My partner and I booked into a small house (End of April/early May). House was ideal for us. Had a modest budget between us and very conscious of the exchange rates but still had great fun but intended to have a great time in the sun.

The sun shone every day, and spent our time relaxing and enjoying. Here are some thoughts now we have returned.

Eating In.

One of the best things about exploring a new country and having little or no Spanish knowledge is that if you make the effort they will always have time for you. Tip #1. Learn some basics. Hello, please, thank you, the bill please, how much is that, .numbers, coffee with milk,. Tip #2 Beer in a bottle and draught beer have two different words.
Being self catering we would try and cook in most nights and found some real food shop gems in PB. There is now a fish market by the docks, but look hard as it is not very clear where it is. Go to the Irish Anvil and standing outside look towards the town. In the car park on the other side of the road there is a large white building. Walk between this building and the dock/sea and you will see a small door with plastic tassels hanging down. Step inside to a fresh fish market where the staff were unbelievably helpful to me and generally worked out what I wanted and how I wanted it cut though hand signs and smiling.
Another great find was a fresh vegetable/fruit shop next to the condom shop(Condomi – great name) in the town centre. However when I was talking (pidgin Spanish) to the shopkeeper he was explaining to me that the shop was moving to somewhere near the post office but hyper dino supermarket.

Eating out.

Being on a tight budget meant that we did not get to eat out that much, but then looking at the food pictures on the tacky restaurants on the sea front I am glad we did not. Unbelievably saw one restaurant with a wax model of a man holding out the most disgusting plate of food. (Kept on walking). However did find a couple gems.
The best meal we had out was a Spanish restaurant in the papagayo centre (Opposite wax). We were bought the menu and was not that hungry and could not make my mind up, so asked the owner to bring me some food he would be proud to serve me. Well, it was unbelievable. All Spanish tapas with a little bread washed down with a bottle of red.. As Peter Kay would say ‘a taste sensation’. And it kept on coming. Finished a coupe of dishes and more would come out. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. A Spanish restaurant run by a real Spanish character. 10/10.

The other gem we discovered required us to hire a car for the day. We drove up to Timanfaya (which was excellent and worth the euros) and then drove, on recommendation from a fiend, to a restaurant called Cote Azur in El Golfo
( about 20 mins from the mountains).

It was spectacular. A restaurant with no menu so again what is caught fresh is what you have to eat. The setting is amazing and if you get it right you will see the most spectacular sunset. Just ask for the fish cakes (best I have ever eaten). Not cheap but not expensive either, if you know what I mean. Just turn up around 3 – 3.30pm and enjoy the whole experience. (ps very romantic too.). 10/10

Bars.

One of the best bars we found was the ‘marea bar’ by Natura beach. It is very much on the theme. The theme being ‘cool.’ Nice music in the background, all set outside, and wicker chairs to lose yourself in the size of a small house. Fantastic place to relax after a swim in the sea. G&T was 6 euros but again there is no pressure to drink up and leave and you can sit there all afternoon relaxing and reading/people watching.

In town the good bar we found was the Galleria. Again just wandering around found it on a back street but it actually walks through to the sea front. Big open windows and a cool breeze. No loud music. Good friendly staff. Football was on ( it is a sports bar after all) but as soon as the game was over the TV’s went off ( keeping partner very happy to stay). So often the bars you go to have the TV on just as they are there. I don’t know about you but you come away on holiday to escape all the news back home. Tip #3 for all the other bars if you are reading this…. If there is nothing on…turn it off.

However without doubt the best bar is the Powerhouse Rock Bar in the papagayo centre. (Between the town and the marina)

What a place and what a find. Whoever thought up that one needs a gold medal and deserves every success,

Saw 2 bands whilst we were there.
Metalhead – 3 piece heavy rock group, (Metallica, pantera etc)
Dirtbag – 5 piece beat combo playing the classic songs of rock music (quo, eagles etc).
Also caught a solo singer called Gary, who was excellent. Did a version of supertramps ‘give a little bit’ which bought back memories and a tear to my eye.

The guys who run the place look the part, the bar looks the part. Child friendly. Drugs not tolerated. Air conditioning. Just good fun, solid tunes and a perfect place to let yourself go.



Walks/cycling.

The best thing about PB is the long sea front path that runs from the lighthouse all the way to the papagayo beach. Sections can be walked but if you are feeling really energetic rent a bike for the day. It is well worth it. TIP #4 if wearing shorts and riding a bike put plenty of sun cream on your knees or you will know it the following day.



