The Best Things to Do in Playa Blanca in the Evening

Sunset at Marina Rubicon

The hour before sunset is when Marina Rubicon is at its best. The light goes gold over the harbour, the boats settle and everyone drifts out onto the terraces. Our terrace at Brunchi.shop seats just 15 people, so it's one of the cosiest places to watch it. We'll bring you a glass of Lanzarote wine or our sangria (Red Wine or Cava Royale), and the Motown is already playing.

The sun goes down behind the marina around 7-8pm in summer and 5:30-6pm in winter. If you want a terrace seat, arrive about 30 minutes before. We don't take reservations, so it's first come, first served. That's rarely a problem outside August, but it's worth getting there early in peak season.

If you'd rather not drink wine, the Aperol Spritz is the other thing we make at the bar. People sometimes ask for a mojito and we have to disappoint them. A gin and tonic or a rum and coke is the nearest we get, and we serve those with proper mixers.

Wine Tasting Without the Tour

Most Lanzarote wine tours need a car and take you to La Geria, about 30 minutes from Playa Blanca. It's worth seeing at some point, with the vines planted in individual hollows in the black volcanic ash and protected by low stone walls. But if it's 6pm and you've already had a day in the sun, you can get a proper volcanic wine tasting right here instead.

Our wine tasting is 4 glasses of Lanzarote wines for €14, with Florin talking you through it. He'll explain the grapes, how the volcanic growing methods work and what each wine goes with. There's no booking, so just walk in. If you like something, you can buy the bottle at shop prices. Yaiza blue bottles are €21.50 and Yaiza Tinto is €25.

If you'd rather sit and share, we also do tasting boards. The Yaiza Board is Rosado, Seco, Semi-Dulce and Afrutado, which is a good way to find out which side you fall on, dry or sweeter. The Red Board is Yaiza Tinto, Volcano, Ribera and Rioja, so you get the island's red next to two mainland Spanish classics for comparison.

You can also order wine by the glass on the terrace if you don't want a full tasting. The list is Yaiza, Volcano, Vinosol, Ribera, Rioja, Cava and Prosecco, so you can go at your own pace.

The Marina Promenade

An evening stroll along the Marina Rubicon promenade is easy and free. The boats are lit up, the boutiques stay open late and the atmosphere is relaxed. From the centre of Playa Blanca it's about a 20-minute walk along the seafront, and the path is flat and well-lit the whole way, so pushchairs and flip-flops are both fine.

The marina has about 50 shops, most open until 10pm. You'll find leather goods, jewellery, fashion, homewares and the usual tourist bits. Fund Grube is good for designer handbags and sunglasses at decent prices. If you're around in the daytime, the Wednesday and Saturday markets (9am-2pm) are worth a look.

One practical tip is to walk first and sit down afterwards. The shops are at their most pleasant in the cooler evening air, and a drink tastes better once you've earned it.

Dining Options

La Taberna is right next door to us and does excellent tapas. The grilled octopus and the Canarian potatoes with mojo sauces are both very good. For a family night out, Jungle Vibes has a lively atmosphere, and the Iberian black pork and the lamb and mash are both outstanding. If you fancy a curry, Mumbai Masala on the main strip does a proper job.

For a special occasion, Amura on the marina waterfront does upmarket seafood. Casa Brígida in the old town is the place for traditional Canarian food, so try the papas arrugadas and the local goat cheese.

It's worth checking opening times with each restaurant before you set off, especially out of season. Our own hours are Monday to Saturday, 10am-3pm and 6pm-10pm, and we're closed all day Sunday.

If you're self-catering, pop into Brunchi first and pick up a bottle of Lanzarote wine for your meal. Tell us what you're cooking and we'll point you to the right one. A white or rosado suits fish and salads, and a red suits grilled meat.

After Dinner

Come back to Brunchi for an after-dinner drink. Our Aperol Spritz has been called the best in Playa Blanca many times, though we'll let you judge.

If you'd rather have a single beer, craft bottles are €5.00. The NAO Cactus 44cl can is €6.50 and the TF Brew'n IPA can is €6.50. The Cactus is a session IPA made with prickly pear, and NAO is a Lanzarote brewery founded in Puerto Naos, Arrecife, so it's a properly local choice.

For something stronger, ask Florin about our whisky collection, which is over 40 single malts, bourbons and Japanese whiskies. Or try a Ron Miel (Canarian honey rum) on ice, which is what the locals drink after dinner. It's sweet without being sticky, and one glass is usually enough to end the night on.

We're open until 10pm, Monday to Saturday. We're closed on Sundays, so if Sunday is your evening out, buy what you need on Saturday and save the visit to us for another night.

Live Music and Events

Playa Blanca doesn't have a big nightclub scene. That's more of a Puerto del Carmen thing. Several bars do have live music, especially at weekends. The Irish Rover on Avenida de Papagayo usually has live bands, and The Flashpoint does live music too.

At Brunchi we stick to our playlists. It's Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5 and Marvin Gaye, and it's become our signature. Customers say it makes the terrace feel different from the other bars, and nobody has asked us to turn it down yet.

Stargazing

Lanzarote is a UNESCO Starlight Reserve, which means the skies here are properly dark. After your evening at the marina, take a short drive to Punta del Papagayo or the Rubicón lighthouse car park for some of the best stargazing in Europe. On a clear night you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye.

Take a jumper, because it's windier and cooler away from the marina than you'd expect. Whoever is driving should obviously stay off the wine. If you're organised, get a bottle from us beforehand and enjoy it back at your apartment instead.

Getting to Marina Rubicon

The marina is well signposted from all parts of Playa Blanca. If you're staying in the centre, it's a 15-20 minute walk along the seafront, which is pleasant and flat. There's free parking at the marina, and a taxi from central Playa Blanca costs about €5-7.

You'll find us at Calle El Burrugo 44B, Marina Rubicon, next door to La Taberna. We're open Monday to Saturday, 10am-3pm and 6pm-10pm, and closed Sundays. If you have a question before you come, email us at consultas@brunchi.shop.