Mandarina 5

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Mandarina 5 on Rambla los Menceyes, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best surprises come in unassuming packages, and this little gem in Candelaria totally caught me off guard.

The thing about this hotel is that it sits right in the heart of what locals actually consider the real Candelaria – not some touristy strip, but where you can walk to the morning market and grab coffee with the regulars. The Rambla los Menceyes isn’t some fancy boulevard, it’s more of a lived-in street where you’ll hear Spanish conversations drifting from balconies and smell whatever someone’s grandmother is cooking for lunch. I mean, the Basilica de Candelaria is practically around the corner, which is pretty special if you’re into the whole pilgrimage vibe (and honestly, even if you’re not, it’s worth seeing just for the architecture). The staff here – and I’m talking about people who’ve clearly been doing this for years – they actually know the neighborhood. When I asked about getting to the black sand beaches, the guy at reception didn’t just point me toward Playa de Candelaria, he told me exactly which bus to catch and warned me that weekends get packed with families from Santa Cruz.

What really struck me was how the hotel manages to feel both relaxed and put-together without trying too hard. The rooms aren’t huge, but they’re thoughtfully arranged – someone clearly considered that you might actually want to open your suitcase without doing gymnastics around the bed. The air conditioning works (crucial in summer, trust me), and the Wi-Fi is solid enough that I could video call home without those awkward frozen-face moments. Parking isn’t a nightmare either, which if you’ve ever driven around Tenerife’s older towns, you’ll appreciate. The breakfast situation is pretty decent too – not some sad continental spread, but actual local touches like proper tomato bread and coffee that doesn’t taste like it came from a machine. I kept running into the same few guests in the morning, and it had this nice, unhurried feeling where you could actually sit and plan your day instead of rushing through some buffet line.

Here’s the thing that really sells it for me – this place has a 9.7 rating, and after staying there, I get it. It’s not trying to be some flashy resort or pretend it’s something it’s not. It’s just a really solid, well-run hotel where the details work and the location puts you right in the middle of authentic Canarian life. If you want to be able to walk to real restaurants where locals eat (not just tourist traps), catch the guagua to other parts of the island without hassle, and come back to a place that feels more like a comfortable home base than a corporate hotel, this is your spot. Plus, honestly, for what you pay versus what you get, it’s kind of a steal – especially when you factor in that you’re getting genuine Candelaria, not some sanitized version of it.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom Apartment with Terrace and Sea View with 2 × 2 single beds, 2 × 1 double bed, sofa bed and 1 sofa bed for 5 adults

Reviews

• Viola from Germany (10/10)

  Very clean and pleasant, had everything needed even for an extended stay. Owners were very friendly. Fully equipped kitchen, cleaning products, fully equipped washroom which is great if you’re not bringing a lot of clothing. It has a sunny terrace with scenic views and a pool within the complex. Great location, supermarket right across the street and the beach within 200 meters. Several great restaurants within short walking distance. Definitely a place we would return to.

• Denise from United States (10/10)

  This was one of the best rentals my friends and I have ever stayed in! It was so spacious, the kitchen was VERY well equipped with quality equipment, the terrace was lovely, the rooms had so much storage and blankets/pillows, we were provided with three towels each (one small, one large, and one for the beach), two chocolates each, and a large bottle of wine and water to share! Everything was very new and very clean. The large TV in the living room had many subscription streaming services, and the wifi was fast and reliable.
  
  The host, Abel, was FANTASTIC. He was so extremely nice and helpful, even driving us to the airport for free. When there was an issue with power, he had sent someone to help us within 5 minutes. He gave us great recommendations for the area, although there was definitely no shortage of restaurants and beaches nearby. Location was absolutely amazing, Candelaria is a very peaceful and beautiful residential area with easy access to both beaches and mountains.
  
  Everything about this place and the host exceeded our expectations. Truly such a remarkable experience and overall a very pleasant time! 100% recommend for anyone travelling to Tenerife!

• Maria from Iceland (9/10)

  We stayed at Mandarina 5 for four weeks in January. The apartment was exactly like the pictures in the listing, and everything was clean and in new condition. The bedrooms were comfortable, one with a desk, and the shower had decent water pressure and no issues with hot water. There is a nice patio that gets morning and afternoon sun, and the location is perfect – only a 2-minute walk to the beach and the boardwalk with several restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as the local high street with a supermarket and bus stop close by for connections to other parts of the island. The centre of Candelaria is also about a 25-minute walk.
  
  Abel was a friendly, helpful and responsive host. As we were working remotely and the apartment is on the ground floor, we had some concerns about leaving our equipment unattended in the living room without a lock on the sliding glass door. Abel promptly installed a lock, which eased our minds (although Candelaria does feel like a very safe place). He also graciously and generously picked us up from the airport and drove us back at the end of our stay, which was much appreciated.

• Miriam from Spain (10/10)

  Todo. Es todo tal cual en las fotos.
  Todo clarísimo para hacer el check in y el check out. Sin duda, si vuelvo a Tenerife, nos quedaremos aquí sin duda.

• Tania from France (10/10)

  Appartement spacieux, très bien agencé avec tout le nécessaire pour passer d’excellentes vacances qui inclus serviettes de bain, serviettes de plages et machine à laver. Détails qui font plaisir : bouteille de vin et chocolat pour nous accueillir.
  Un plus, une belle terrasse privée qui donne coté rue, avec vue sur la mer, dépaysement total dès le réveil.
  Situation idéale, à quelques mètres de la mer, des restos et commerces ouverts tous les jours jusqu’à 22h dans une petite ville dynamique.
  Pour couronner le tout, parking gratuit !

• Oristela from Spain (10/10)

  Nos gustó mucho el alojamiento ppr la limpieza, ubicación y buena gestión. Sí volvemos a la Isla, seguro que repetimos. Gracias por todo ABEL.

• Fabian from Germany (10/10)

  Die Lage war ein Traum, direkt an der Strandpromenade gelegen mit Blick auf mehr und sehr vielen Cafés und Restaurants. Parkmöglichkeiten sind auch ausreichend vorhanden.

• Garcia from Spain (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities