One of the questions guests ask me most often is where to buy food during their stay.
If you’re spending a few days on the island, my advice is simple. Do one big shop when you arrive, then pick up anything else you need during the week from small shops and local producers. You’ll eat better and support people who live and work in Lanzarote throughout the year.
These are the places where I usually shop when I’m on the island.
Chacón · Arrecife
I always recommend starting here.
If you’ve just arrived in Lanzarote and plan to cook during your stay, it’s worth heading to Arrecife for a big shop. Prices are usually much better than in village supermarkets and there’s a huge range of products.
For me, it’s still the most complete supermarket on the island. You can find pretty much everything you need for the week, including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, local produce and anything else you might need.
Huerto Canario · Arrecife
If you’re looking for good fruit and vegetables, this is one of my favourite places.
Huerto Canario works directly with a network of small farmers from Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands. I really like their approach because they give priority to local, seasonal produce. This helps farmers who often have no direct way of selling what they grow.
As well as their shop, they prepare boxes of fruit and vegetables and offer home delivery. It’s one of those small projects that’s well worth supporting.
Finca Chinijo · Soo
This place means a lot to me.
Marco, one of my best friends, runs an organic farm close to La Santa, where they grow fruit and vegetables and produce eggs. I try to buy directly from the farm whenever I can. The quality is great, and I like knowing the person behind the food I’m eating.
If you’re staying with us and would like to visit, send me a message during your stay. I’ll put you in touch with him so you can arrange it.
La Tienda de Lourdes · Soo
When I need to pick up a few things during the week, I nearly always end up here.
It’s very close to La Santa and has a good selection of fruit, vegetables and local products. I personally prefer coming here to doing a quick shop at the village supermarket.
The welcome is always friendly, and it’s one of those small shops where people still take the time to look after you properly.
Almacén del Queso · Altavista
If you’re the kind of person who comes home from a trip with food in your suitcase, you should stop here.
They have a great selection of artisan cheeses from Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands, along with other quality products made by small producers. Whenever I want to take a good cheese home for friends or family, this is where I go.
It’s an easy way to discover just how good Canarian cheese can be while supporting the people who continue to make it by hand.
EcoVenta · Arrecife
Another place I often recommend if you’re planning to cook during your stay.
EcoVenta specialises in organic food and sells fruit and vegetables from certified farms in Lanzarote, particularly around Teguise and Yaiza. As well as fresh produce, you’ll find pulses, grains, dairy products, preserves and other organic foods.
They’ve spent many years helping make the island’s organic produce more accessible to the people who live here.
My recommendation
I would do one big shop at Chacón on the first day. For the rest of the week, I’d try to buy from smaller shops such as Huerto Canario and La Tienda de Lourdes, or directly from producers such as Finca Chinijo.
I think part of travelling is choosing where we leave our money. When you buy from a small shop, a farm or a local producer, you’re helping that way of life in Lanzarote continue.
For me, that’s one of the best ways to get to know the island.