The Arab presence made a lasting impact on the cuisine of southern Spain. Rice, lemons, oranges, olives and vines were introduced, as well as many new vegetables and spices. Typical today are barbecued meats, sauces flavored with cumin or saffron and sweets made from crushed almonds. Tomatoes and peppers are much used. The region is famous for its grilled fish, especially sardines, deep fried calamari and fish baked in salt. Quality ham and pork are used widely in sausages.

The seafood and shellfish from this region are particularly delicious and succulent and feature high on all menus in the area. Particularly good are the mussels, langoustines, clams, crab and razor-shell mollusks, that are easily found by rooting around in the shallows. Aside from seafood dishes, specialties include guiso de rabo de toro (oxtail stew) and perdiz estofado (partridge casserole).

Tuna is a specialty in these parts, especially during the almadraba in the spring and summer. The local fishing fleets go out to sea to practice the ancient art of scooping up the fish in a complex system of nets as they pass by on the way to and from the Mediterranean. The favored cut is the neck of the tuna: sweet and slightly oily, and its best eaten in the seaside towns where the catch comes in, such as Barbate. At Conil, the Semana del Atun, from 6-12 June, celebrates the start of the tuna season. Otherwise fried white fish is very popular, especially a plate drawn from the bottom of the fishing nets, which is more palatable than it sounds and usually includes baby sole and squid. Try any of the restaurants around Cadiz`s fish market.

The whole culture of tapas originates from Sevilla so you can expect to eat some of the best tapas in Spain when vacationing on the Costa de la Luz. You can wander from bar to bar ordering tapas, must try`s are the Jamon (ham) Serrano/Iberico and Chorizo (sausage) that you will see hanging from hooks, Gambas Ajillo (garlic prawns) or the Pescadito Frito (fried fish), for larger portions of tapas order the raciones. Quench your thirst with a cold beer, fino (dry sherry) or a bubbly cava from the area.

The one thing to remember in Spain is that the night time is very special. It`s a time to relax with family and friends, whilst enjoying good food and watching the world go by. Going for tapas is the ideal way to experience this tradition.

For breakfast try the churros a bit like deep fried donuts, there great with hot chocolate sauce, or why not go for Merienda, a traditional afternoon snack of coffee and cake that is popular with the locals and is served at a Panaderia shop from 5pm. Don`t worry about the children when eating out as the Spanish are very family orientated, you will see families in the ice cream parlors (heladeria) until the early hours of the morning, go and join them.