To find good places that locals eat at, you can look on Yelp. Tourists don't seem to use it.

Also, if you have the time and feel like meeting someone new, you can meet someone (a local born and bred is best) for coffee on couchsurfing and pick their brain for places to eat. But be sure to buy their coffee


I don't ask (anymore) the front desk clerk where to go because they might send you to their brother/cousin/friend's place. Asking a random person might work but my preferred method it to go to a cell phone shop or similar and ask someone there to recommend a place.

Obligatory story: We were visiting the Canary Islands and spent our last night in Santa Cruz on Tenerifa. We wanted seafood so asked at the front desk and were told to eat at the place around the corner. We walked down there and it was a tourist trap. Across the street I saw a cell phone shop and went in there to ask for good seafood. The clerk told us that he could not recommend anything in Santa Cruz and instead to head to San Andres. We took his advice and found an amazing and inexpensive seafood restaurant.

A busy restaurant might be a good indicator or it can just be the new trendy place that isn't all that great.

I will definitely agree with you to not eat resort food.


This is really good advice.