Dénia Foodie Guide 2025 – Restaurants, Red Prawn & Food Events

Eat, Drink & Savour the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

In 2025 Dénia celebrates the tenth anniversary of its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The title honours a culinary heritage shaped by Romans, Arabs, fishermen and today’s cutting-edge chefs. Use this guide to plan a delicious summer—complete with red prawns, market vibes and Michelin stars.

Contenido

A Bite-Sized History of Dénia’s Table

Era	What happened	Flavour legacy
Roman Dianium	Amphora workshops by the port exported garum (fermented fish sauce) to Rome.	Love of preserved seafood.
Al-Ándalus	Arabs planted sugarcane and the muscat grape; sun-drying sheds are still called riu-raus.	Raisins, sweets and fortified wines.
19th century	The Dénia-Marseille steamship line boosted raisin exports and spawned the town’s first inns.	Maritime trade meets home cooking.
1940s	Fishermen invented arròs a banda—rice cooked apart from the fish broth—to use humble “trash fish”.	The king of local rices.
2000s	Chef Quique Dacosta earned three Michelin stars; the red prawn became a global icon.	Fine dining arrives.

1. 2025 Food Calendar

Date	Event	Where	Why go
25 March	International Creative Red Prawn Cooking Contest	Central Market & fish auction	Live cook-off and the “Red Prawn Trophy”.
23 June	San Juan Night	Marineta Cassiana & Les Marines beaches	All-night beach bars, grilled sardines, live DJs.
4 – 13 July	Festa Major	Marqués de Campo & port	Giant paellas, fallas street bars, late-night tapas.
27 – 28 September	*Dna Festival** (8th edition)	Marineta Cassiana promenade	200 stalls, 210 chefs, curated by Quique Dacosta.
10 October	“Dénia Is Cheesy!” Fair	Els Magazinos food hall	Valencian artisan cheeses, workshops for kids.

2. Markets & Local Produce

Central Market – Mon-Sat 08:00-15:00. Watch live red-prawn auctions, buy salt-cured tuna and nibble on just-baked coca cristina.
Fish Auction – Daily at 17:30 (Mon-Fri). Retail stalls open right after the last crate is sold.
Els Magazinos – A former warehouse district turned foodie hub: 22 stalls, weekend tastings, sunset jazz on the roof terrace.

3. Must-Try Restaurants 2025

Style	Name	What makes it special	Avg. price
Fine dining	Quique Dacosta ★★★	14-course “Octavo” menu tracing sea & mountain.	€315
Fine dining	Peix i Brases ★	Vine-wood grill, wild fish, rooftop cocktails.	€120
Author cuisine	El Baret de Miquel	No tablecloths, inventive tapas, months-long waitlist.	€50
Author cuisine	DEXCARO	Zero-mile produce reimagined (octopus “bravas”, faux sea urchin).	€40
Traditional	Casa Federico	Classic arròs a banda and homemade desserts.	€35
Traditional	El Pegolí	Char-grilled red prawn overlooking Les Rotes.	€45
Street food	La Piscolabis (Els Magazinos)	Sepia brioche with black allioli, perfect for grazing.	€10
Street food	Pont Sec	Charred local sausages in crusty rolls on an old rail line.	€12

4. Five Bites That Define Dénia

Red prawn flash-grilled, sprinkled with sea salt.
Arròs a banda served with a dollop of mild allioli.
Llandeta—a clear fish stew with potatoes.
Espencat—charred peppers and aubergine topped with salt-cured tuna.
Cocas de dacsa—cornmeal flatbreads filled with veggies or sausage (ideal beach snack).

5. Foodie Experiences

Experience	Provider	Length	Book at
“Sea-to-Table” fishing trip + showcooking	Turisme Dénia	3 h	[email protected]
Fideuà & tapas workshop	Art Culinary School	2 h 30	online
“Wines of the Marina Alta” tasting	Les Freses winery	1 h 30	lesfreses.com
Sunday DJ brunch	Els Magazinos	12:00-14:00	WhatsApp

6. Practical Tips for Hungry Travellers

Book ahead: Quique Dacosta opens six months out; El Baret releases tables online on the 1st-5th each month.
Know your prawn size: “000” is the largest (and priciest), “0” offers great flavour for less.
Menu del día: weekday three-course menus cost €16-18 (except August).
Allergens: most menus are online—scan the QR.
Parking: leave the car at Torrecremada or Raset; old-town tapas streets are pedestrian-only, blue zone €1/h.

7. Take Dénia Home

Pack salt-cured tuna or dried bonito from the Central Market for an instant appetiser.
Pick up muscat raisins—the region’s oldest sweet snack.
Tuck a bottle of Marina Alta mistela dessert wine into your suitcase.

Toast to a Tasty Summer

Book your table, loosen your belt and share your photos with #DéniaCreativeFood. Craving more routes, recipes or printable maps? Drop a comment and let’s keep cooking up content!