The 15th “Local Rice Dishes Festival” brings together 18 establishments to showcase the best rice-based dishes.
It will be held from October 16 to 25, with menus ranging between 25 and 55 euros
The presentation took place at l’Hort de Colón, featuring a rice dish by a Benidorm resident and a local restaurateur.
Starting this Friday, October 16, a total of 18 establishments in Benidorm are participating in the ‘15th Local Rice Dishes Festival’ (*XV Jornadas de los Arroces de la Tierra*). The event was presented this Tuesday at the Casa Museo de l’Hort de Colón, where attendees watched and enjoyed the entire cooking process of a rice dish prepared by Fran Burgos (from the restaurant La Fava) and Carmen Martínez Calvo (a Benidorm resident and food content creator behind @cocinarconc). City Mayor Toni Pérez attended the presentation of this fifteenth edition alongside Alex Frattini, vice-president of the restaurant association Abreca; Mariano Sanz, the ambassador for ‘Benidorm Gastronómico 2026’; local restaurateurs; residents; and members of the municipal council.
The ‘15th Local Rice Dishes Festival’ will run from this Friday until Sunday, October 25. Over these ten days, the public can sample a wide variety of menus featuring rice dishes as the main course—an initiative that enjoys great popularity among both locals and visitors. Menu prices will vary between 25 and 55 euros and will include, at a minimum, a starter reflecting the region's local cuisine, a rice main course, dessert, and a drink. Mayor Toni Pérez reflected on the event’s history, noting that “we have reached the fifteenth edition of the ‘Local Rice Dishes’ festival—an initiative conceived in 2009” during the tenures of Tourism Councillor Sebastián Fernández and Abreca President Eugenio García. The goal was to create a gastronomic event for Benidorm; looking at the incredible way the sector has embraced it, the event now serves to reaffirm that gastronomy in Benidorm is not merely a supplement or just another ingredient, but an integral part of what the destination truly offers.
He pointed out that through these events—which feature various initiatives throughout the year—local gastronomy showcases the high standards and quality of its establishments and restaurateurs, as well as the dedication of those working in the sector to make it happen every day, and the enjoyment of those who sit down to savour the menus and culinary creations. Finally, the mayor thanked Fran Burgos and Carmen Martínez for their participation in this event—held under the theme "Flavours that Unite Generations"—and highlighted that from October 16 to 25, “we all have a date with our local restaurants and establishments, and specifically with the 18 restaurants that will be serving up their finest rice dishes for this edition.”
Meanwhile, Alex Frattini and Mariano Sanz—Vice President of Abreca and Patron of ‘Benidorm Gastronómico 2026’—have invited Benidorm residents and visitors alike to “visit the participating restaurants and rediscover our cuisine.” “This event is an invitation to sit at the table, share a meal, and celebrate local produce. Whether in classic recipes or more innovative creations, the soul of Benidorm can be tasted in every grain,” noted Mariano Sanz, who also emphasised that “during these days, rice becomes the common thread connecting our history, our farmland, and our bay.”
The restaurants participating in this edition are: Arrocería La Marina, Bodegón Aurrera, Bolikki, Brasería Aurrera, Cervacería El Mesón, Club Náutico, Esturión, Jardín Mediterráneo, L’Aroma, Arrocería La Mejillonera, La Cava Aragonesa, La Fava, La Pinta Beach, La Posada del Mar, Mal Pas, Malaspina, Marisquería El Puerto, and Taberna Andaluza.
