Postcards from Tenerife

My mom and I recently returned from the most beautiful week in Tenerife. I’d not visited the Island since I was much younger and cared considerably less about my liver (think cheap fishbowl cocktails, foam parties and long, painful hangovers). I’m more of a ‘in bed by 9 with a peppermint tea’ kind of gal these days, so I was a little apprehensive, but it exceeded all my expectations.

We stayed in Callao Salvaje and it was perfect – laid-back, quiet and much less touristy than other resorts in South Tenerife. There’s still plenty of nice bars and restaurants to keep you busy – not to mention gorgeous beaches! With public transport being so accessible, there’s also plenty of opportunity to explore the Island – we visited so many beautiful towns/areas, including Playa del Duque (pristine beach with lots of pretty boutiques!), Teide National Park, Masca (a remote and scenic town toward the North), Los Gigantes and La Caleta.

Where We Stayed

We booked Hotel MYND in Callao Savaje after it was recommended to us by a friend. It’s without a doubt one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in – not only is it immaculate with incredible amenities, they have a wonderful approach to sustainability and wellbeing. All the food/drink is sourced from nearby suppliers and they work hard to help protect the local environment. They also hold free daily activities such as yoga, pilates, cocktail making and more – my mom and I took part in the yoga every morning and we loved it! It really set us up for the day.

Where We Ate

I can hand on heart say we didn’t have one bad meal all week! Everything we ate was so fresh and tasty and the portions were huge. We had a wonderful breakfast every morning at the hotel – they also offer a Japanese menu for dinner on the rooftop, which we booked for one of the evenings.

If you’re a coffee fan, make sure you try a barraquito – a creamy liquor with condensed milk. So tasty!

TASCA DON PEPE – Complejo Esmeralda, Av El Jable, 47, 38678 Callao Salvaje

This was a friendly and cosy tapas restaurant near our hotel. It was recommended to us by a friend and we ate here a few times we enjoyed it so much! The paella and patatas bravos were delicious (and the Sangria, of course).

IL DOLCETTO – C. el Jable, 45, 38678 Callao Salvaje

This was another place by our hotel we visited more than once – they sell buttery pastries and huge, homemade sandwiches you can take away. My mom and I would often buy lunch from here and eat it by the beach. Bliss!

BLOOM BAR AND BRUNCH – Av. de Las Gaviotas, 20, 38679 La Caleta

We stumbled across Bloom Bar whilst wandering around La Caleta. We were absolutely famished and the food did not disappoint! Much of the menu is vegan/vegetarian – we had a buddha bowl each and they were so fresh and filling. The cocktails also looked incredible.

STEAK 21 – Centro Comercial Esmerelda, C. la Lava, Locales 5 and 6, 38678 Callao Salvaje

This is a little more on the pricey side but perfect for a treat or special occasion. It’s right on the sea front so we had a wonderful view of the sunset. Despite it being a steak restaurant, we both had the salmon and it was cooked to perfection. This was probably my favourite meal of the week – it was such a beautiful setting and the staff were so friendly.

ROCA NEGRA SUNSET CLUB – Centro Comercial El Marqués, Av. Adeje 300, 38678 Adeje

We came here after strolling along the coast from our hotel on the first night. It serves the most delicious wood-fired pizzas – perfect for after a long walk. As the name suggests, it’s also another great location to enjoy the sunset.