Sundowner Drinks at Marina Rubicon, Playa Blanca

People ask us about sundowners at the counter nearly every evening. Where to go, what to drink, and what time to turn up so you don't miss the good light. We run Brunchi.shop at Marina Rubicon, so we're biased, but we've watched a lot of sunsets from our terrace and we have a few opinions.

This is what we'd tell you if you walked in and asked.

When to Go for a Sundowner in Playa Blanca

Sunset changes a lot through the year. In midwinter the sun is down by around six, and in midsummer it's nearly nine. Check the time on your phone before you set out, because the difference matters.

Our evening opening is 6pm to 10pm, Monday to Saturday. In winter that means we're open just as the sun goes, so come straight from the beach. In summer you've got plenty of time. Arrive around 7.30pm, get a seat and a drink, and you're settled well before the sky changes colour.

We're closed all day Sunday. If Sunday is your sunset night, plan your drinks for another evening or pick up a bottle from us on Saturday.

Where We Are at Marina Rubicon

We're at Calle El Burrugo 44B, in Marina Rubicon. It's a short, easy walk from the main marina promenade, and you can leave the car at your apartment and stroll over. The marina is flat and pleasant to wander around in the evening, so you can have a look at the boats first and a drink afterwards.

Brunchi is a wine, spirits and craft beer shop with a terrace bar. We're not a restaurant, and we don't pretend to be. It's a relaxed place to sit with a proper drink before or after dinner.

Aperol Spritz

An Aperol Spritz is the obvious sundowner order, and it's popular for good reason. It's orange, fizzy, a little bitter and not very strong, which suits the end of a hot day. It's light enough to have before dinner without ruining your appetite.

We serve Aperol Spritz as one of only two cocktail-type drinks on our menu. We'd rather do two things properly than twenty things badly. A well-chilled one with plenty of ice, at the right time of day, is hard to beat.

If you find it too bitter, ask for something drier like a glass of Cava or Prosecco instead. Both are on our by-the-glass list.

Sangria

Sangria is our other house drink. It's a better choice if you're sharing a table and want something to keep topping up as the evening goes on. It's fruity, easy to drink and goes down quicker than you expect, so pace yourself if you've been out in the sun all afternoon.

Many visitors ask us for a mojito at this point. We don't serve mojitos or other cocktails, just sangria and Aperol Spritz. If you want something mixed, we do spirits with mixers, such as gin and tonic, rum and coke, vodka and mixer, or brandy and mixer.

Wine by the Glass

If you'd rather have a glass of wine, our by-the-glass list is short and deliberate. It's Yaiza, Volcano, Vinosol, Cava, Prosecco, Ribera and Rioja. Yaiza is the name of the municipality Playa Blanca sits in, so it feels right to drink it here.

A few quick suggestions:

• Cava or Prosecco if you want something cold and sparkling as the sun goes down.
• Yaiza if you want a taste of something from the island you're on.
• Ribera or Rioja if you're a red drinker and it's a cooler evening.

Florin will tell you red wine is a sundowner in any weather. Jo says that's only true after about 7pm in July. You can decide for yourself.

Tasting Boards

If you can't decide, or you're curious, a tasting board is a good way to sample several wines in one go. We do two.

The Yaiza Board

This one lets you try the Yaiza range side by side: Rosado, Seco, Semi-Dulce and Afrutado. It's a good one to share if you and your partner like different styles, because it covers dry, sweeter and fruity in one sitting.

The Red Board

For red drinkers, this has Yaiza Tinto, Volcano, Ribera and Rioja. It's a nice way to compare an island red with two mainland Spanish classics. Our wine tasting is €14 for four glasses.

Both boards work well as a starter to an evening. Take your time with them and watch the light change.

Craft Beer

Not everyone wants wine at sunset. Lanzarote has its own small craft beer scene and we stock a good range of it.

It's a good way to try a few without committing to a full bottle of any of them.

If you'd rather pick one, these are a few we'd suggest for the evening:

• Malpeis La Fresca Session IPA (4.5%). Malpeis is brewed in Tinajo, Lanzarote, and the beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised. This is a lighter, easy-drinking one, good in the heat.
• NAO Cactus Session IPA (4.9%). Brewed with prickly pear fruit and sold in 44cl cans at €6. NAO started in Puerto Naos, Arrecife in 2015.
• NAO Lanzarote Lager (4.8%). A gluten-free lager, and a good choice if you want something simple and cold.
• TF Brew'n IPA (5.6%). TF stands for Twin Flames, an international craft brand headquartered in Malta. Cans are €6.50.

Craft beer bottles start at €5.00. If you like your beer a bit stronger and darker later in the evening, Malpeis also makes a Lapilli Imperial Stout at 10%, which is one for sipping.

Spirits and Mixers

We also serve spirits with mixers, and plenty of people like a long drink at sunset. Gin and tonic is the classic, and rum and coke is always popular. We also do vodka and mixer, and brandy and mixer. It's straightforward, simple and does the job.

Taking a Sundowner Home

Some evenings you'd rather watch the sunset from your own balcony or terrace. We understand. You can pick up bottles from the shop during opening hours, and Yaiza blue bottles are €21.50 and Yaiza Tinto is €25. Drop in before 10pm and you're set.

A Few Practical Tips

• Check the sunset time for your dates and arrive 30 to 45 minutes before it.
• Evenings can get breezy, so bring a light layer, especially in winter.
• Pace yourself on sangria, especially after a day in the sun.
• Remember we're closed on Sundays.
• If you're not sure what to order, ask us. We're happy to help you choose.

Finding Us

You'll find Brunchi.shop at Calle El Burrugo 44B, Marina Rubicon, Playa Blanca. We're open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm, and closed all day Sunday.