HORSERIDING AND SUPERB FOOD

Peraleja Golf Resort has opened their Horse riding facilities and also their Spanish Tasca. Both are very reasonably priced and are local.

They offer horseriding lessons for all the family, adults and children alike.
Also for experienced riders there are outings into the protected environmental area that surrounds Peraleja Golf.

PRICES

1 hour with or without teacher: 15€
8 hour vouchers with or without teacher: 100€ (Valid for 3 months)
18 hour vouchers with teacher: 200€ (Valid for 6 months)
1 hour outing: 20€
Annual season ticket without teacher: 1200€

Bookings need to be made 24 hrs in advance

The bookings can be made with the Caddy Master (968 60 75 75) info@clubdegolflaperaleja.com

The old spanish Tasca is a delightful place with superb views across the riding area and down to the sea, by night the horizon is lit by the seafront lights!

They have seating inside and 2 small private rooms which can be booked for groups. There is also a log fire for those cooler winter months.

Outside is a covered pergola with seating. They serve tapas and mediterranean cuisine at very reasonable prices.

OPENING HOURS

The restaurant is open:

Tuesday to Saturday: 11:00 to 24:00h
Sunday: 10:00 to 17:00h
Monday: Closed

The riding school is open:

Tuesday to Saturday:
Morning: 10:00 to 13:00h
Evening: 17:00 to 21:00h
Sunday: 09:00 to 14:00h
Monday: Closed

I couldn´t reccomend this place highly enough.

RESTAURANTS IN THE REGION

There is lots of choice on the coast and in the cities, but I am going to tell you about restaurants I personally think are very good or good friends have reccomended.

1. El Rey in Balsicas, next to Petrol Station on Main Road, Great food. Had a superb Steak in there.


2. Tropical, this restaurant is down in Los Alcazares on the road going off the main street to the beach by side of the townhall, great tapas, food and service, founded in 1836. To see the menu, click here http://www.restaurantelatropical.es/carta.pdf


3. Miramar This restaurant is down in Cabo de Palos, if you go down to the sunday market, head down to the port and its just on the sea front on the corner, serves superb fish (as it is on the fishing port!) great swordfish,Founded in 1969. Click on the picture below to go to their website where you can see the menu plus GPS coordinates of how to get there!
4. Taperia Casa Tomas. I always go when I am in Cartagena,and am a little reluctant to post it on here, as love the spanish feel to it, but its all about sharing information. If you walk down the main pedestrian street, keep going and where the pedestrian street forks into loads of pedestrian streets, turn right. This brings you down to a plaza, where the small flower market is, turn right and its just there on the left in the square. They serve Tapas and a menu of the day which is super, full of spanish not an English person to be seen, unless you look in the mirror! seems to be where all the office and shop workers go for lunch.

for more info about this restaurant and to see more pictures I have taken click here
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/taperia-casa-tomas-and-tapas.html

To see location on google map click here http://maps.google.es/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=es&geocode=&q=Calle+del+Parque,+2,+30201+Cartagena&sll=37.604287,-0.98628&sspn=0.008194,0.019205&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Calle+del+Parque,+30201+Cartagena,+Murcia,+Regi%C3%B3n+de+Murcia&ll=37.601482,-0.98628&spn=0.008619,0.019205&z=16

5. La Casa del Reloj now this is superb, go down AP7 direction Alicante, take the last turning to San Pedro de Pinatar, the one where there is a boat on roundabout, turn right into San Pedro, but look to your left and you will see a house in the middle of some Palm trees, that is it. An Old Hacienda style house with a courtyard and divine mediterranean food. Click the picture below, to go to their website, where you can see more pictures and the menu with prices.



6. Ramons This one is a delicious Spanish restaurant in Los Alcazares, situated on the main street and being green is hard to miss, an extremely popular restaurant with the locals and well worth it. Click the Picture below to go to their website.


7. Encarnacion This restaurant is on the beach front in los Alcazares, if you wander down to the beach from the townhall then wlk along the promenade direction alicante, a short stroll later you will find it, nice place for a snack and a coffee in the daytime, but the evening restaurant is fantastic, set in an old spa hotel with an inner courtyard, the decor reminds me of british india, very colonial, and the food is superb. Afterwards in the summer months walk down a bit further and there is a bar/restaurant on a pier, great for an after dinner drink out on the sea. Phone to book 968 575 007

8. Restaurante los Molinos, head down to the mudbaths, have a brisk walk down the promenade that goes right out into the sea and come back or have a mudbath, then you are ready for a big lunch and just there is this spanish restaurant, with views down to the sea, it is glass fronted and you can´t miss it, do a great paella and a very good "menu del Dia"

To see directions of how to get there, click here http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/beaches-and-coves.html

10.Asiatic run in los Narejos, down by the 525 hotel, is great, they serve a la carte but the best is their Run Menu, which is god knows how many little things, the main is brought out in a wooden box with compartments. Asian food.

11. Restaurante BIG HOUSE Asiatic restaurant in Santiago de la ribera, as you come down into Santiago from San Javier, there is a petrol station on a roundabout, it is next door, serves food from all over Asia, very good and again full of local people.



12. La Venezuela in San Pedro de Pinatar /Lo Pagan comes highly reccomended by a friend. I Have yet to try it, but just know it will be delicious. Family run been in business for over 40 years! The Menu is mediterranean and of course Seafood. Click the photo below to go to their website.

