Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo, MIAC, Castillo de San José | CACT — Attraction in Arrecife

There are three different things to see at this point: The museum, the castle and a restaurant with an interesting view, which can be entered without visiting the museum. The exhibits are mostly from the 70s and are regional works of art, for example by César Manrique, Fernando Zóbel or Antoni Tápeis. Other works from the 20th century can also be seen, but mostly sculpture and painting. There were also booth 12/22 two installations by contemporary artists, of which I highly recommend "Los Ojos Bajo la Sombra" by Tania Candiani as part of the XI Bienal de Arte de Lanzarote. It is about the importance of the scale insect cochineal, from which red pigment is extracted.

UNFORTUNATELY - intentionally in capital letters - there are (very brief) object descriptions in Spanish only. Moreover, there is no museum guide to buy, no papers to borrow - simply NOTHING. Neither regarding the exhibits, nor with information about the Castille de San Jose. Nada. In my opinion, it is unacceptable that a city that lives from tourism (and even if not) is so indifferent to its own art. Really a pity. They are treasures that can not be tapped. On our Instagram account @arrecife_visit we always compile historical information with the appropriate images. Maybe you will find something there.

The restaurant last has a panoramic view of the Indian harbor and the huge cruise ships that anchor there. Madness, how tiny, the whole castle looks against these ships in the background. In the restaurant you can also find other works of art - fortunately protected behind glass. The style, by the way, is also borrowed from the 70s. Personally, I think...

The Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo (MIAC), located within the 16th-century Castillo de San José, is a modest but historically rich cultural stop. While I personally found the museum's contemporary art collection to be rather limited and of minimal relevance to my taste, the real highlight for me was the castle itself—an impressively preserved coastal fortification that speaks of Lanzarote’s defensive past.

What truly elevates the experience is the restaurant and bar area, which, as I understand, was designed by the visionary César Manrique. The integration of architecture, light, and views is quintessentially Manrique: elegant, organic, and deeply connected to the natural surroundings.

One of the most memorable elements—and perhaps a hidden gem—is the restroom design. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, the bathrooms are unexpectedly breathtaking, offering a surprising moment of serenity and beauty.

A small but delightful detail I appreciated were the royal crown-shaped door handles scattered throughout the interior—clever, regal touches that add character and charm.

Overall, while the museum may not be a must-see for contemporary art enthusiasts expecting a comprehensive collection, it is absolutely worth visiting for the ambience, architecture, and the harmonious blend of history and design. I recommend stopping by for a relaxed drink or meal at the restaurant while enjoying the sea views from one of Lanzarote’s most iconic...

sod the museum, go for the restaurante.

This is not a cafe, well, not when we went. This is the finest eating experience we had in Lanzarote.

Don't walk there, it took me 50 minutes to dawdle there from the Arrecife Gran Hotel. I had access to the hire scooters so whizzing back took 10 minutes. When I took my wife there to eat we used taxis.

We didn't bother even going into the museum. My wife would have been in there like a shot if it had been a Wedding Dress museum.

The restaurant staff were impeccably dressed and were respectful of us, the meal they recommended to us, the wine and the place.

Only after we ate there did I discover that Cesar Manrique designed this place. Look at the amazing bar with its row of squab seats. Most people look out of the huge windows at the cruise ships docked in the harbour.

It's not cheap, but I'm used to paying for such service. Make sure you ask them to recommend local wines, eat local fish and you will be amazed because they have guests that want the staff to do what they're good at.

I would go to to the island just to eat in...