Where to eat in Gibraltar

Eating out in Gibraltar is unusual – in a good way: British pub, fish and chips, Genoese cuisine and Andalusian tapas in a few hundred metres.

But there is a practical problem that hardly anyone mentions, and it comes first.

⚠️ First things first: the timetable might mean you miss a meal

If you’re coming on a day trip, you’ll arrive at midday. And several of the most highly recommended sites aren’t available at that time:

• Gauchos —the grill— It’s only open in the evening, from 6.30 pm to 11.00 pm, and closed on Sundays.
• Roy’s Fish and Chips is closed on Sundays and on weekdays only until 6.00 pm.
• Casa Pepe is closed on Mondays and works split shifts.
• The Royal Calpe closes at 5.00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, although on weekdays it stays open until 9.00 pm.
• Vicky’s Natural Kitchen is closed on Saturdays and Sundays and it’s only open until 3.00 pm.

Those that are always open, whatever the time: The Clipper, The Lord Nelson, Star Bar, The Angry Friar y Bianca’s.

What’s on the menu here?

Gibraltarian cuisine is a blend of traditions, and it’s well worth seeking out local specialities rather than yet another serving of fish and chips.

The national dish is calentita: a baked cake made from chickpea flour, water, oil and pepper, a tradition passed down from the kitchen from Genoa. It’s sold by the slice in bakeries and it’s the cheapest you’ll find.

From the same Italian heritage comes the face —pasta with meat sauce— and the chard tart.

And on the British side: fish and chips, feet meat, the Sunday roast on Sundays and the full English breakfast, which is served here at any time of day.

The sites, by area

Irish Town: the classics

It’s the street that runs parallel to Main Street, and that’s where the best ones are.

• The Clipper (78 Irish Town). 4.3 with nearly 1,900 reviews, and it’s one of the best spots in the Rock: fish and chips, chicken wings and all-day breakfast, from 9.00 to 22.00. At weekends, it’s best to book in advance, it fills up. Tel. +350 200 79791.
• Sacarello’s (57 Irish Town). Coffee roaster In an old warehouse, serving homemade cakes and lunch dishes. For breakfast or afternoon tea. Tel. +350 200 70625.

Casemates Square: terraces

The large square at the entrance to the town centre, just as you cross over. It is the first and last stop of the day.

• The Lord Nelson (23b Casemates). A pub with a terrace, 4.3 with over 1,700 reviews, open from 10.00 to 22.00 —until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays—. Tel. +350 200 50009.
• Roy’s Fish and Chips (Casemates Square). The classic battered fish dish. Please note: it’s closed on Sundays. Tel. +350 200 76662.
• Gianni’s (Casemates). An Italian restaurant with a terrace, and one of the few with Full gluten-free menu —pasta, pizza and bread—. Tel. +350 200 44449.

Main Street and the surrounding area

• Star Bar (12 Parliament Lane). It claims to be the oldest bar in Gibraltar, and it has the most local feel. It opens at 8.00. Tel. +350 200 75924.
• The Royal Calpe (176 Main Street). Pub with back terrace A quiet place with generous portions. It closes at 5.00 pm at weekends. Tel. +350 200 75890.
• The Angry Friar (289 Main Street), opposite the convent. Unbeatable terrace, but it has the lowest rating on this list: 3.7. Reviews praise the atmosphere but are lukewarm about the food. Go for the atmosphere, not for the dinner.

The marinas: a meal with a tablecloth

Queensway Quay and Marina Bay, next to the moorings. It’s the upmarket area, where you can enjoy a leisurely meal.

• Bianca’s (Marina Bay Square). 4.4 with over 800 reviews and open from 8.30 am to 11.00 pm every day: the most flexible option in the area. Tel. +350 200 73379.
• Charlie’s Steak House (Marina Bay). 4,4, meat dishes and an Indian menu. Tel. +350 200 69993.
• The Waterfront (Queensway Quay). Waterfront terrace, Mediterranean cuisine and breakfasts. Tel. +350 200 45666.
• Casa Pepe (Queensway Quay). Spanish cuisine, with the paella as a well-known dish. Closed on Mondays and has split shifts. Tel. +350 200 46967.

And if you’re looking for a grill

Gauchos is in 1 Fish Market Lane, near Casemates —not in the marinas, as is sometimes claimed—. 4,3 and among the best for meat, but Dinner only; closed on Sundays. Tel. +350 200 59700.

Eating on a budget

• The hot dish, served in portions in bakeries in the city centre: the most local and the cheapest.
• Fish and chips to take away, in Casemates or Irish Town.
• Pubs at midday, which usually offer reasonably priced daily specials.

💷 How to pay

The currency is the Gibraltar pound, on a par with the pound. Many places accept euros, but they give you a poor exchange rate and give you the change in pounds, which you then don't spend.

Pay by card. It’s the cleanest option.

Fitting it in with the visit

The cable car is closed until 2027, so getting up to the Rock takes longer than people realise: you can do it by tourist taxi, on foot or as part of a tour. Bear this in mind when planning your meal.

You can find it at how to climb the Rock and in the condition of the cable car.

The plan that works: The Rock in the morning, head into the city centre for lunch and leave Main Street for the afternoon. The macaques, in the monkeys of Gibraltar.

And for everyone else: what to see in Gibraltar in one day, what to buy y What you need to get in.

Come with us

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. The tour takes care of transport and crossing the border, and allows enough free time to enjoy a leisurely meal:

The whole destination, in Gibraltar.

Frequently asked questions

What are the typical dishes in Gibraltar?

The national dish is the ‘calentita’, a baked flatbread made from chickpea flour, water, oil and pepper, of Genoese origin, which is sold by the slice in bakeries. The ‘rosto’ and the chard tart also stem from this same Italian heritage. On the British side, there are fish and chips, meat pies, the Sunday roast and a full English breakfast, which is served here at any time of day.

Which restaurants in Gibraltar are closed on Sundays?

Roy’s Fish and Chips and Gauchos are closed on Sundays, and Vicky’s Natural Kitchen is closed on both Saturdays and Sundays. Casa Pepe is closed on Mondays. In addition, The Royal Calpe closes early at 5 pm at the weekend. The Clipper, The Lord Nelson, Star Bar, The Angry Friar and Bianca’s are open every day.

Where can you eat in Gibraltar on a day trip?

The most convenient options are Irish Town or Casemates Square, both right in the city centre and just a few minutes from the border. The Clipper, in Irish Town, and The Lord Nelson, in Casemates, are open all day every day, which is ideal if you arrive at midday. The marinas are a little further away from the main sightseeing route.

Can you pay in euros in Gibraltar?

The official currency is the Gibraltar pound, which is equivalent to the British pound. Many shops accept euros, but they apply an unfavourable exchange rate and give change in pounds, which are difficult to spend afterwards. It is best to pay by card.

Which is the oldest bar in Gibraltar?

Star Bar, on Parliament Lane, boasts this title. It is also one of the venues with the most local atmosphere on the Rock, away from the tourist trail of Main Street, and opens at eight in the morning, serving breakfast and fish and chips.

Where can you eat with a view of the harbour in Gibraltar?

At the Marina Bay and Queensway Quay marinas. Bianca’s, at Marina Bay Square, is the most flexible option thanks to its extended opening hours; Charlie’s Steak House is renowned for its steaks; The Waterfront has a terrace overlooking the water; and Casa Pepe serves Spanish cuisine, although it is closed on Mondays. This is the most expensive area on the Rock.