The Fifth Pine is a popular expression that has ended up being used to define a place that is far away. But today we refer, not to the expression, but to the restaurant El Quinto Pino, which is in the municipality of Fuencaliente, in the south of La Palma. It is not that far away from anything, but it is a place to get lost. To lose sight of your worries and see everything from a different perspective.
Lately many of our walks and adventures end up in Fuencaliente. Every time we go there, Fuencaliente has a lot to offer! So - as we have all the time in the world - instead of getting caught up in talking about several places at the same time, we are going to take it easy, corner by corner.
It's been a while since we've been to this restaurant. What a big mistake! It won't happen again! Our plan came about after seeing a poster on the networks announcing: "Chillout atmosphere, sunset, tapas, cocktails, and the participation of Victoria, the troubadour of the south, magical and intense poetess". I admit that although I was looking forward to the plan, I was a little sceptical about the whole "magical and intense poetess" thing, but I said: "Well, at least they warn us, and he who warns is not a traitor. Let's get carried away and see what it's all about".
At around seven-something in the evening we got there, with our bodies both tired and relaxed, still covered in salt after a great day at the beach. It can be said that we were going with a predisposition to enjoy ourselves. And this is very important. With the passing of time I have come to realise that, in almost any situation, they can offer you gold and silver or the stars and the moon, but if you don't go with an open mind and predisposition, nothing good is going to happen! This may sound like a very silly thing to say, but even so, remember it and keep it in mind.
Viewpoint on the heights.
I already knew the restaurant, but I had never been to the part we went to this weekend, "La Pérgola". Going up a few more steps after the restaurant I found a wonderful and charming terrace. The expression "charming" has never been in my vocabulary (I find it very corny) but on this occasion it is more than justified.
"La Pérgola is a viewpoint at the top of the restaurant with magnificent views, a bar and a central pergola with several tables. Along the staircase, among plants and flowers, there are several inviting nooks and crannies with stone benches, cushions and small tables. During the day the setting is beautiful, but when the sun goes down and the sky turns ochre and orange, it is absolutely enveloping and relaxing.
Chillout atmosphere.
We settled in a small corner of the viewpoint, intimate, comfortable and with good views. Honestly, I don't think there was a bad spot. We chose one at random and that was it.
To drink: beers, wines from the island, mojitos, non-alcoholic cocktails... We went to the bar and everyone ordered what they liked. I opted for a white wine from the island. There were no complaints with the drinks and cocktails either, everyone was happy.
Soft music, magnificent views, a comfortable place, ideal temperature, drinks... The first thing the poster promised us: the chillout atmosphere, was already assured. "We're doing great!" I thought to myself.
A spectacular sunset.
Another attraction was the sunset. About this, I have only one word to sum up my impression: Wow! None of the photos we show you do justice to the spectacle and the colours that the sky gave us shortly after we were there.
Sometimes, without realising it, we go about like automatons, doing this and that: homework and even leisure and pleasure, but without "giving much thought" to the business of living - which is no small thing - just crossing tasks or places off the agenda or doing them while we think of other things. But, fortunately, every now and then you realise that you have been here for a while without any of life's miseries going through your mind, you just think: "How nice it is here! I could stay here for a few hours, or a few days looking at this".
"The sun is setting in a burnt orange sky; the cliffs are black silhouettes; the sea, liquid silver".
"The sun is setting in a burnt orange sky, the cliffs are black silhouettes, the sea, liquid silver".
LAURA TREACY BENTLEY
Poetry to accompany.
It was the turn of "Victoria, the magical and intense poetess". Here my scepticism and my prejudices went down the drain together. She was a sociable and very nice girl, who at times, very softly, without us feeling that she was interrupting our banal conversations at any time, entertained us by reciting little stories. Stories that sounded like the popular tenths of the Canarian versifiers..
A delicious pizza!
We had already given our full approval to the place, the ambience, the sunset, the cocktails and the poetess. The only thing left to try was the food.
The terrace "La Pérgola" offers its own tapas menu, and also the possibility of ordering pizzas from the restaurant. On this occasion we opted for the pizza option. We ordered two from the usual menu and a vegan one for me.
I wasn't expecting much, simply because I wasn't very hungry. But I felt like eating something to go with the second glass of wine. At the first bite I realised that it was brutally good. I don't know if the trick is in the wood-fired oven, the spices, or what.... but it had been a long time since a pizza tasted so good. At least mine, the other two I can't say for sure, but judging by how quickly they disappeared from the plates they must have been edible 😉.
Conclusion: A resounding yes.
To round it all off: the beautiful location, the views, the chillout atmosphere, the sunset, the entertainment, the cocktails and the food, plus I have to say that the service was in perfect harmony with everything elseYou know those places where people seem to be happy to work and welcome you? Well, nothing more to add.
And you might be saying: "Maybe they were a bit "intoxicated" with sun and cocktails that afternoon, yes, a bit. Well, a little, yes. We said at the beginning that we were in a good mood and predisposed to have a good time. Drunk with sun, cocktails and happiness. But does that detract from our reason or judgement? I don't think so.
A resounding and absolute YES to El Quinto Pino and its Pergola.
From now on they will be part of the recommendations to our future guests. As far as we are concerned it is already "booked". We will be back for sure!
