Does the Costa Blanca win Cacau d'Or, the Valencian almuerzo award?

Yes, the Costa Blanca wins the Cacau d'Or too. This almuerzo award, often presented as a strictly Valencia city affair, actually crowns the best bars across all three provinces of the Comunitat Valenciana, Alicante included. The province has already picked up several distinctions: El Ferrao, an Alicante institution since 1963, and Restaurante Toni Canto in Teulada in 2022, Llaurador in Pedreguer in 2021, then a trio from the Marina Alta honoured in 2025. Here is who has won, and why it matters for the local table.

Does the Cacau d'Or really reward the Costa Blanca?

Yes, by its own rules. The Cacau d'Or was launched in 2015, driven by the #LaCulturadelAlmuerzo community with support from Amstel, the Diputacio de Valencia and Visit Valencia. Its scope covers all three provinces of the region: Valencia, Alicante and Castellon. In other words, a bar in Alicante, Denia or Calpe competes on exactly the same footing as a bar in central Valencia. The award honours the ritual of the almuerzo, that mid-morning treat built around a bocadillo, olives, peanuts and a cremaet, the flamed rum coffee with lemon zest. If you want the full detail of the ritual on the Costa Blanca side, we have a complete guide to the Costa Blanca almuerzo.

Why does it feel like a Valencia-only award?

Because Valencia province takes the lion's share of both entries and winners. In 2022, for the 8th edition, 222 bars entered across the whole Comunitat: 163 from Valencia province alone, 38 from Alicante and 21 from Castellon (source: Alicante Plaza, 14 November 2022). Valencia's dominance in volume is real, but it does not mean the Costa Blanca is absent. Those 38 Alicante entrants in 2022 were spread across 23 towns, from Alcalali to Denia, via Calpe and Pego. The province plays the game, enters its bars, and wins.

Which Alicante bars have already won the Cacau d'Or?

Several, across recent editions. Here are the confirmed winners from Alicante province, with their year and town.

One pattern stands out: the Marina Alta, around Denia, Teulada, Benissa, Pego and Forna, accounts for most of the Alicante wins. That fits with how deeply almuerzo culture is rooted in the north of the province, closer to Valencia and its esmorzaret tradition. The provincial capital holds its own too, with El Ferrao, a neighbourhood classic that has been serving almuerzo for more than sixty years.

Where can you taste an award-winning almuerzo in Alicante province?

The safe bet in the city remains El Ferrao, a stone's throw from Alicante's central market, which relies on fish and fresh produce from the Mercat to fill its bocadillos. A simple, no-frills address, exactly in the spirit of the award.

El Ferrao, Alicante (Calle de Juan de Herrera, 24)

For the other winners, head to the Marina Alta: Rafel Restaurant in Pego, which holds a Repsol Sol alongside its Cacau d'Or, El Rall in Benissa, Nautilus in Forna, or Toni Canto in Teulada. Enough for a fine food tour between Denia and Calpe. And if you want to move up a notch to fine dining, we have listed the award-winning tables in our overview of Michelin-starred dining on the Costa Blanca.

Cacau d'Or vs Tapas d'Aci: what's the difference?

Do not mix them up. The Cacau d'Or rewards the almuerzo and its bocadillo. The Tapas d'Aci competition, on the other hand, recognises tapas, a completely different exercise, and Alicante has shone there too recently (the restaurant Insensato, for instance, was crowned best tapa in Alicante for 2026, according to elespanol.com in May 2025). Two neighbouring awards, two distinct disciplines: do not mix up the rankings.

In brief

• The Cacau d'Or has covered all three provinces of the Comunitat Valenciana since 2015, Costa Blanca included.
• Alicante genuinely competes: 38 bars entered in 2022, spread across 23 towns.
• Confirmed Alicante winners: Llaurador (Pedreguer, 2021), El Ferrao (Alicante) and Toni Canto (Teulada) in 2022, Nautilus (Forna), Rafel (Pego) and El Rall (Benissa) in 2025.
• The Marina Alta accounts for most of the province's wins.

Frequently asked questions about the Cacau d'Or and the Costa Blanca

Is the Cacau d'Or limited to Valencia city?
No. It is a regional award covering all three provinces of the Comunitat Valenciana: Valencia, Alicante and Castellon. Alicante province enters its bars and has already won several times.

Which Costa Blanca bars have won the Cacau d'Or?
Among the confirmed winners: Llaurador in Pedreguer (2021), El Ferrao in Alicante and Toni Canto in Teulada (2022), then Nautilus in Forna, Rafel Restaurant in Pego and El Rall in Benissa in 2025.

Why do we mostly hear about Valencia winners?
Because Valencia province accounts for the most entries by far. In 2022, of 222 entrant bars, 163 came from Valencia against 38 from Alicante. The dominance is statistical, not a matter of eligibility: Alicante wins too.

Sources: Alicante Plaza, 14 November 2022 (entries by province); elespanol.com, 26 November 2022 (winners El Ferrao and Toni Canto); hosteleriaenvalencia.com (Llaurador, 2021); lamarinaalta.com, 22-24 November 2025, and valenciabonita.es (winners Nautilus, Rafel, El Rall); elperiodic.com and elespanol.com (El Ferrao, history and address); elespanol.com, May 2025 (Tapas d'Aci competition).

Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Costa Blanca is an AI-assisted publication with human review.