Tapas and restaurants in Malaga are very well known, discover some of the best.
Renowned for its tapas bars, Malaga offers visitors some of the tastiest tapas in Spain; and favourites such as boquerones, tortilla, jamon Serrano, and fresh oysters can all be found in and around the city centre. Some of the better tapas joints are hidden away in the back streets of Malaga - and they are well worth seeking out.
El Tapy
The best meal that I’ve ever had in Malaga was at El Tapy - I went with some friends and we ordered ’Parrillada’ - a big dish of meats, including sausage, chicken and different cuts of steak and pork.
It comes with tasty sliced potatoes and fried pepper/capsicums. It costs 20€, but you will need to share it with at least 3 other people (there were 4 of us, and we still ended up taking some home), so for 5€ each you can’t do better! Aside from the Parrillada they have plenty of other great dishes, and tapas (always of a high quality) are served free with a drink!
Calle Madre de Dios, 42
Chopp
Chopp is a tapas bar from Granada, which means free tapas! They opened fairly recently in Malaga and it’s a nice comfortable bar with wall mounted televisions so that you can watch any important football matches while you enjoy the free tapas.
You can’t choose the tapas, but they have an impressive variety (with each drink you order, a new tapa is served), usually consisting of sandwiches, hotdogs, small wraps etc. There is a menu available as well of course, with hamburgers, ’roscas’ (big round sandwiches for sharing) and salads among other things.
Calle Granados, 4
100 Montaditos
Right around the corner from the hostel, 100 Montaditos is one of our favourite spots to eat at. There is a menu of 100 small sandwiches to choose from (my favourites are number 100 - a hotdog with bacon - and pretty much anything that has calamari in it). Large Pepsi and pints of beer are also 1€ (as long as you get at least one sandwich), and there are large salads, fries, olives and more to choose from.
100 Montaditos is especially popular on Wednesdays when everything (yes, everything) costs just 1€!
Plaza la Constitución, 3
Pepa y Pepe
Fried fish is a typical dish from Málaga, and Pepa y Pepe is the perfect place to try some ’rosada’ (white fish), espeto (sardines), ’puntillitas’ (small octopus), or - my personal favourite - ’jibia’ (squid). Pepa y Pepe is a good place to go with some friends, order a different dish each and share. Rosada and patatas bravas isn’t the same as fish and chips, but it’s close!
Pasaje de Heredia, 1
Ajo Blanco
Situated in the Plaza de Uncibay, this bustling and lively tapas bar is famous for its traditional Andalucian fare. Taking its name from the famous white garlic soup served throughout Malaga, this traditional bar is a favourite among holiday makers and locals alike. Ajo Blanco also serves reputedly the best gazpacho in Malaga, and the menu includes a wide selection of paté, baguettes and smoked meats to choose from.
Plaza de Uncibay, 8
La Rebana
Just a few metres from the cathedral, La Rebana specialises in patés and cured meats, and the Serrano ham is a particular speciality. Other favourites such as scrambled eggs with ham and asparagus and wild mushrooms are also served at La Rebana.
Very central and very busy, La Rebana has inviting dark wood interiors, and a friendly, yet hectic atmosphere. Resembling a bodega, La Rebana has a rustic feel to it and an extensive wine list.
Calle Molina Lario, 4
El Orellana
A tapas bar with a difference. El Orellana boasts many famous visitors from the world of music and theatre, and is popular with many Spanish celebrities, including Lola Flores. Open since 1938, the traditional exterior gives way to a warm and friendly tapas bar inside, and over 60 tapas are always on the menu. Snails, meatballs, black pudding, and the finest ham is served at El Orellana, in addition to a large choice of local Malaga wines.
Calle Moreno Monroy, 3
El Pimpi la Florida
One of the more traditional tapas bars in Malaga. With a lively ambience and rows of tables along the back wall, El Pimpi la Florida offers informal dining at its best. The interior resembles the small Malagueñan taverns of yesteryear, and the walls are adorned with photos of famous flamenco dancers from the city.
Locally caught seafood and cured meats are a speciality here and the menu changes regularly.
Calle Granada, 62
Taperia Siglo XXI
A wonderful old-fashioned tapas bar which Pablo Picasso must have known well (he was born in this square), which is air-conditioned and specialises in local cheeses and Serrano ham.
Plaza de la Merced, 12
Bar Logueño
Popular with locals, this tapas bar has more than 75 choices ranging from sautéed oyster mushrooms (setas) to deep fried peppers at prices starting from just 1.50€.
Calle Maria Garcia
Bodega la Quitapenas
A local institution that brims with locals and specializes in seafood accompanied by great wines and sweet sherry.
Calle Sánchez Pastor, 2
Café con Libros
In Plaza Merced, this is a relaxed café, popular as a student hang-out and coffee bar with snacks to feed your belly and books and backgammon to feed your head.
Plaza de la Merced, 19
