One of the questions guests ask me most often is where to eat well in Lanzarote. My answer is always the same: try to avoid places made just for tourists and look for the restaurants where those of us who live here still go.

These are some of my favourite places in the north of the island. They’re not fancy restaurants and they’re not trying to put on a show. They’re places with their own character, where the ingredients matter, the welcome is friendly and you can still get a sense of how we eat in Lanzarote.

El Barquillo · La Santa

If you’re staying at Garage La Santa, this will probably be the restaurant you visit most. It’s next to the fishing harbour and fresh fish is always the main event.

It’s a simple, unfussy place where people eat much as they always have in a fishing village. If you want a taste of La Santa, this is a good place to start.

Majo Picón · Tinajo

Instagram: @majopicon

I like to recommend Majo Picón to anyone looking for Canarian food with a more creative touch. They work really well with local ingredients, putting their own spin on traditional dishes without losing what makes them Canarian.

It’s one of those places I often go when I feel like having a quiet dinner.

Casa Morelino · Tiagua

Instagram: @casamorelino

People are often surprised when I tell them that one of my favourite pizzas is in Lanzarote. Casa Morelino never disappoints. The dough is great, they use really good ingredients and the atmosphere is always nice.

Make sure you book ahead, as it fills up quickly.

Casa Ignacio · Tinajo

If you’re looking for generous, home-style food without any fuss, this place is a classic. The menu changes every day, and it’s always worth leaving some room for the cheesecake. For me, it’s one of the best on the island.

Mancha Blanca Teleclub

Teleclubs are an important part of village life in the Canary Islands, and I always recommend visiting one while you’re here. The one in Mancha Blanca serves traditional food made with very good ingredients and still has the kind of genuine local atmosphere that’s becoming harder to find.

After lunch, you might even stay for a game of bola canaria—Canarian bowls—with some of the locals.

Finca Vega Costa · Tinajo

Instagram: @fincavegacosta

A recently opened, family-run restaurant on an organic farm. They grow much of their own produce and serve traditional Canarian food in a peaceful setting surrounded by nature, with wide-open views.

La Mar Café · Famara

Instagram: @lamarcafefamara

You don’t always need to sit down for a full meal. After a swim or watching the sunset in Famara, I often stop here for a beer.

The atmosphere is relaxed, there are usually a few surfers around, the music is good and it has one of the nicest terraces by the beach. A good place for a drink after a day of surfing.

La Puerta Verde · Haría

Instagram: @lapuertaverdelanzarote

When I’m in the north of the island and want a good meal, I often end up here. It serves well-made Spanish food in a quiet setting, surrounded by one of Lanzarote’s most beautiful landscapes.

It’s a good place for lunch if you’re visiting Manrique’s house in Haría or the Mirador del Río.