San Javier to host Murcia’s best marinera final on 27 October

The Parque Almansa auditorium in San Javier will host the final of the Region of Murcia’s Best Traditional Marinera and Best Reinvented Marinera awards on Tuesday 27 October.

Sixteen hospitality businesses have reached this stage following a public vote which attracted more than 4,000 votes, with eight finalists in each of the two categories.

Admission to the final will be by prior invitation or through invitations to be given away on the organisers’ official social media accounts.

Selection from 180 bars and restaurants

The initiative involved 180 bars and restaurants across the region, with a tasting and voting stage running from 18 September to 18 October.

During that period, members of the public could try the participating establishments’ creations and vote for their favourites to select the finalists.

The traditional category includes Bodega Teodoro, Kiosko Ben Arabí and La Tapa de San Lorenzo in Murcia; Coronel in Bullas; and Con Sentido de Mari in Cehegín.

Completing that category are La Frontera in Cartagena, La Lupa in Nonduermas, Murcia, and 1900 in Lorca.

Eight reinvented marinera finalists

The reinvented category features Bar Ideal in Yecla, D’Pintxos in Mazarrón, La Flota in Cartagena and La Posada del Pez in Murcia.

They will be joined by La Tasca de Noah in Calasparra, Leyendas in Murcia, Taberna La Tienda de Solita in La Unión and Taberna La Cepa in Lorca.

The establishments will present their creations to a judging panel comprising representatives from social life, gastronomy, the media and public institutions.

Presentation at the town hall

The final was presented at San Javier town hall on Tuesday, where mayor José Miguel Luengo was named Padrino de la Marinera 2026, the event’s honorary patron.

Luengo thanked the organisers for the distinction and congratulated them on an initiative which, he said, promotes the marinera, the hospitality sector and the Region of Murcia.