Just like any other good Mediterranean city, Benidorm has a surprising variety of gastronomy that is based on the typical products from the Mediterranean diet.

However there are major contrasts to be found. Its most typical and traditional cooking is now combined with dishes coming from tourism bringing us tastes from far away places like Russia, Thailand, Italy and China, etc

If you feel like good rice with lobster, soupy rice, rice stew, a mouth-watering seafood or mixed paella you are in the perfect place. There’s a huge selection of restaurants to choose from where you can try these magnificent dishes, many of them are located right by the sea, looking onto the beach which if it is at all possible, will make your time spent sampling these delicacies even more enjoyable.

RESTAURANTE BARRANCO PLAYA: Avenida Vicente Llorca Alós, 14-Cala Benidorm. The menu has around 20 starters, almost all of which are made with products from the sea, there’s more than ten types of delicious rice, the meat is prepared in five different ways, there’s as many or even more fish dishes and plenty of desserts.

RESTAURANTE ULIA: Avenida Vicente Llorca Alós, 15- cala Benidorm. Cooks at Ulia specialise in fresh fish and seafood. Red porgy, sea bass, sea bream, sole. The seafood rice and the rice stews with angler fish, lobsters, Dublin Bay prawns and squid are served in typical cooking pots.

LA CUINA DE PONENT: C/ Santander, 18 – La Cala de Benidorm. It serves “signature cuisine”. It’s updated traditional cooking with natural flavours, seasonal products, textures, there’s no tricks or cartons here! The rice is based on simple, natural recipes.

CASA TONI: Av, Cuenca Gemelos IV local 27. The homemade Russian salad, cheese and ham croquettes or the baby broad beans with baby squid are highly recommendable. If you choose meat cooked on hot stones as your main course you’ll be stuck for words and there’s baked sea bass if you prefer. Even though there’s a set menu, you can always ask Toni if he has any specials of the day made with ingredients he bought in the morning at the market.

TAITA: Primavera 8- Benidorm. It’s known for its all-time cooking with a touch of modernity. There’s a huge variety of dishes made with local quality ingredients. We recommend the sirloin steak or any of the fish. The desserts are the highlight of the meal, they’re scrumptious. There’s a wide selection of good wines too.

HOTEL LEVANTE CLUB: All the food on the menu of the day is served at the buffet. Clients can order special dishes or food for diets too. Ask for our menu, it’s full of the best of Mediterranean cooking, fish, meat and rice for you to sample and wash down with the best wines. The best quality value with an excellent service. Rincon de Loix Av. Severo Ochoa 3-B

If you looking for something a bit more casual come and have tapas which are small portions of food just like appetizers. The flavours to savour in Benidorm range from nibbles from the Basque country to the delights of the Mediterranean shores. The hustle and bustle and the delicacies of the bars will remind you of the old quarters of Donostia. Incidentally the area is known as tapas bar alley or the Basque alleyway-

You should start at Aurrera (Santo Domingo). Apart from its star tapa (cod with egg plant), try the grated cheese courgette, wild mushrooms and ham with fig sauce or the roast peppers, anchovies or eggy prawn fried bread.

Then go on to La Cava Aragonesa (Pza. de la Constitución, 2), it’s the most famous tapa bar in Benidorm. You can choose from the three date brochette, codfish balls, blue cheese and pork medlars, baby brochette of pork sausage and peppered date or scallops au gratin.

At El TAMBORIL (Santo Domingo, 10) the most popular appetizer here is the three cheese tapa: brie, blue and Burgos cheese with Iberian cured ham.

LA TABERNA DEL NORTE (Rosario, 9) is full of photos from the Basque Country, the tapas, especially the Spanish omelette, are delicious.

At the TABERNA TXAPELA (Martínez Oriola, 19), the typical tapas are the wild asparagus with brie or ham and egg plant.

CARPE DIEM The new tapa trend has created nibbles such as this goat’s cheese and prawn wrap.

To sum it all up gastronomically speaking it’s a highly recommendable city for anyone who wants to enjoy flavours from the sea and have the best products on their table.

As well as being one of the main tourist destinations for adults and children thanks to its beaches and attractions, Benidorm is also an excellent place to enjoy music and concerts. This summer is full of festivals so if you like dancing, music and having fun with your friends….Benidorm is the PERFECT PLACE for you. Below we’ve included this summer’s concert calendar with all the details:

9th of July Neptunalia

The new edition of this festival in superb surroundings, the Acuanatura Benidorm waterpark is where this night water party will be held.

