Festivals, Restaurant, Nightlife and Shopping in Los Cristianos

Festivals

Behind the busy tourist bustle, more deep-rooted culture clearly been able to survive, most vibrantly brought across through these following fiestas:

Carnival

The Carnival (February and March) is celebrated with various activities and events taking place throughout the period. Some of the highlights are the election of Carnival Queen and the Carnival Parade. The parade proceeds from in front of the Cultural Centre (Plaza del Pescador 1; near the central bus station), through its narrow streets around the Arona Gran Hotel, and back again. Traditional yet modern, this event involves massive crowd of spectators dressing up and dance the night away.

Gran Fiesta de los Vinos

A relatively new event, Gran Fiesta de los Vinos takes place early July at the harbour of Los Cristianos. This is essentially a massive wine- and tapas-tasting event, with over 50 bodegas (wineyards) and Tenerife's five wine Regulatory Councils showcasing the island's rich viticulture. This fantastic sensory experience will save you visiting the many bodegas all over the island, and you won't have to drive afterwards! It will start at 5pm and last until at least 11pm.

The International Folklore Festival

The International Folklore Festival takes place end of July or early August, outside of the Cultural Centre. In past years folklore greats from the Canaries, Spain, Europe, Africa, and elsewhere, have made this a overwhelming occasion. However, it has been sporadically cancelled over the last few years, so you will need to check with the Cultural Centre beforehand if it is scheduled and what the performances are - their telephone number is +34 922 757 006.

Fiesta del Carmen

The week-long Fiesta del Carmen takes place end of August with a series of activities and events taking place to keep the locals and the spectators busy. It is a modern fiesta open to everyone, with a relaxed dress code, salsa and merengue orchestras, and a spectacular beauty queen election – 'La Reina de la Fiesta'.

 

Restaurants

Locanda Italiana

This friendly Italian restaurant serves a great selection of Italian and International wines and dishes, at great value for money (the average price for a starter and main course is around €20).

Address: Centro Comercial El Mirador 6 (next to Taylor's bar), Avenida San Francisco, 38650 Arona, Tenerife.
Telephone: +34 922 753 103
Opening hours: Daily 12:00 - 15:00 and 19:00 - 23:30

Bar El Cine

An eclectic selection of fresh fish such as hake, swordfish, prawns, and sardines, and meat dishes await you here at medium prices (€15-20), served by friendly, efficient staff.

Address: Calle Juan Bariajo, 8, 38650 Arona, Tenerife.
Telephone: +34 609 107 258

La Tasca de Mi Abuelo

A great selection of tapas and Spanish dishes invite you in a light and friendly atmosphere here at La Tasca de Mi Abuelo. The average price for a starter and main course is €25 with drinks.

Address: C.C. San Marino, Local 13, Los Cristianos, 38650 Arona, Tenerife. (next to 'Muebles Nuri' furniture shop).
Telephone: +34 922 799 593
Opening hours: Daily 12:00 - 23:30. Closed on Mondays.

  

Nightlife

Los Cristianos is overshadowed by Playa de las Américas in terms of the size and variety of nightclubs, but it can certainly still get rowdy.  It also offers more tranquil forms of nocturnal entertainment, such as musicals, singing and dancing events – many of which held inside the foyers of the big hotels.

The Claddagh Irish Bar

A lively Irish hang-out in the south of Tenerife, this well-priced central pub hosts live music events every night from 9.30pm, and on Sunday afternoons from 5.30pm. It has a large terrace overlooking Playa de las Vistas and offers guests Irish stew on Sundays (from 6pm).

Address: 6C San Telmo Los Cristianos, 38650 Arona, Tenerife (look for the middle terrace across from the fountain).
Telephone: +34 677 374 244/ 666 803 368
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday from 20:00 - late. Sunday from 12:00 noon.

Churchill's Bar

This clean, family-run Welsh bar, hosts regular live music shows by 'The Dreamers' (owner Roy is their drummer), at reasonable prices. It used to be a bookmakers, and you can still bet to have a good time here.

Address: Calle Montaña Chica, Los Cristianos, 38650 Arona, Tenerife.

Amigos Bar

Located on the sea front of Los Cristianos, this popular, family-friendly bar serves well-priced, hearty British food (including an excellent fish & chips), regularly accompanied by live entertainment events.

Address: Paseo Marítimo, 38640 Arona, Tenerife (on the seaside walkway, by the harbour).

Zona 21

Address: Centro Comercial de San Telmo, Avenida La Habana, Los Cristianos, 38650 Arona, Tenerife.

Telephone: +34 922 794 605
Opening hours: Daily 22:30 - 04:30
Disco pub, cocktails and chupitos, Reggaeton, Salsa, Latin, House, Saturday night live music.

Casablanca Disco Pub

With over twenty years of experience, this venue caters for all kinds of musical styles, including live music performances by famous national and international bands.

Address: Centro Comercial San Telmo, Avenida La Habana, Los Cristianos, 38650 Arona, Tenerife.
Telephone: +34 609 108 707
Opening hours: Daily 19:00 - 04:00

Shopping

Although Los Cristianos is not as commercialised as its neighbour- Playa de las Américas, it does have an exhaustive array of shopping malls and a busy high street aimed at local and international fashions – anything from small clothes boutiques to local jewelers and souvenir shops. And should you need some refreshments for in-between, or are even planning on cooking yourself, there is a wide range of small corner shops and major national and international supermarkets to choose from.

If you are looking for local arts and crafts, there is a flea market every Sunday from 9am-2pm near the Arona Gran Hotel (the island's biggest market), where you can find anything from Guanche-style earthenware artefacts, to more Hispanic weaving and lacework, as well as whole other range of souvenirs – just don't forget to haggle.

There are also some local artisan shops scattered throughout the centre, and inside some of the bigger hotels, worth looking out for, as they offer such unique gift opportunities as cultured pearls.

Centro Comercial San Telmo

This shopping centre also offers all sorts of international cuisine and European bars and transforms itself into Loc Cristianos's nightlife epicentre.

Address: Avenida La Habana, Playa las Vistas, Los Cristianos, 38006 Arona, Tenerife.
Telephone: +34 922 791 981