Treats.

We rented the car for two days and for the second day went to PDC. Been told that a golf course had opened up over there and being keen Tiger Woods’ though we would check it out.

It is still being built and it will be fantastic when it is open and just what that side of the island needs. We found ourselves playing just nine holes as the others were still being built, on the 8th the lie is Fuerteventura beach! The sun shining. Course to ourselves. Fantastic. TIP#3. rent a buggy. Its hard work dragging around the clubs in the sun. PS it is not cheap however. Green fees 30e each. clubs 35e each. buggy 15 euros.(share this).

There being no 19th hole (still under construction) drove back to marea bar for a relaxing drink and chill out.

Overall verdict.

Absolutely fantastic. Lanzo is the place and PB the town to stay. Came back home refreshed and relaxed. Managed to stay within budget, just. Met some wonderful people, had some fantastic experiences and plenty of good memories.

Will I be back? A big fat YES. See you next year Playa Blanca!

Good review!! Sounds like my sort of holiday!!

Discovered the galleria bar about 7 years ago and its a great place to be at sunset!

And your directions to the fish market are exactly the same as the ones my parents have given me even down to the plastic tassels as that fish market is relatively new apparently.

Eating in is the new eating out!!

What a bril review - We are heading to PB in less than 3 weeks and i'm constantly browsing this forum to pick up a few ideas on where to eat/drink etc. The wicker chairs at the Marea sound like they were made for me!!!

Can you tell me a little more about the Powerhouse Rock Bar. We are travelling with kids, brothers, sisters, in-laws, out-laws etc but I reckon that each adult couple will get at least 1 night out without their offspring! My partner will celebrate his birthday while we are over there, and we both love live music, so this place sounds ideal.

Thanks in advance, and thanks again to all the regulars for their advice...... the countdown is on!

Regards
Maria

Enjoyed reading this review,Captain Cabin.

Bob

Am heading out on Sunday! Late dinner at Romantica - that will be the seafood soup followed by the baby racks of lamb and then people watching outside Pedro's for lunch on Monday! Perfect start for 2 weeks!

Got to have been the biggest review Ive read on thi forum, very detailed

captain cabin..what an absolutely fantastic post.you have made me really look even more forward to my trip to pb in october.as this will be our 4th trip and we stay in a georgous villa we too have decided this year that it is not necessary to eat out every single night and so therefore we will definately be looking for the fish market and will be bbqing a lot more.I was always one for making damn sure i never cooked on hols but my attitude is changing as i just love being there and to be quite honest don,t always like being in the crowd.we love the anvil and wax but i cannot picture the spanish restaurant you mentioned although i think elle has spoken of this too..

Thanks for the feedback, have been following this site for a few months and fed up reading about the ‘bad news’ (cockroaches/electric shops etc) so thought I would put something positive.

Foodie.

Enjoy romantica. Hope the sun shines for you and have a fab time.

Maria D.

Enjoy the chairs at Marea Bar. Bit of a walk but well worth it.
Not sure if you are into diving but next door to the Marea bar is a diving tank and if you feel brave they then take you into the sea. Not sure of the cost but looks great fun. It was either that or the golf and plumped for the latter. Suffice to say jumped onto the sea anyway but without a wetsuit. Exhilarating.

Regards the Powerhouse. The best suggestion is drop to find out what bands are playing and what day, I saw Metalhead on the Saturday and Dirtbag on the Wednesday but this might have changed for the summer season. Google powerhouserockbar as well. I found them on the wonderweb before I went out, hence me tracking it down. Had good reviews and was not disappointed.
To find it just walk along the sea front past all the shi8te restaurants, towards the marina. You will come across what looks like a shopping centre with a burger king and a bar called jungle at the bottom (TV always on!). Walk up the steps and it is up there on the left at the top before the car park. All the bands are advertised in the window. There was a Spanish group playing as well but not sure what they were like, asked about and it had a middle of the road review. Of the two nights Metalhead for me was the one, but then I am more into that sort of music. How the roof of the bar did not some off when I was there I do not know, three guys banging it out. Ear splitting stuff. The solo singer I saw , Gary, also fronts the other band, he is very funny in between songs. They play more eagles, quo, cream, queen bad company Robert palmer, stuff, still very tight, I am sure if you drop a hint to the owner (the guy who looks like bon jovi and plays the drums) they will give a rock happy birthday for your old man. Lol. If you are there with the whole entourage then suggest the Sunday night. Gary was very good. One of the locals told me he used to pack them in at the Irish anvil but they fell out. Not into guys singing into I-pods but this guy was very good..

