
La Mejillonera
A beloved Benidorm institution since 1981, La Mejillonera is famous for its extensive mussel preparations and exceptional paella, serving authentic Sp...

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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La Mejillonera

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved Benidorm institution since 1981, La Mejillonera is famous for its extensive mussel preparations and exceptional paella, serving authentic Spanish flavors in a lively setting.
"The best mussels and paella I have tasted in my life! Absolutely great food and service!"
Reserve Your Table
The restaurant is very popular; making a reservation is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Embrace the Buzz
Be prepared for a lively, busy environment. The efficient staff keeps things moving, even with a waiting queue.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Spanish
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+34 628 24 21 99
Address
Pg. de la Carretera, 16, 03501 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Website
lamejillonera.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Mussel Paradise
Indulge in an extensive variety of mussels, from classic preparations to creative sauces. A true mussel lover's dream!

Award-Winning Paella
Savor authentic Valencian paella, recognized for its quality and fresh seafood. A taste of true Spanish culinary heritage.

Lively Local Atmosphere
Experience a bustling, vibrant atmosphere where locals and tourists mingle. Expect a lively buzz, especially during peak hours.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reserve Your Table
The restaurant is very popular; making a reservation is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Embrace the Buzz
Be prepared for a lively, busy environment. The efficient staff keeps things moving, even with a waiting queue.
Communicate with Staff
While some staff speak English, having basic Spanish phrases or translation apps can be helpful.
Shells Go Here!
Enjoy your mussels without worry; there's a convenient gutter by the bar for all your mussel shells.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reserve Your Table
The restaurant is very popular; making a reservation is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Embrace the Buzz
Be prepared for a lively, busy environment. The efficient staff keeps things moving, even with a waiting queue.
Communicate with Staff
While some staff speak English, having basic Spanish phrases or translation apps can be helpful.
Shells Go Here!
Enjoy your mussels without worry; there's a convenient gutter by the bar for all your mussel shells.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
La Mejillonera is celebrated for its exceptional mussels and award-winning paella, offering delicious local cuisine at reasonable prices. Diners rave about the fresh ingredients and the lively, bustling atmosphere. While the service is noted as efficient, some visitors mention the busy environment can be overwhelming due to the constant queues.
"This is our favorite mussels restaurant in the world! Well that we found so far in our travels anyway. I've never seen mussels offered in so many varieties at a respectable price. I love just about every selection on the menu, but in my opinion, their signature house style muscles in just plain old natural broth is by far the best and most authentic flavor that can be enjoyed. The only thing missing with it is a bowl of pasta with parmesan cheese to pour the remaining broth over. Yum! 😋"
William Anderson
"Very good restaurant. We had super delicious mussels and lobster paella. Food is really a 10/10. We were lucky that we came at a good time, so we immediately got a table. We came around 19:30, after 20:00 a lot of people came and were waiting for a table. For me that‘s a reason to only give 3/5 stars for ambiente, because it‘s annoying and distracting if like 20 people are watching you while you‘re eating. But i would definitely come again, maybe next time at 19:00. 😅👍🏼"
Virginia Zwicky
"We arrived at Mejillonera and we saw a queue, we thought the food must be really good, we decided to wait. We did not wait for long, approximately 15 minutes and a table for two opened up. We ordered 5 types of mussels( quarter portions)and the paella with octopus, monkfish and artichoke. Mussels came in under 5 mins, paella in under 20.
Everything was exceptionally good. The staff are like an ant colony, they're fascinating to watch. They do speak English, and no matter how hectic the rhythm is, they answered our questions.
To us, this place was a hidden gem find, and elevated our Spain trip."
Ana Adriana Barna
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
La Mejillonera is renowned for its wide variety of mussel preparations and its award-winning paella, offering authentic Spanish seafood dishes.
It is highly recommended to make a reservation, as the restaurant is very popular and often has a queue of people waiting for a table.
The restaurant has a lively and bustling atmosphere, popular with both locals and tourists. Expect it to be busy, especially during peak dining hours.