To see directions how to get there click here
http://maps.google.es/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=es&geocode=&q=Restaurante+Venezuela+,+San+Pedro+Del+Pinatar&sll=38.146974,-0.985112&sspn=1.095085,2.458191&ie=UTF8&hq=Restaurante+Venezuela+,&hnear=San+Pedro+del+Pinatar,+Murcia,+Regi%C3%B3n+de+Murcia&ll=37.816073,-0.786209&spn=0.00817,0.019205&z=16


13. Restaurante Katy at Cabo de Palos. Situated right on the beach, with lots of outdoor seating and serving the most delicious seafood and paellas, very popular, especially on sundays. 95% of clientele are Spanish. Click the picture of the delicious paella we ate there on Sunday to see a great slideshow of the restaurant and its cuisine.

For more info and menu go to their website http://www.restaurante-katy.es/
You can see my review and pics here http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/08/sundays-at-cabo-de-palos.html

16. RESTAURANTE LOS ESPIGARES. This is a little gem. Absolutely love this place, have been back various times since my review below and what makes this place is the service from the owner and the great home cooked food. You must try this little restaurante bar. The Swordfish is to die for, the wine is delicious and served in carafes. And if they have the pudding Cuajada con Miel on the menu, have it!http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/10/bar-restaurante-espigares-roldan.html

17. RESTAURANTE VENTA EL GARRUCHAL. This little Venta serves a great menu del Dia and is a superb place to stop after a long walk in the mountains that surround it.
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2011/01/restaurante-venta-la-garruchal.html

18. RESTAURANTE ASADOR LOS NARANJOS. This is another little Venta that serves a great Menu del dia, close to San Javier on the way to Sucina on new motorway.
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2011/02/restaurante-asador-los-naranjos.html

19. Valle Del Sol Restaurant, on C3319 motorway on way into La Torre Golf, Great Menu del dia and evening meals, Do a good Mixed grill, Meat cooked on charcoal oven.

20. The Argentinian in La Xenia Boulevard mall. If you are there you must go, Eat as much as you want, They keep coming round with skewers of meat.

21. Airemar Service station Restaurant. What a gem, there is a shop with local produce, a butchers and the restaurant is super. Also do a great Menu del dia.

SUCINA BARS AND RESTAURANTS

I will keep updating this Post as information becomes available.

Peraleja Golf has its superb Clubhouse where prices are not what you would expect (in a good way) they do a lunchtime menu of the day for 15 euros and reports are that it is superb. They also have their Piano Bar, open at weekends. But most noteworthy is the new Spanish Tasca near the stables, they have kindly renovated an 18th centruy farmhouse and its really quaint, with interior sitting areas and a fireplace, but outside is a huge pergola with seating and views down to the mar menor, serves tapas and drinks and it is really reasonable, they also serve paella but you need to book if you are going to eat. I couldnt reccomend this place highly enough.



For opening times and more pictures, click here: http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/horseriding-and-superb-food.html
In Sucina there are a variety of bars and restaurants:
The below reviews I have taken from one of the forums, so the reviews are by people not myself

"ROSARIOS had a fantastic tapas selection, 7 large plates between three and drinks for €10 each. Opening times Mon-Fri 7.30am to 4pm, 8pm to 11pm, closed Saturdays.
The PIZZA PLACE was quite busy, friendly staff, but the door dosent close properly so its a bit chilly! Food was fine. Decor reminds me of the Indian restaurant (which we avoid if possible).
FRANC LOUISE good atmosphere as ever, and as busy as I have seen it on Saturday. Saw people sitting in that strange glass fronted section to F&L.
PLAZA BAR was packed on Friday for the Barcelona match on TV. Basic food is ok too. Still has odd opening times as yet undiscovered.
EL MESON DEL VINO , very nice meal in good surroundings. Also there is a bar area and some came in just for a drink.
DONDE AYER is still the venue for the younger people here, and again the place for late night drinking and musiC.
EMs was very busy when we walked past which is good to see.
ARCO BAR have also changed their menu and are offering good cheap food. Drink a wee bit dearer than other places but staff do have good understanding of English.
THE INDIAN has changed hands (one of the workers has taken it over). He will be doing a 3 course meal on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for £10.95. I tried it out last week and it was excellent. You can also phone ahead for a take-away meal for the night you arrive to be ready for collection.

The ex owner of the Indian rest. is opening a new restaurant in the Dress Shop which closed down and it will be an International Restaurant.. He is still running the Pizza restaurant too.

I don't think the pedestrianisation of the centre will be done till after the summer. From Calle Mayor (Cam Bank) up to past Rosarios there are plans to pedestrianise the roads.

Meantime the open area between Bodega and Urbanisation has been cleared of ALL rubbish. Abel (who works for F & L and speaks a little English) is going to run the outside bar of the Bodega there from June to September. If its opening hours are the same as last summer, you will be able to drink until very late in the night.

Plaza Bar is now doing cheap Spanish specialities, good tapas, barbacued grilled plates of lovely meat (a la parilla), sizzling prawns in garlic, oven baked octopus. He does gazpacho, and paella on Wednesday lunchtimes (3 course meal for 8 euros including drink). Note staff do not speak English but menus done by in english so you can just point to what you want. His drink prices and coffee very cheap too.

Finally, don't forget our Cultural Centre where you get home made food, cheap drink, local banter and a smile from Teresa who does her best to speak slowly in Spanish, though at the top of her voice. Take your earplugs with you, but you will have a really truly Spanish experience there. It's my 2nd home (along with Plaza Bar) where all the characters of the Spanish people here hang out "

La Vereda has now opened serving food and drinks and has a sprung disco floor! Click here for more info and a video http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/09/la-vereda-bar-restaurant.html

Plus the old Hacienda at Hacienda Riquelme is now open serving food and drinks, and there is also the terrace bar in the dovecote, click here for pictures and more info.
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/09/hacienda-riquelme-facilities-open.html
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