Mesón el Monasterio, Restaurant in Los Realejos, Spain.
Mesón el Monasterio is a restaurant complex in Los Realejos, Tenerife, set at the foot of a volcanic cone and made up of several dining areas surrounded by gardens with exotic birds and fruit trees. The different areas serve regional cooking, ranging from seafood to traditional meat fondue.
The site was founded in 1788 by Fray Antonio el Gomero as a place to gather donations for the church of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. Over time it lost its religious role and was turned into a dining complex.
The name "Monasterio" refers to the religious past of the site, giving it an identity that goes beyond a standard restaurant. Walking through the gardens, visitors notice exotic birds moving freely among fruit trees, which adds a living quality to the whole space.
The complex sits on a sloped terrain and the dining areas are connected by paths through the gardens, so comfortable shoes make the visit easier. Going early in the day or outside peak meal times gives you a quieter walk through the grounds.
The volcanic cone on which the complex stands was declared a Natural Space of the Canary Islands in 1987, meaning that outdoor dining here takes place on officially protected geological ground. This makes it one of the few restaurants sitting inside a recognized geological protected area.
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