Where to Eat in Malaga (My Recommendations as a Local)
I’m not surprised that Malaga’s food scene is becoming more popular. My hometown has incredible ingredients and dishes worth trying, from flavourful raisins and sugar cane honey to fresh fish.
If you’re asking yourself, “Where do I eat in Malaga?” this food guide will help you find some of the best places to eat in Malaga.
I’ve personally visited and tried these cafes, restaurants and dessert places, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
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Where to eat in Malaga
This guide offers some of the best places to eat in Malaga, but if you are wondering what to eat in my hometown, the short answer is sardine skewers, fried anchovies with lemon, and ajoblanco. You can find out more information in this detailed article on the most traditional dishes in Malaga.
Best cafes in Malaga
Tejeringos Coffee
Whenever I want to have churros for breakfast, I head to Tejeringos Coffee. Their churros are delicious, and I love that you can have them with the traditional Spanish thick chocolate or sauces like dulce de leche (caramel) and white chocolate.
Besides churros, they also serve a wide variety of hot sandwiches, including ham and cheese, turkey, and more. I sometimes order the catalana, a sandwich with tomato, olive oil and Serrano ham. It’s my favourite.
I’m not a big fan of coffee, but my dad approves of their coffee, and they also have tea and refreshing freshly squeezed orange juice.
📍 Address: C/ Méndez Núñez, 6, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga
La Bella Julieta
La Bella Julieta is another popular cafe in Malaga. It has locations across the city centre and even outside Malaga. Whether you fancy a sandwich, cake or waffles, you can find it here.
I usually go to the one closest to Calle Larios. There are plenty of tables, but it gets busy on weekends.
My recommendations are the red velvet cake, their strawberry milkshake and healthy toasts with avocado. The portions and prices are good, and I love the atmosphere.
📍 Address: C. Prta del Mar, 20, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga
Best bars and restaurants in Malaga
Kraken
As much as I love traditional food, I sometimes like to try modern dishes that combine traditional flavours with technical skills.
Kraken does exactly that! You can find traditional dishes served beautifully. I had heard great things about this restaurant, so my friends and I decided to try it.
We visited Kraken for lunch and were glad that we arrived early, as it quickly started to fill up.
I ordered their pork and mushroom rice and shrimp taco, while my friends ordered the pil pil prawn croquetas, duck lasagna, and manchego cheese.
The food is delicious, and portions are reasonable – not too big or too small.
My favourite dishes were the rice and croquetas, which were garnished with lime zest! The dessert (apple pie with ice cream) was okay. I feel like it could have been better.
If you plan to visit Kraken, I would recommend two or three tapas per person.
📍 Address: Pl. de las Flores, 2, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga
Casa Lola Strachan
Casa Lola Strachan is a popular option for affordable and delicious tapas. I must admit it’s my go-to choice when I eat out in the historic centre.
The decor is modern, but it still has the charm of a traditional tapa bar. You can sit at its tall tables, both inside and outside. There are plenty of tables, but it gets very busy, especially on weekends.
My partner and I love the food. Our favourite tapas are their patatas bravas and Russian salad. We also always order the grilled monkfish that comes with salad. The fish is flaky and so good!
I can also recommend their small bites, like the prawn skewer and Serranito sandwich (a sandwich made with pork fillet, Iberian ham and fried green pepper). They are mouthwatering.
El Pimpi Bodega Bar
El Pimpi is the most emblematic restaurant in Malaga. Spanish celebrities frequent this beautiful restaurant and winery.
It’s always been famous, but it has become even more famous since it appeared on several TV shows, so you can expect queues, especially on weekends and bank holidays. This is why I recommend booking via their website.
Although you can have your meal with a view of the Roman Theatre and Alcazaba, I often prefer to sit inside because of the atmosphere.
If you choose a table outside, I still recommend peeking inside to see the wall with photos of celebrities who have visited El Pimpi, the huge barrels and the beautiful patio-like area.
In terms of food, you can have some of the most traditional dishes in Malaga province. The menu changes with the seasons, but some favourites are always available, such as salmorejo, ensaladilla rusa, and fritura mixta.
Fritura mixta, which is a combination of different types of fried fish and seafood, is what my partner and I usually order. It’s so good!
📍 Address: C. Granada, 62, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga
Restaurante Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro
Looking for a restaurant with the best views in Malaga? Restaurante Parador de Málaga is the winner. This restaurant in the Parador de Malaga hotel is at the top of Gibralfaro hill, so you can enjoy breathtaking views of Malaga Port, the bullring, the town hall, the coastline and mountains.
Besides the views, I can vouch for the food. The menu is inspired by Malaga and Andalusian cuisine. My partner and I love the langoustine potato stew (photo above), fried fish and pork cheek cannelloni.
However, their take on the classic crema catalana is my favourite. It’s made with mangoes from the Axarquia region in Malaga. It’s one of the best desserts I’ve had.
I definitely recommend this restaurant for a romantic meal in Malaga.
📍 Address: Castillo de Gibralfaro, s/n, Distrito Centro, 29016 Málaga
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FOMO Bar
If you’re looking for a modern, fun and great atmosphere, FOMO Bar is such a good option! They usually play 90s and 2000 music, the walls adorned with posters and pictures and the food is definitely worth trying.
It hasn’t been open as long as the other places mentioned in this list, but it won’t disappoint you.
I’m not a fan of gildas, but they serve some of the best in Malaga, and their other dishes are incredibly delicious. I love that they use local products and make traditional dishes with a modern twist without compromising flavours.
My favourite dishes in FOMO Bar are the Patatas Bravas (so tasty!) and Perrito Malagueño, made with brioche, Malaga salchichon (a type of sausage) and Pedro Ximenez wine.