The highlights of this event include the 50.000 watts of sound Meyer Sound, and 100,000 watts of light. It will be even more visual than ever before with Led screens, an exclusive Aquatic Performance and Laser Bolo Megatron animation and something that just can’t be forgotten at any Neptune party: water with incredible water rides. In the 40,000 metre park there’s a wave pool, 10 slides, a tanning area and spa with Jacuzzi that will be fitted out as the V.I.P. area during Neptunalia 2011. Music will be provided by the Matinee all stars DJ team: Flavio Zarza, T. Tommy Baccanalli, Víctor Pérez, Coqui Selection, Aitor Galán, Sergio Gallegos, DJ Pive, Santi Mataix and Patrizze.

More info: www.neptunalia.com

14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of July Benidorm Salsa Festival

Benidorm Salsa Festival from the 14th to the 17th of July, 2011, and just like every other year the event will take place at the Gran Hotel Bali in Benidorm. This year the Tropical Gem Dance Company will have plenty of new shows for spectators, as will Tito y Tamara, Marco B & Flamboayan Dancers, Marco Ferrigno, YE Mambo, Roi & Talía, Alfonso & Mónica, Sabor a Fuego, Made in Italy, Chiquito & Dominican Power, Jonathan y Raika. There will be newcomers too, dancers and teachers including Adolfo Indacochea, Black Energy, Shaka Brown

More info: http://www.benidormsalsafestival.com/.

20th of July Peter Andre concert

Peter Andre live in Benidorm. Heatwave Promotions presents Peter Andre for the first time ever in Spain, with only two concerts live in Benidorm and Marbella.

At the Bull Ring of Benidorm. Don’t miss this fantastic event.

More info; http://www.heatwavepromotions.com

21st, 22nd, and 23rd of July Low Cost Festival

The third edition of this indie rock festival Low Cost Festival 2011 will be held in Benidorm just like the last two editions which were exceptionally successful although this year it will be held at a different venue, namely the sports complex, Ciudad Deportiva Guillermo Amor and it is full of big names. Undoubtedly this event attracts more people from all over the world than any other, it improves tourism and the quality of this year’s music groups invited will make us quiver and shake.

The festival will be held on the 21st, 22nd and the 23rd of July in the sports complex Ciudad Deportiva Guillermo Amor.  Thousands of visitors have already booked accommodation for this long awaited music event in beautiful Benidorm which is especially for lovers of rock who are keeping their fingers crossed that all the groups confirm their performances in the festival.

Confirmed groups: Mando Diao, Klaxons, Vetusta Morla, Fangoria, Cut Copy, Lori Meyers, Sidonie, Fanfarlo, Crystal Castles, Erol Alkan, Steve Aoki, Goose, Dorian, Standstill, Sexy Sadie, Catpeople, Ok Go, Sex Museum, Dos bandas & un destino (Coronas + Arizona Baby), Supersubmarina, Del fe & las flores azules, Maga, L.A., Vinila Von Bismark & the Lucky Dados, Atom Rhumba and many more, there will also be a wide range of activities going on around the festival.

More info: www.lowcostfestival.es

24th, 25th, 26th, and the 27th of August Electrobeach Festival

The second edition of the electronic music festival at different venues in Benidorm, Sunset sessions, Beach stage, or Global party with some of the best international and national artists, Ben Sims, Cristian varela, Exium, Fatima Hajji, Kevin Saunderson, Maetrik, Marc Houle, Nic Fanciulli, Oscar Mulero, Planetary Assault Systems, Steve Lawler, Tecnasia and many more.

More Info: www.electrobeachfestival.com

3rd of September Turbo Rock Festival

The second edition of this festival will be held in Benidorm, at the Julio Iglesias auditorium for the first time ever.  It’s a must for all lovers of rock, the festival aims at getting artists that composed the classic sound tracks of our lives back onto the stage, in limited seating venues, where the audience is really spoiled and the line-up is as follows: Gigolo aunts, the Bellrays, The Sadies, King Salami & The Cumberland Three, Urge Overkill, D Generation, Mathew Sweet, Buzzcocks, Man or Astroman, More info: turborockfestival.com

Book your Hotel now there are huge deals available and you can enjoy the music in BENIDORM.

based on a post  http://blog.apartamentos-levante.com/