PS you sound like the kind of woman who would enjoy the Galleria too.

Cunningham. Thanks.

Ruby. P

Please find the independent fruit and veg seller. Thinking about it it’s called Frutta (or something like that). Could not believe what he had in there and all much fresher that the supermarkets. (and proper spuds). If you do find him then let me know. He did try and draw me a map. All I know is that he was describing it the hyper dino at the top of town. I am no Gordon Ramsey but love cooking. Good luck with hunting down the fish market. Just look for the tassels on the door (like you Nan used to have, and mine, between the kitchen and the dining room of her post war prefab). Happy bbq’ing. As foodie says eating in is the new eating out. What really hit me was the strength of the euro against the pound. Could not afford to eat out every night and had great time eating in. (and cheaper) Tip #5. avoid the lanzo wine. It is full of sulphur and gives you a head in the morning that will not go away.!

The Spanish restaurant is just down from the powerhouse (in the same complex)and we found it purely by chance. Take the same directions as I described to Maria D but look to your right as you enter the centre and walk past burger king. Wish I could remember the name of it. If the owner is there he is a real character, I heard a whisper that he stood for the ‘mayor’ of Playa Blanca and did not get one vote. Did not even vote for himself. (Nor his wife) Absolute quality!

and as you sound the sort of girl who likes her food and time on hols then if you get the opportunity go out to the cote azur restaurant in El Golfo, honestly Ruby, I place it in my top ten restaurants I have been to (and having travelled all over the world in my time that is high praise from a cynical old bugger like me). It my be slightly rough and ready but the food is fantastic (could live alone off the starters-just foregt about the pudding) and the setting breath taking. Luck enough to watch a cloudless sunset. the colours were beyond descriptiona nd when the sun splashed down into the se. WOW. Better than the last time I saw that, in Negril Jamaica.

Hope this has been helpful. Next year will try and do some exploring but have I fallen for Lanzo….Yes. Just look behind the tacky façade and you will find some real gems!

Thanks Captain Cabin - fantastic info (again!!!).

My 14 year old daughter is mad keen to go diving again this year, following an introductory course with PADI on our last hol. Elle, a resident of PB, has recommended the same diving school as the one you mentioned (in an earlier post of mine) so it's definitely on the agenda. I'm a big scaredy cat when it comes to water, but her Dad has dived many times so he can 'take the plunge' with her while I sit on the sidelines!

I will check out the Powerhouse Rock Bar when I get there (will google it also) and see which night I need to get my babysitter organised!! If the owner looks like Bon Jovi, then I might pretend it's my birthday too!!!!! I'm more Lighthouse Family than Metallica to be honest (though any halfway decent Queen tribute is a must) but I'm sure I will enjoy the buzz and the 'craic' that always comes with live bands.

Again, muchas gracias for the info - I will let you know how I get on!

Regards
Maria

Lighthouse family?! DOn't think the powerhouse place is for you!! They only had one song didn't they? Or like Keane do they all sound a bit samey?

Had to physically restrain the missus from going in last year - she's a bit of a motorhead fan and got very excited - maybe we will venture in next week!

Ah Foodie, they had more than one album, never mind one song!! Besides - the whole 'air guitar' thing does not look good on me ... my hair's not long enough for starters! And feck ya - I think Keane are ok too!

But like I said.... a night out without the kids is a night out ... I don't care who are playing... I will be jumping around like their number one fan !!! Bring it on ............

Yea, that Gary is sure wicked - Foodie is a big fan.

Ole

One thing to note - the Powerhaus (not sure of spelling!) can get unbearably hot so take a fan!

The tapas restaurant is called "Taverna Godino" and is run by Manuel (call him min-o-lo) and it would not surprise me if he ever tried to be the mayor and forgot to vote! Good food in an authentic setting - don't be in a rush - don't expect his description to be what you'll get - enjoy the wine and relax!!!
Sunday's this place is usually so full that you can't get a table - full of locals or Spaniards here on holiday (a good indication!).

That bar by natura is unreal. Didnt find it till my last day last year. Sat in the shade, ice cold beer, cool music, looking out towards Feurte. Bliss.