AlgoMás in Arrecife: Canarian wine, island food and crafts, chosen with advice

In the centre of Arrecife there is a shop known as much for how you buy there as for what it sells. It is called AlgoMás: wine, food and craftwork, nearly all of it from Lanzarote and the Canaries.

It is run by Zuzana, a young entrepreneur who came to the island and stayed. What sets the place apart is the wine: the shelves carry Canarian labels you will not find in a supermarket, including small wineries and limited bottlings. It is not a list assembled to look long; it is a selection with reasoning behind it.

Working alongside her is Irene, who covers the shop on the other days. The approach is the same: you come in, you ask, you get advice. If you do not know what to pick, describe the taste of the person the bottle is for and you will leave with something you would not have chosen alone.

Alongside the wine there are preserves, island specialities and handmade pieces. You can have hampers and gifts put together to order, mixing bottles, gourmet items and craftwork — the most common request for birthdays, celebrations and corporate gifts.

Why a shop like this matters

Arrecife is changing quickly, and neighbourhood trade is the first thing to go. A place where someone knows what is on the shelves and has time to explain it holds up two things at once: the island's small producers, who without shops like this would never reach a buyer, and the habit of shopping by talking to someone rather than reading a label.

If you live in Lanzarote, this is where you find something other than the usual. If you are passing through, it is the simplest way to take the island home without ending up at the souvenir rack.

Where it is

AlgoMás is at Calle Teobaldo Power 1 in Arrecife. For questions, or to have a hamper made up, there is WhatsApp: +34 722 546 080. It usually opens Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm, though a message first is worth it: in a small shop the hours move.