La Ranilla - Street Art & Fishermen's Quarter
Puerto de la Cruz's oldest and most colorful neighborhood: a former fishing village turned open-air street art museum with 17+ murals by international artists (since 2014), houses with family nicknames painted by local artist Juliana Serrano, and the city's best restaurant and tapas district. Free 24h.
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La Ranilla is the soul of Puerto de la Cruz. This humble fishing quarter, the oldest in the city (settled since 1506), stretches from Plaza del Charco to Peñón del Fraile. For centuries fishermen and sailors lived here, while merchants occupied the grand houses around Plaza del Charco. The name supposedly comes from soldier Ruiz Ranilla, the first settler, though historians still ask: 'truth or legend?'
In 2014, the Puerto Street Art project filled gable walls with monumental murals by world-class artists: Roa (Belgium), Martín Ron (Argentina, top 10 muralists worldwide), Pichi & Avo (Valencia), Belin, Víctor Ash, Dulk, Sabotaje al Montaje and others. 17 works turned the neighbourhood into an open-air gallery. The inspiration was already there: a 1960s stone mosaic on a wall near Plaza del Charco featuring Masonic symbolism, the only one of its kind in the Canary Islands. In 2016 the project expanded beyond La Ranilla: French artist OakOak placed fake pedestrian crossings and sea lions on manhole covers near Playa Martiánez. The murals are not permanent: sun and salt air fade the colours, but each May during the Festival Mueca new ones appear.
The finest details, however, belong to local artist Juliana Serrano: photographer, tattooist and muralist from La Ranilla itself. She paints family nicknames passed down through generations on house façades: 'Los Ratones' (mice, her own family at C. Mequinez 68), 'El Bizcochito' (the little biscuit), 'El Cojo corre corre' (the limping runner), 'La Pastora', 'Los Pelenques', 'La Marinera'... In 2025 she added four more during the Festival Mueca and Festival Periplo. There are now over fifteen. Each tiny figure tells centuries of a family's history.
Come evening, Calle Mequinez transforms: tables in the street, candles, creative tapas, pintxos, Canarian wine. La Ranilla today concentrates half the best restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz. Everything free, everything authentic, open 24h.
Pedestrian zone - no car access. Nearest parking: Explanada del Muelle (free, by Playa Jardín) or streets near Castillo de San Felipe.
TITSA lines 30, 102, 103, 104 to Plaza del Charco. 2-minute walk west.
Get here by busPark at Explanada del Muelle (free, by Playa Jardín) and walk in. In summer arrive early. Alternative: Loro Parque parking and walk down.
Navigate to parkingDon't just look for the big murals: hunt for Juliana Serrano's tiny family nicknames on the facades. Start at C. Mequinez 68 (the mouse: her own family, Los Ratones). Look for the cod, the dolphin, the truck, the hammer, the boat. Each nickname tells a family's story. Get the free mural map at the tourist office in Casa de la Aduana (by the port) or scan QR codes on the totems.
Perfect walk: Plaza del Charco → La Ranilla (murals + tapas) → Playa Jardín for sunset. All free. At the end of the street art route, look for the 1960s stone mosaic near Plaza del Charco with Masonic symbolism: the only one of its kind in the Canaries and the very inspiration behind the entire project.
In May: Festival Mueca (7-10 May 2026) fills La Ranilla with circus, theatre and music. That's when Juliana Serrano paints new apodos live. Golden afternoon light is perfect for mural photos, from 7pm the restaurant terraces are full of atmosphere.
La Ranilla is Puerto de la Cruz's oldest quarter. Settlement began in 1506 around the dock, and for centuries it was a humble fishing and seafaring neighborhood. The name supposedly comes from soldier Ruiz Ranilla, the first settler - though historians question this ('truth or legend?', official sources say). Curiously, 'ranilla' means 'tadpole' in Spanish, but has no connection to the neighborhood. Historically it was the poor area - while the bourgeoisie lived by Plaza del Charco, fishermen occupied these humble one-story houses. In 1804-1805 a primary school for fishermen's children existed, funded by the Gremio de Mareantes from their earnings. The earliest traces of the street layout date to the early 18th century. In 2014, the Consorcio de Rehabilitación Urbana launched the Puerto Street Art project within the Festival Mueca, transforming blank party walls into an open-air museum with international artists. Today La Ranilla combines its fishing identity with street art and a gastronomic explosion that has made it the most vibrant quarter in Puerto de la Cruz.
Plaza del Charco → C. San Felipe → C. Mequinez (murals + nicknames + artisan shops) → C. Puerto Viejo (Belin mural) → C. El Lomo (3ttman mural) → tapas at Olea Pintxos Bar → continue to Playa Jardín for sunset.
Martín Ron mural on C. José de Arroyo
The most spectacular mural: Martín Ron's immense bionic hand with canaries (world top 10 muralist). Calle José de Arroyo, 6. Best in afternoon light.
Colourful façades with nicknames by Juliana Serrano on C. Mequinez
Stroll Calle Mequinez hunting Juliana Serrano's family nickname paintings on the facades - colorful little houses with tiny painted figures (mouse, biscuit, shepherdess...) are Puerto de la Cruz's most Instagrammable spots. Each one tells a family story going back generations.
Restaurante El Bajio
Canarian cuisine - Seafood - Rice
4.3 - 2327 reviews - 10-20 EUR
13:00-22:00 (closed Thursdays)
A local favourite - on Calle Mequinez, in the heart of La Ranilla. Fresh arroz negro, calamares, paella and fish of the day at great prices. Packed with Canarians every day - the best quality sign there is.
Don Camilo Pizzeria Restaurante
Italian cuisine - Pizza - Pasta
4.0 - 3053 reviews - 10-20 EUR
12:00-23:00 (daily)
Over 10 years on Calle Mequinez. Artisan wood-fired pizza, dough made fresh daily, some ingredients imported straight from Italy. Quiet terrace off the beaten path - perfect after exploring La Ranilla's murals.