Don’t be shy, even if you’re unsure about the pronunciation—it’s all in good fun.

Do not Drink and Drive

While many good restaurants are just few minutes stroll from some of the villas in Spain, it is still worth emphasising that you must never over imbibe if you’ve decided to venture out a little further afield in your car. Armed with breathalysers, members of the local police force (‘guardia civil’) assiduously patrol the roads and roundabouts, especially in the evening. Take note that a couple of glasses of wine are enough to put you over the local limit. Either firmly stick to one glass, or better, none at all if you’re driving.

Brenda Jaaback is the Managing Director of Bartle Holidays. They can provide you with a wide selection of great villas in Spain on the beautiful island of Menorca. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.