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In Hoya de Los Patos (one of the many residential urbanisations of Busot)
Los Cristales aka The Glass Bar
This restaurant is in a superb location in front of the recreational area in this popular Urbanisation. The kids can play in the bmx and skate parks and then you can work off your lunch on the tennis courts! It has a large terrace which is a brilliant sun trap and lovely for enjoying a cold beer or chilled glass of wine. They serve what I hear to be a cracking English breakfast and are well known for their BBQ-ed meats which are cooked on a huge traditional open fire.
We’ve eaten all sorts of things here since they opened and they are so accommodating. We mentioned once that my brother loves tuna croquetas but we fail to find them anywhere and the next time we go they’ve made handmade (absolutely divine) tuna croquetas! Magdalena, one of the chefs, always comes up with new veggie or fish dish for me. And it’s all excellent value for money.
Lastly, an exciting bit of news …. whilst writing this article, the owner, Jorge, let us know that he is going to start a takeaway delivery service of tapas, burgers, pizzas and paellas during the Coronavirus lock-down ☺
In the old town of Busot
Ca Tono
This restaurant is fantastic for authentic Spanish cuisine, with local dishes prepared with local ingredients. I’ve had eggs from the owners own chickens, David has had pheasant caught that morning in the countryside next to the owners house, we’ve had home-made turron that is to die-for (ps if you don’t know what turron is look it up and also go to the Turron Museum in Jijona for a full explanation!). They use olive oil made from the olives from the owner’s own trees. Their aubergine with honey and goats cheese was recommended to me by one of our vendors and it never disappoints.
La Casa
This restaurant is fantastic for meat eaters as they do a “German platter” (for a minimum of two people) which is a carnivore heaven. However, they also have a specific vegetarian section of their menu. Indeed, the menu is really varied (and available in different languages). When we went their recently with friends, I had the vegetarian couscous, David had pork chops, and our friends had salmon and vegetables, spaghetti bolognaise and the lamb dish. We all had dessert; a traditional dessert called pan de calatrava, German apple strudel, profiteroles, chocolate cake and cheesecake. Just like Ca Tono above, it has a lovely terrace on both sides – one on the Town Hall square and the other with beautiful views of the mountains.
Café Sierra de Alicante
This stylishly-designed café is located in the reception of Busot’s Boutique Hotel in the ‘Plaza Ayuntamiento’ square right in the heart of the old town. Like all good cafes, you are met with by friendly, welcoming staff and the beautiful aromas of freshly baked biscuits and croissants, coffee of the highest quality and aromatic plants. There’s a wide variety of coffees and well known international pastries from all over Europe; the Sachertorte from Austria, the Rüblikuchen from Germany, the Jam Roly-Poly from England, French crepes, Belgian waffles, Italian Panna Cotta and Dutch pancakes are just some of the tasty options on offer.
Inside, the café is finished with a luxury feel and is very comfortable or you can sit on the terrace and watch the world pass by as people go to and from the town hall and the restaurants on the square. We know many of our clients make a trip to the town at least once a week to enjoy a coffee in this lovely atmosphere. Indeed, one couple told me that it was going to be one of the things they missed most about their life in Busot once they moved after their property sold.
There’s free high-speed WIFI, satellite TV and tablets are also provided. Stefan and his team have certainly thought of everything to make this a really enjoyable place to spend some time when visiting or staying in Busot.
Jouve&Sully Catering and Restaurant
We are really lucky to have Patricia and Sylvain, French couple with years of experience in catering and restaurants, living and working here in Busot. They specialise in French and Italian cuisine and offer catering for both large and small events which they can provide to any venue in the area. Meanwhile, if you are lucky enough to be in Busot on a Thursday lunchtime, or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday dinner time, they open their doors and serve lots of traditional French dishes; beautiful homemade tarts and quiches, tasty, typical main courses and decadent desserts (tarte tatin, fondant chocolate, crème brulee, crepes, tarte au citron to name but a few).
Each week they publish a set menu full of gourmet delights with two options of starter, main and dessert and three-courses costs 15 euros. During the Coronovirus confinement, they are offering a delivery service (three courses for 13.50€). Everything is homemade and totally authentic. You leave thinking you are not going to eat again all day! In addition, there’s a small but very good collection of French wines and also some Spanish options. Patricia speaks fluent English, French and Spanish and the menu is presented in all three languages. And on Sunday mornings they offer delicious French pastries and breads.
Cantina El Paseo
This is the place to eat for the locals and those who work in the nearby small factory and you will often find David there! The menu of the day is 8 euros and is full of traditional, Spanish options predominantly for meat-eaters so I’ve not eaten there yet myself.
In the “Modern Hub of Busot” (as I call it!)
The Gasolinera
I’m told the coffee is great here (I don’t drink coffee) and they serve David’s favourite beer, Leffe. They have a Plate of the Day which is often Chicken Satay, Chips and Salad or Angus Burger, Chips and Salad and David (and our colleagues from several different partner estate agencies) are big fans of both! For me (the annoying Vegetarian!), they make something totally off-menu and always super tasty. They serve many of their dishes with their signature salad which includes beansprouts and some other magic that makes it a bit different to your everyday salad! You can also fill up with petrol, collect your parcels and wash your car all in the same place!
Raco del Pipo
A favourite in Busot for drinks and darts, this bar above the hairdressers, also serves a range of tasty tapas and pizzas. I’ve enjoyed garlic mushrooms and four cheese pizzas on several occasions and David has sampled basically the whole menu! Sometimes you may get a surprise tasty treat with your drink – the last time I was there is was delicious open sandwiches! They also hold regular BARC charity events which are always fun and it’s one of the venues for the local dart’s tournament.
Gracies Bar
Amazing for when you need some home comforts – roast dinner’s on special occasions such as Mothering Sunday and good British classics like English breakfasts and baked beans. This is where I introduced David to Gammon and Chips which he loved. There’s even British sweets and a range of English greeting cards on the counter top that you can buy. The staff are really friendly and they put on a range of things on the TV screens from the football to the Royal Wedding.
In the Cabeco d’or Mountain area (on the way to our famous caves)
Cinco Hermanos
This restaurant is the perfect spot to eat before or after visiting the Caves of Canelobre*. We enjoyed beautiful paella with some friends who live nearby along with huge slabs of bread toasted with tomato on top, followed by delicious cakes; we had chocolate cakes and lemon mousse. The menu is vast (lots of different meat and fish dishes as well as a variety of paellas and other rice and pasta dishes) and translated into a number of different languages.
*The Caves of Canelobre are an amazing, must-see Busot attraction that impressed me far more than I thought it would! If you live in Busot, you just show your Padron document at the ticket office and you can go in for free! Since I first visited, I have been back for a special yoga class that is held there each year for International Women’s Day and for a special Indonesian music concert. I’ll definitely be going back to see more concerts – the acoustics are amazing!
In Llano de los Pastores (another residential urbanisation of Busot)
La Estrella
Another authentic Spanish option at the entrance of the Urbanisation just round the corner from the basketball court and petanque área. You can eat inside or on their terrace/courtyard area. They do a menu del dia at midday which is great value for money. The last time I went, there was nothing vegetarian on the menu but they made a totally off-menu dish for me which was delicious and involved all my favourite veggies.
All that is left to be said now is “Buen provecho”!
