La Costa

The western part of Almería province is famous for its huge greenhouses, a key feature behind its identity and its superb fruit and vegetables. Chef José Álvarez has successfully transformed this family restaurant that combines tradition and modernity, basing his cuisine on strong flavours and a constant desire to surprise. The stars of the show here are fish and seafood from the locally named Alborán Sea, as well as local vegetables, usually sourced from small-scale producers. The chef demonstrates his commitment to the local area through his “Verde Mar y Tierra Azul” (Green Sea and Blue Earth) tasting menu, about which he says: ‘If we were to remove the sea of plastic from the Mediterranean coastline around El Ejido, we would discover that we live in one of the world’s greenest oases.’ We especially liked their steamed red prawn with salt and seaweed, as it has a memorable flavour and aroma.