Los Mellizos
Los Mellizos is a restaurant chain in Malaga that specialises in fish and seafood. Despite being a chain, it’s a favourite among locals, and, fortunately, there’s one in Malaga old town, so you don’t need to head further.
Popular dishes in Los Mellizos are fried anchovies with lemon, clams and grilled white fish. However, if you don’t fancy eating fish, they also have rice dishes, including paella.
This fish restaurant also offers gluten-free dishes. Just talk to the waiter to make a note of this.
📍 Address: C. Sancha de Lara, 7, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga
Taberna La Pechá
There are currently two of these bars in Soho, and both locations are almost next to each other. The pictures above were taken in Taberna La Pechá de Cartuchos, the smallest one.
Talking about the latter, due to its size, they only have tall tables, but if they’re busy, you can always sit by the bar.
The atmosphere is always lively and informal, so I feel welcomed by the waiter the moment I step in.
The prices are good, and the food is packed with flavour. I usually have three tapas, but you might want to order one or two more if you have a big appetite.
The menu isn’t too big, but I totally love small bars that have fewer options, and you’re guaranteed high-quality dishes.
My top recommendation is to order the Ensaladilla Rusa. Personally, it’s one of the best I’ve ever had. The tortilla and montaditos (sandwiches) are good too.
I’ve also visited the larger Taberna La Pecha, and it has a different vibe due to its size, but I love that it offers a wide variety of dishes and drinks. The white sangria is top-notch!
📍 Address: C. San Lorenzo, 14, Distrito Centro, 29001 Málaga
Los Cuñaos
There’s no visit to Malaga without trying the traditional espetos. They consist of slow-roasted sardines on skewers and are the most famous food in Malaga.
The best place to try this dish and have other delicious fish dishes is a chiringuito (a beach restaurant).
Los Cuñaos is my favourite beach restaurant in Malaga. It’s in the Pedregalejo neighbourhood, a 10 minute drive from Malaga city centre.
This restaurant serves the best fried fish and espetos in Malaga, and I love that the service is usually fast.
If you plan to go on the weekend, I recommend booking a table in advance.
📍 Address: P.º Marítimo el Pedregal, 93, Málaga-Este, 29017 Málaga
Restaurante Mexicano Tulum
If you don’t fancy tapas or any Mediterranean dishes, you’ll enjoy this Mexican restaurant near the old town of Malaga.
I discovered it by chance. My partner and I were craving tacos when we saw this place. It looked nice from the outside, but wasn’t the typical chain (aka Taco Bell).
Although the restaurant seems small, it actually has two floors. We’ve been now a few times and continue to go whenever we want Mexican food.
I usually order the cochinita pibil and chicken tacos with salsa verde. They’re very flavoursome!
📍 Address: C. Carretería, 102, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga
Best places to eat dessert in Malaga
La Tarta de la Madre de Cris
Do you love cheesecake? You need to try La Tarta de la Madre de Cris. Personally, I think it has the best cheesecake in Malaga.
Besides the original cheesecake recipe, they also have other flavours like chocolate and pistachio. I’ve tried the original cheesecake, and it exceeded my expectations. It was smooth, and it had the perfect amount of sweetness. I feel like some cheesecakes are too sweet.
This cafe also has homemade cookies and cakes, which look good, but I haven’t tried them yet.
It’s a popular choice, so don’t be surprised if you need to queue to get your cheesecake. It’s worth knowing that it isn’t really a sitting-in-place place. They have a few tall tables, and there’s no table service, so it’s definitely more of a takeaway.
Casa Mira
Eating ice cream is one of the best ways to cool down when the temperature rises. We don’t have Italian ice cream, but we also make good ice cream.
Casa Mira is a favourite among locals and travellers alike. It’s popular for a reason! They have plenty of flavours, not only the traditional ones like strawberry and chocolate but also coffee, nougat and pistachio.
Another good alternative is Kalua. My partner loves the “Death by Chocolate” and lemon ice creams.
📍 Address: C. Císter, 8, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga
Do you want an authentic food experience in Malaga?
I highly recommend checking out Sazón The Folk Cook. You can enjoy delicious meals at a local’s house. My partner and I really enjoyed this experience.
Frequently asked questions about eating in Malaga
What food is Malaga famous for?
The most famous dish in Malaga is espetos, which consists of sardine skewers that are slowly roasted.
Are tapas free in Malaga?
No, however, some tapas bars will give you a tapa for each drink you order. Your drink can be either a soft drink, beer or wine. Most of the time, you can’t choose which tapa you want; they will bring whatever they have.
What time do people eat dinner in Malaga?
People in Malaga have dinner from 9 pm, but this can be even later during the summer.
Conclusion on the best places to eat in Malaga
There are plenty of good cafes and restaurants to eat in Malaga, and luckily, many offer reasonable prices even if they’re in the old town.
If you’re on a budget, I wouldn’t recommend eating in the port as they charge you more than usual just for the location. Also, some places are overpriced, and you aren’t guaranteed to eat a delicious meal.
Do you have any questions about where to eat in Malaga? Drop them in the comments below.
Enjoy Malaga xx
Cristina
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Things to do before visiting Malaga
- Book cheap flights to Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport with Skyscanner.
- Take a look at this Malaga hotel guide to help you choose accommodation.
- Check out tours and activities in Malaga with Get Your Guide.
- Book a free walking tour in Malaga with GuruWalk.
- Travelling around the Costa del Sol? Check and compare car hire with Discover Cars.
- Buy travel insurance for your trip. This is a must for any trip!
