Dénia’s seaside playground for food, history & culture
1. Where on earth is it?
- Address: Carrer del Pont 19, with a second gate on Carrer Senieta, right in the old fishermen’s quarter Baix la Mar – 200 m from both the castle wall and the marina.(elsmagazinos.com)
- Footprint: 3 000 m² of covered lanes nick-named the “Calle de los Sabores”, lined by 20-plus stalls and several terraces, one of them a rooftop with castle views.(elsmagazinos.com)
- Opening hours: 09:00-01:30 every day (to 02:30 Fri/Sat in summer).(elsmagazinos.com)
2. A quick timeline – four centuries in one block
| Year(s) | Life & times of the building | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1600s | Royal stables and coach houses ordered by King Philip III and his favourite, the Duke of Lerma. | (elsmagazinos.com) |
| 1700s–1800s | Became Les Magazins – port warehouses for raisins and ship supplies. The French military maps of the era already label the spot as “Magazins”. | (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Early 1900s | José Monllor’s toy factory – one of Spain’s first with an official Walt Disney licence. | (elsmagazinos.com) |
| 1970s–2010s | Workshops, guild stores… then a slow decline as the harbour moved. | (elsmagazinos.com) |
| 29 Apr 2019 | Grand opening as a gastronomic & cultural market, the brain-child of local entrepreneur Federico Cervera. | (euroweeklynews.com) |
| 2025 | 6th-anniversary bash, motto “Dancing to the rhythm of good living”, five days of concerts, art & tapas routes. | (euroweeklynews.com) |
3. Why it was created
Els Magazinos set out to:
- Revive Baix la Mar without erasing its seafaring soul.
- Showcase Marina Alta produce – red prawn, muscatel wine, dried octopus…
- Fuse culture with cuisine under the UNESCO “Creative City of Gastronomy” banner.
The official site sums it up neatly: “Life, mixture, constant surprise.”(elsmagazinos.com)
4. What’s inside today?
| Craving | Stand / eatery | One-liner highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Market-to-table tapas | Les Cuinetes | Grandma-style stews served under 17th-century beams. (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Oyster bar | Ostrarium | Valencian fine bubbles + freshly shucked Gillardeau. (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Japanese-Med mash-up | Taberna Sushiber | Blue-fish nigiris with all i pebre glaze. (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Croquette heaven | Qmcomo | Fifteen flavours, from squid-ink to sobrasada. (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Argentine grill | Asador Patagonia | Low-and-slow ribs and Malbec by the tumbler. (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Sweet street | Waffle Wrap | Instagram-famous rolled waffles stuffed with gelato. (elsmagazinos.com) |
| Speakeasy | The Speak | 1920s cocktails hidden behind a bookshelf. (elsmagazinos.com) |
Grab any dish, sit wherever you fancy – it’s one big communal dining room.
5. Flagship spaces
- La Mediterránea Rooftop – sunset DJ sets overlooking the castle.
- El Taller Turia – a 30-seat gallery/classroom hosting tastings and art shows.(elsmagazinos.com)
- Restored 17th-century stone arches – the Insta-spot of choice.
6. Year-round agenda
| Season | Headline event | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| All year | Cuina de Territori | Each month spotlights two local seasonal products with pop-up menus, producer talks & a mini-farmers’ market.(elsmagazinos.com) |
| Late Apr / early May | Anniversary Festival | Five-day programme of live music (2025 headliner: Nebulossa), art exhibits & €6 tapas–plus-beer route.(euroweeklynews.com) |
| May | Terra Moscatell Wine Fair | Six Alicante wineries celebrate the region’s Muscat grape.(elsmagazinos.com) |
| March | ‘Porc, Pebre i Pebre Roig’ Sausage Fest | Tastings, folk music & masterclasses on paprika-powered charcuterie.(elsmagazinos.com) |
| June | Sol i Sal | One-day homage to salt-cured fish & dried octopus.(elsmagazinos.com) |
| Oct | “Dénia ¡está como un queso!” | Artisan-cheese fair for the whole Valencian Community.(elsmagazinos.com) |
| Dec | Motivos para Celebrar | Christmas lights, craft stalls & choral carols round the patio.(elsmagazinos.com) |
7. Curiosities you can brag about
- The name “Els Magazinos” shows up on an 18th-century French military map, marking the port warehouses.(elsmagazinos.com)
- Those gleaming arches you dine under? They were once horse stalls for royal cavalry.(elsmagazinos.com)
- Early Mickey Mouse tin toys rolled off these very floors in the 1930s – originals fetch triple digits at auctions.(elsmagazinos.com)
8. Need-to-know logistics
| Quick fact | Info |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00-01:30 daily (till 02:30 Fri/Sat in summer).(elsmagazinos.com) |
| Getting there | 5-min walk from the Baleària ferry station; closest car parks: Explanada Cervantes & Marina de Dénia. |
| Accessibility | Flat cobbles, accessible restrooms in the central nave. |
| Pets | Dogs welcome on leash everywhere except the rooftop during concerts. |
| Reservations | Not needed for most stalls, but weekend tables on the rooftop fill fast – book online. |
In a nutshell
Els Magazinos squeezes four centuries of Mediterranean hustle into one buzzing alleyway. By day it’s a sun-dappled corridor of coffee aromas and artisan bread; by night, fairy lights twinkle over oysters, street art and live flamenco riffs. Come hungry, come curious – you’ll leave planning your next visit.
