The Spanish Restaurant That Cooks Its Food With Heat From A Volcano
If you find yourself in Spain's Timanfaya National Park, there's a restaurant that is worth your while. Imagine having lunch surrounded by lava fields and rolling volcanic mountains, with black rock and expansive views stretching out to the horizon. One restaurant has conveniently created the perfect atmosphere to (safely) take it all in.
Large windows look out across mountains known as Montañas del Fuego, the Fire Mountains of Lanzarote, which is a chain of dormant volcanoes (per Idealista). These rolling mountains have existed since 1824, according to Curious Halt. But don't worry, assures the BBC, a volcano hasn't erupted since then.
Grills aren't needed here, as temperatures rising from the ground easily reach 450 degrees Celsius, notes Wanderlust Chloe. Thanks to the area's own César Manrique, an architect known for emphasizing nature's beauty, the restaurant highlights the landscape so visitors can enjoy a truly unique experience while sampling dishes cooked by the volcano itself.
A novel dining experience
Manrique built the restaurant in 1970 and named it El Diablo. A nine-layer rock stove was constructed for cooks to use to grill ingredients for meals (per Curious Halt). Since builders couldn't lay down a foundation to make the actual building, slabs of basalt rock form the base explains Idealista. Below the surface — only six feet beneath the restaurant — lava clocks in at a steamy 400 degrees Celsius.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow diners to take in the landscape while enjoying dishes cooked from the heat of the volcano; as Wanderlust Chloe describes, vapor rises up through the basalt chamber to cook whatever ingredients have been set on the grill. Cooks prepare meats, fish, and vegetables for visitors to enjoy on-site (per Idealista).
Can't make it to Spain? Try searing food at home with a plancha to make perfectly grilled dishes in the comfort of your own kitchen.