Tenerife Guachinche Carved Into Cave Offers Unique Dining
Food bloggers recently showcased La Cochinera, a unique Tenerife guachinche carved into a cave, celebrated for its authentic Canarian cuisine and rustic charm.
Tenerife is home to a truly unique restaurant experience: a guachinche built inside a cave! This surprising eatery isn't just surrounded by nature; it's literally carved into the rock. Food bloggers Jonay and Joana, from the channel @guachinchesmodernos, recently shared their visit to this special spot. They called it a place "far from civilization" that perfectly blends tradition, natural beauty, and authentic local flavour.
You'll find this rustic guachinche, named La Cochinera, on Camino Valle Grande, in María Jiménez, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It has become famous for its delicious homemade food and excellent value. Here, you can enjoy steaming, hearty dishes in a one-of-a-kind setting amidst lush greenery. The menu features classic Canarian cuisine, making it the perfect weekend outing for food lovers.
The restaurant itself is wonderfully rustic, keeping the true spirit of a traditional guachinche (a local, informal eatery) alive. It's open only from Thursday to Sunday and gets busy quickly, especially on weekends or when it rains – because nothing beats a hot meal then! That's why Jonay and Joana suggest getting there early and always booking a table.
La Cochinera's menu focuses on simple, filling dishes that are staples of Tenerife's culinary heritage. Among the dishes the bloggers tried, the escaldón (a traditional gofio dish) with red mojo sauce was a highlight. It's one of their signature items, served with chickpeas and different meats.
Their meal also included classic dishes like goat soup (served mild, with pepper available to add), pig's ear, pig's trotters, and various grilled pork cuts. They also enjoyed barbecued ribs, which they raved about for their flavour, served with French fries.
Traditional desserts, like lemon cake and the classic 'grandma's cake' (a common choice in these eateries), rounded off Jonay and Joana's meal perfectly. For five people, the bill came to 71 euros, according to the bloggers. A crucial tip for anyone planning to visit: this guachinche only accepts cash, so make sure you bring some!
But it's not just the food that makes Guachinche La Cochinera special; its location is a huge draw. Dining inside a cave, surrounded by nature and far from city noise, creates a truly unique experience that both locals and tourists love.