Taberna La Niña del Pisto (Marbella’s Best Tapa Bar)
If you’re looking for an authentic Andalusian tapa restaurant, Taberna La Niña del Pisto is my go-to.
I love how diverse Marbella is and how many types of restaurants we have. However, I must admit it isn’t always easy to find a good and authentic tapa bar. I can count on one hand the tapa bars that actually serve tapas that we locals would go to.
My main advice is to head to Marbella Centre if you’re looking for an authentic culinary experience. Plus, I can guarantee you’ll find more budget-friendly options.
Taberna La Niña del Pisto is my favourite tapa bar in the old town, and I’ll tell you what to expect from this charming tavern and provide food recommendations in this blog.
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Brief history of Taberna La Niña del Pisto
This tavern was built on one of the most famous streets in Marbella’s old town: Calle San Lázaro. This narrow street surged during the Moors’ time in Marbella. After a long day of work, they wanted to relax, and so they opened taverns to do so. You can see some metal hooks that were used at the time to expand more tables.
Therefore, the street where La Niña del Pisto is located is one reason this restaurant is special.
Another reason is that the owners brought Cordoba’s cuisine to Marbella almost 24 years ago. One of the owners, María José López Acedo, has always loved cooking and supports other local businesses by getting many of the supplies from Marbella’s local market.
Many of the dishes at the restaurant are typical of Cordoba. For example, salmorejo (cold tomato soup dressed with olive oil and garnished with croutons, ham, and diced hard-boiled egg).
The restaurant feels cosy because of its small size and the decor. As you enter the bar, you’ll see its walls decorated with old pictures, flowers and other antique items.
There isn’t outdoor seating because the street is narrow, so you can only sit inside, either at regular tables or at tall ones. Despite being a gem, it’s popular, so I recommend booking a table in advance.
If you haven’t had time to make a reservation, which happens, then my tip is to go as early as they open. Locals usually eat between 2 and 3:30 pm, so arriving early can be to your advantage. You might get a table and eat more quickly, as the kitchen would have just opened.
I visited it early for lunch twice, and although most tables had a reserved sign, the waitress told us it was okay to sit as long as we would leave the table by 3 pm, so we had plenty of time.
Now, let’s talk about the food, the main reason why you should visit La Niña del Pisto!
The food at La Niña del Pisto
The menu has a bit of everything, from local cheese platters to famous Andalusian dishes like espinacas con garbanzos (Spinach with Chickpeas), fried fish and meat. Regarding drinks, you can order any regular soft drink, water and a wide selection of wines.
If this is your first time visiting Marbella or anywhere in Malaga province, I highly recommend trying Malaga’s sweet wine.
Menus can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if you don’t speak Spanish, but this one is translated into English.
Each dish can be a tapa, a media ración or ración. Okay, so what do they mean? A tapa is a small dish, a media ración is just a little less than a ración, which is a full regular plate.
Are you new to Andalusian cuisine? I’d go for tapas so you can try as many dishes as possible without getting too full. If I only have tapas, I would order 4 to 5 for two people, but this can vary depending on your hunger.
I’ve tried quite a few things from their menu: fried anchovies with lemon, fried octopus, pisto (Spanish-style rataoutille), chickpeas with spinach stew, battered shrimps, montadito sandwich…
My favourites? Pisto is one of my favourite dishes, and it’s the restaurant’s star dish, as it is named after it. This vegetable and tomato stew with a fried egg on top is so good. This is your best dish if you aren’t a meat lover or a vegetarian.
Other dishes I love are the chickpea and spinach stew, which is almost as good as the one that my grandma makes at home, and the sirloin cooked in Pedro Ximenez wine, accompanied by homemade chips and Padron peppers.
The only thing I haven’t tried yet is their desserts, as I always feel I don’t have room for dessert. However, they normally have traditional Spanish desserts like natillas (custard with a biscuit on top).
Prices at Taberna La Niña del Pisto
When it comes to price, I think that La Niña del Pisto is fairly priced compared to other tapa restaurants in the old town. The last time I went with my partner, we had two soft drinks, two tapas and one media ración to share for 23 euros.
How to book a table
The best way to book a table is to call or send them a WhatsApp message to +34 633 32 00 22.
So, is Taberna La Niña del Pisto worth visiting?
For me, it’s a yes! The food is very good, the atmosphere is good, and the staff are friendly.
It’s so good that even the famous local chef Dani Garcia recommends visiting it.
Looking for other ways to try the local cuisine and products? I recommend checking out this tapa tour, doing an olive oil tasting at the D-OLIVA shop in the old town or going on a day trip to Ronda, one of the best towns for food and wine!
Do you have any questions about Marbella? Let me know in the comments below, or join my Facebook group. The best place to get your questions answered!
If you want more food recommendations, check out my guide on places to eat in Marbella by a local.
Enjoy your time in Marbella!
Cristina x
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Things to do before visiting Marbella, Spain
- Check out cheap flights to Malaga Airport (AGP), the closest airport to Marbella.
- Are you looking for the best accommodation? Check out this Marbella hotel guide.
- Book the best activities and tours in Marbella with Get Your Guide.
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- Rent a car to travel with ease around Marbella and the Costa del Sol.
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