We had to go across to Hondon this morning and on the way back decided to revisit some of the coffee shops and bars we had been to, 6 years or so ago when we lived over this way.
To be honest, even when we lived in Hondon, Albatera was the place we called at for the local supermarket on the way home or to exchange the gas bottles at the local Repsol garage. We very rarely ventured out here for a drink. So we decided to rectify this and pop back for a couple or so beers, after dropping some bits off in Hondon near to Tipsy Terrace, which wasn’t open for lunch as we were so early.
Typically, this is while the local council are revamping the pavements and a lot of the main street parking is closed off. Not to worry, we found a spot on one of the side streets.
Mubala Café
First stop was Mubala Café and we sat outside in the sun. We drove past here the other week and saw it is promoted as a dog friendly place, which is great.
Here we had a pint of Galicia and a Coke Zero, which was the large bottle. This came with a large dish of peanuts.
Spotlessly clean, friendly service and the bill came to €4.50, but no receipt was issued. Would we return? yes, we would.
La Gruta.
Next was La Gruta.
Once again the people here were all Spanish. Soph had popped back to the car, so I ordered a pint of Galicia (which came with a dish of nuts ) which I was just finishing as she arrived. I ordered a second pint, a bottle of water for Soph, and a tapa of tortilla to share, which came with the softest bread.
Friendly and welcoming service, spotlessly clean inside and the toilets.
This was a beautiful piece of home made tortilla, uneven, tasty and authentic. It was lovely!
Here the bill came to €10.50, again no receipt issued.
Would we return? yes, we would.
Cafeteria Delfi
The third place we visited just a little further up the road was Cafeteria Delfi. This is a proper locals bar, but we were made to feel more than welcome.
Here I ordered a pint of draft beer, a Coke Zero and piled into the tapas, going for a large empanada, a portion of boquerones and also a portion of tortilla.
This is yet another pure Spanish bar, yet we were made to feel very welcome. There were local folk here plus they were busy doing lunches to take away.
The food was decent and the service was polite and friendly.
The total bill here was €11.30, which for a pint of beer, a soft drink and 3 tapas was very good value.
One thing we observed here was the number of people who had pre-ordered their lunch, to collect and take away.
Would we return to Delfi? Yes without hesitation.
Did You Know:
Shoestring to Shoe Capital: Albatera in Costa Blanca holds a surprising claim to fame in the footwear industry. Historically, Albatera was a humble agricultural town. However, in the mid-20th century, a shift occurred. Shoe production boomed, and Albatera became a major center for manufacturing footwear in Spain. This legacy continues today, with several shoe factories still operating in the town.
Just down the road from Elche, there is plenty to go and see there.
From Vines to Wine: The fertile lands around Albatera boast a long tradition of viticulture, or winemaking. Grape cultivation has thrived here for centuries, and the area is known for its Monastrell grapes, a red grape variety used in producing rich, full-bodied wines. Several wineries operate in Albatera, and wine tourism is a growing aspect of the local economy. If you visit Albatera, consider taking a tour of a winery or sampling some local vintages.
So if you want to visit a Spanish town, that is not ex-pat central, add this place to your list. It’s warm, welcoming and friendly.
