7 Tapas Bars in Marbella You Should Try
Food is such a big cultural aspect of Spain. We love food and are very proud of our cuisine.
If you love Spanish food and want to enjoy flavourful tapas in Marbella, don’t look any further.
Marbella has always felt like home to me, and I actually grew up in the area, so I’m passionate about giving recommendations on what to do and eat.
In addition to being a local, I am a foodie; no matter if I’m at home or travelling, I love trying new places to eat.
In this Marbella food guide, I have compiled my favourite tapas bars and restaurants, which I have tried and tested, and a few recommendations from travellers, so there’s a wider variety of places!
This post contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through and purchase something, I receive a small commission on the price at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the content up to date and make other improvements to the blog.
The best tapas bars in Marbella
Cristina’s recommendations
Taberna de la niña del Pisto
Taberna de la Niña del Pisto is my top choice when I crave authentic Andalusian tapas and dishes. This tapa bar, tucked in a narrow street of the old town of Marbella, speaks for itself. The décor is traditional, cosy and charming at the same time.
It offers a wide selection of dishes made with local products. Although the star of the menu is the pisto, similar to the French ratatouille, as its name suggests, you can find Andalusian favourites, such as oxtail stew, fried fish and fried aubergines with sugar cane honey.
I normally visit it early on weekdays. However, it gets busy, so if you can, book a table in advance.
Having eaten here quite a few times, I can recommend the chickpea and spinach stew, the sirloin with Pedro Ximenez wine accompanied by chips and fried padron peppers and the pisto, of course, it’s almost as good as my grandma’s.
I don’t often drink alcohol, but this is a good spot to enjoy a glass of wine. In case you don’t know, we have some sweet delicious wines here in the Malaga province.
Price-wise, I find it affordable and well-priced compared to other restaurants and tapa bars in Marbella.
Information about this restaurant
- Website: N/A
- Address: C. San Lázaro, 1, 29601 Marbella, Málaga
- Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm and from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
- Book via phone (+34) 633 32 00 22 or link in their bio on Instagram
- Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan-friendly? They have vegetarian options.
Casa Blanca
A few minutes walk from the historic centre of Marbella, you’ll find Casa Blanca. This is a small chain called Grupo Casa Lola in Malaga. I always prefer to eat at small independent bars, but in this case, Casa Blanca is worth it, plus it feels less corporate because it is only available in Malaga city and Marbella.
There’s another one near Puerto Banus, but I can only speak for the one near the old town.
There are quite a few tall tables and outdoor seating to pick from, and it’s a good spot to have quick tapas and continue exploring Marbella.
Here you find popular Spanish tapas like tortilla de patatas, ensaladilla rusa, Iberian ham and cheese platter and more.
I also like they have what they call pintxos in northern Spain. If you haven’t heard about these, they consist of slices of bread topped with meat, seafood or vegetables.
My partner and I love coming here, and one of his favourites is the patatas bravas, a classic in Spanish cuisine.
For me, the rosada a la plancha (grilled monkfish) with salad is my go to. I recommend the Serranito sandwich made with pork loin, Spanish ham and fried green peppers if you prefer meat over fish.
Similarly to La Niña del Pisto, the prices are cheap! Depending on how hungry you are, you can spend more or less. I feel like 3 tapas is a good amount for one, but if you come with someone else 5 to 6 should be enough.
Information about this restaurant
- Website: https://grupocasalola.com/casa-blanca-marbella/
- Address: Av. Miguel Cano, 1, 29602 Marbella, Málaga
- Opening times: Every day from 12:30 pm to 12 am
- Book via phone: (+34) 952 77 24 78
- Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan-friendly? There are vegetarian options.
El Boqueron
It wasn’t long ago when I ate at this restaurant and tapas bar. The truth is that I had wanted to try for a while, but I always arrived late as all the seats were unavailable.
I was surprised by the menu because the bar is named after a popular word in Malaga, boqueron, which means anchovy, and this is what people from Malaga, like me, are informally called.
