Why the New Robin Hood is my favourite bar in Puerto de la Cruz

The Nuevo Robin Hood (New Robin Hood) in Puerto de la Cruz has swiftly become my favourite bar in this Tenerife resort town. I went there originally in search of the Tenerife Weekly newspaper which I now write a regular column for and which gets delivered there, but I fell in love with the place right away.

Jimmy and David who run the New Robin Hood are really friendly people and made me feel at home there on my first visit.

I asked for the menu and was impressed with the range of food available and settled for a cheese omelette and chips. I like simple well-cooked food and large helpings and that is exactly what I got.

The omelette had plenty of cheese inside it and the chips were the good old-fashioned chunky ones like your mother used to make or you could buy from the chip shop! With a dollop or several of brown sauce on this I was tucking in to meal I could really enjoy!

I was really impressed with the food and have since had mushroom omelette there too at the amazing price of just 4.50€, and it was served with a big portion of chips and with salad. They had run out of mushrooms but Jimmy nipped out to the shop over the road to get some more specially for me. This is the kind of service they provide and why I told Jimmy that if I lived in Puerto I would definitely make the place my local pub!

I sat down in the beer-garden area alongside the entrance to the bar and was surprised to see a cockerel, hens and chicks pecking around on the grass lawn. I was told they often come in there from grounds behind the building where they live. I love cats and commented on the one I saw. David told me they have four that live there and on subsequent visits I have seen the others. They are free to roam around the bar and sleep on the chairs and I have even seen one sitting on a barstool at the bar. I was very impressed to see how well cared for these cats were.

Besides the cats and the hens, I have seen Monarch Butterflies flying around in the garden area too. This magnificent insect is one of my favourite butterflies so I was very happy to see them outside the New Robin Hood.

On Sundays they serve traditional Sunday dinners with roast beef, lamb, Yorkshire pudding and a choice of vegetables. The New Robin Hood is a big hit with ex-pat British regulars but tourists would love the place too and the food!

I am a vegetarian but that was no problem because David cooked me a vegetable lasagne which came with my choice of vegetables. I enjoyed red wine with my meal and there was dessert for afters but I was too full for any more and it is very rare that this happens!

There is a full range of beers available too including my Spanish favourite Dorada and British ales such as Worthingtons.

The New Robin Hood is easy to find. It is part of the Edificio Belair building on Calle Valios. I get to it by walking straight on from the main bus station.

The bar has been open for 11 years and has built up a well-deserved reputation for its quality of service.

The New Robin Hood puts on a range of entertainment and events too.

If you are in Puerto de la Cruz I can thoroughly recommend that you try the New Robin Hood for a drink and a meal and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Tenerife Weekly that I write for while you're there!