While the focus is on seafood, the menu does include items like Patatas Bravas which are vegetarian. Gluten-free options are also available.
Yes, it's a family-friendly restaurant with a casual atmosphere, although it can be quite busy.
Besides the mussels, their paella, especially with seafood, is highly recommended and has won awards.
The tapas-style offerings and efficient service make it suitable for a quick meal or a few small dishes.
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Where to eat paella in Benidorm: enjoy rice dishes with the taste of the sea among the skyscrapers
Located in the Plaza Mayor, La Mejillonera is a rice restaurant with the ability to appeal to the tastebuds of locals and visitors alike. With a history dating back to 1981, this restaurant has been awarded the prize for the finest paella cooked in the Valencia Autonomous Region at the Sweden International Valencian Paella Competition. Its secret lies in its use of high quality ingredients, such as ‘arroz bomba’ from Albufera and fresh seafood from the fish markets of Dénia and Santa Pola.
Los mejores RESTAURANTES para comer PAELLA en BENIDORM
Continuamos con restaurantes y arrocerías donde comer en Benidorm con La Mejillonera, un restaurante de ambiente familiar en el que poder disfrutar de un buen plato de paella. Muy conocido por sus originales platos y tapas elaborados a base de mejillones es, también aclamado por sus exquisitos arroces. Si eres un enamorado de la paella, en La Mejillonera podrás disfrutarla en sus mejores variantes, tanto con carne como con marisco y pescado.
Seafood Restaurants
Located on Passeig de la Carretera in Benidorm's old town, this little gem of a Spanish restaurant offers an excellent range of fresh fish and seafood for the enjoyment of its patrons. La Mejillonera's signature dish is mussels served in a variety of delicious sauces. Their seafood paella also comes highly recommended and this restaurant, established in 1981, has deservedly been awarded TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence.
Best Restaurants in Benidorm
This stylish tapas bar is so popular with tourists and locals alike that during the summer months, you can expect to see a queue stretching right around the block. Don’t be put off though – it’s generally quite fast-moving and your wait will be well-rewarded with the quality of the grub on offer at the finish line. While all of the tapas options come recommended, the speciality is mussels, so make sure you don’t miss out.
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If you don’t know where to eat tapas in Benidorm and you’re looking for something different, go to La Mejillonera. It has a menu specialized in mussels, but prepared in many ways, as well as seafood tapas, a true homage to local gastronomy in Benidorm. Among the outstanding mussel dishes, you can try them with vinaigrette, stuffed, with tomato or in green sauce.
Taste The Sea: Seafood Restaurants In Benidorm - Travel Tips
This first restaurant, established back in 1981, is La Mejillonera. The beautiful, rustic venue is tucked away out of the limelight of the major high streets of the area. It is renowned for its brilliant food and service and is often packed throughout the day with locals looking for a taste of their own historic food culture.
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I hadn't gone for months and months because the last few times the rice dishes weren't very good, so yesterday we went for a snack and it was very good. As always, the attention is 10, helpful and fast. If the waiters see that you are ordering too much, they let you know and it is appreciated.
10 Great Restaurants in Benidorm
La Mejillonera has been doing what it does best since 1981 – serving some of the best mussels in Benidorm. You can enjoy them in various ways, including a la vinagreta (with vinaigrette), in salsa verde (green parsley sauce), stuffed, au gratin, and con all i pebre (with garlic and paprika).
Tapas bars
From Tapas and pintxos we recommend the following bars for tapas in Benidorm: La Mejillonera Benidorm This bar was founded by three friends in 1979. The three friends are Miguel, Fermín and José. The three have different roles, which is why they named the restaurant "La Mejillonera".
The 10 Best Restaurants in Benidorm in 2025: Where to Eat and Enjoy the Finest Cuisine
A classic in Benidorm, La Mejillonera is the best place to enjoy mussels prepared in a variety of ways, along with traditional Spanish tapas. 🔹 Specialty: Seafood and tapas. 🔹 Signature dishes:✔ Mussels in marinara sauce.✔ Seafood croquettes.✔ Fried dogfish.
Seafood restaurants in Benidorm
Few restaurants are so specialized in serving exquisite mussels as ‘La Mejillonera’. This legendary place has become a favourite amongst the locals who love to eat this typical dish in the summer.
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This restaurant is one of the best places to eat paella in Benidorm, but it’s also a fantastic option for tapas or fresh seafood, with special emphasis on mussels, of course.
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