However, I wouldn’t recommend it as the place to go to to try Malaga’s traditional cuisine. The menu offers a selection of a few traditional tapas, but most of the dishes are a fusion of cuisines.
This isn’t by any means bad; I love fusion food and like to eat new combinations.
I love their cajun salmon with avocado and mango salad! The flavours are spot on.
If you’re after their popular tapas, the gambas al pil pil, the pork ribs and patatas bravas are favourites.
Two to three tapas are good for one, whereas you might want to order five for two people. I’ve been there once so far, and I was fine with a tapa and dessert, but I must admit, I wasn’t very hungry on that day.
Price-wise, I think the prices are a bit more expensive than the previous places I mentioned above, but nothing outrageous; it’s just average for Marbella.
Information about this restaurant
- Website: https://elboqueron.es/
- Address: C/ de la Cruz, 5, 29601 Marbella, Málaga
- Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 1 pm to 11 pm
- It doesn’t take any reservations.
- Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan-friendly? They have a few vegetarian options and advise you to let them know if you have any other dietary requirements.
Mia Cafe – Tapas & Bar
Mia Cafe is one of those corner cafes and tapas bars that stand out for its decoration. There’s no way it doesn’t catch your attention. Its colours and painted plants on the walls are beautiful.
It gives you the vibes of a healthy place to have lunch. I mean, they have some good healthy options, including their prawn poke bowl, which is perfect for a light lunch.
However, they also have affordable tapas. You can enjoy six different tapas for 12,50 euros! And believe me, they are very popular. I haven’t seen it empty, especially in summer.
Information about this restaurant
- Website: N/A
- Address: C. Remedios, 29601 Marbella, Málaga
- Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 12 pm to 12 am
- It doesn’t take reservations.
- Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan-friendly? They offer all of these options!
Other recommendations by travellers
📍 Bar El Estrecho. It’s the stereotypical old-fashioned Spanish bar, but if you don’t mind about the aesthetics of the place but more of the authenticity, you should try it. They serve tasty Malaga dishes like ensalada malagueña (Malaga-style Salad) and boquerones al limón (Fried Anchovies with Lemon.)
📍 Lekune Bar. This bar in Avenida Fontanilla serves the best pintxos in Marbella. “What are pintxos?” I hear you ask. They are similar to tapas and come from the Basque Country. They consist of slices of bread topped with meat, fish, Spanish omelette and other combinations. Their bacalao al pil pil and pintxos are must try!
📍 Tapeo El Rosario. It’s a popular spot among locals and tourists near Los Monteros estate. Their tapa menu includes dishes like patatas bravas, pulpo a la gallega, gambas al pil pil and croquetas. The atmosphere is good, and there are plenty of tables.
Map of Marbella tapas bars
Conclusion on where to eat tapas in Marbella
Regarding tapas, I prefer Malaga over Marbella because there is more variety, and prices are sometimes cheaper. However, I’ve always really enjoyed the tapas bars I mentioned above.
If you want more recommendations for your trip to Marbella, why not join my Facebook group, where you can drop your questions and connect with other travellers?
Enjoy your time in Marbella!
Cristina x
Save this Marbella tapas guide on Pinterest for later
Top things to do before visiting Marbella, Costa del Sol
- Check out cheap flights to Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport here.
- Are you looking for the best accommodation in Marbella? Check this guide to the best accommodation in Marbella
- Book a free walking tour in Marbella.
- Rent a car to travel with ease around Marbella and Costa del Sol.
- Book travel insurance for your trip. It’s a must for any holiday.
Read more about Marbella
- The Ultimate Weekend in Marbella
- A Guide To Marbella Old Town (With Local Tips)
- 13 Things to Do in Puerto Banus
- Top Free Things to Do in Marbella
- 10 Romantic Things to Do in Marbella for Couples
- 10 Things To Do in San Pedro de Alcantara, Marbella
- The Best Marbella Boat Trips
- 15 Fantastic Day Trips From Marbella
