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Restaurants in Malaga
Malagueños pride themselves on having a slang term for everything, including coffee. The leading contemporary roaster is Santa Coffee, Calle Tomás Heredia, 5 (tel. 95-202-52-35), in Soho. For starters, a solo is a full cup of black coffee, a mitad is half-coffee, half-milk, and a nube is a splash of coffee with the cup topped up with steamed milk. If you prefer chocolate, the classic spot for thick hot chocolate and churros is Casa Aranda, Calle Herrería del Rey (tel. 95-222-28-12).
If it’s too warm for hot drinks, Casa Mira, Calle Larios, 5 (tel. 95-221-24-22), makes excellent crushed-ice drinks called granizados. The two traditional flavors are coffee and lemon.
But the most traditional drink in the city is the sherrylike Málaga wine, and the most traditional place to drink it is Antigua Casa de Guardia, Alameda Principal, 18 (see above, tel. 95-221-46-80), founded in 1840. Wines are served from giant oak barrels, and the barman chalks up your tab on the sticky wooden counter.
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12 Results
- Andalucian
Balausta Restaurante
Michelin-starred chef José Carlos García may have his glass-box flagship restaurant on Muelle Uno, but diners seeking his creative cookery at a lower price should head to his showcase at the Palacio Solecio Hotel in the heart of the city. Under chef de cuisine Marcos Granados,…$$$Old Quarter - Spanish
CB23 Antigua Casa de Botes
Clad in colorful tiles that evoke an old-fashioned Málagan wine bar, this hip little Soho restaurant specializes in seafood of the coast (especially shellfish) and soupy baked rice dishes alternately called arroces or paellas. Some of the starters are classics of the city…$$Soho El Chinitas
Heir to the legendary 19th-century cafe-theater by the same name, El Chinitas cultivates a timeless look of straight-backed wooden chairs, wood-paneled walls, and white linen tablecloths. The menu hails from the same era, representing the best of coastal seafood and the meat…$$Around Town- Seafood
Godoy Marisquería
This glittering glass jewel box of a restaurant was a pioneer on Muelle Uno. It offers a menu primarily of shellfish, augmented by some fin fish, a couple of steaks, and a few ham-based appetizers. The house specialty of this family operation is a Málagan version of zarzuela…$$Muelle Uno Gorki
Located just off Calle Larios, this handsome dining room with an equally attractive group of tables in the street can serve you everything from a single oyster with a sip of manzanilla to a full-blown multi-course meal accompanied by a bevy of wines. There are burgers, finger…$Around TownJosé Carlos García Restaurante
Málaga’s star chef José Carlos García pioneered fine dining when he opened his waterfront restaurant in 2011. It attracts gastronomes all up and down the Costa del Sol. There are two menus and two dining rooms, with the glass box of a kitchen in between. The a la carte menu features…$$$Around TownLa Bouganvilla
Tucked into one corner of Plaza del Siglo, this unprepossessing little eatery resembles an American quiche bar of the 1980s—except that the food is a lot better. The menu consists of about a dozen tapas, ranging from a pincho de tortilla to ceviche to a half-dozen shrimp grilled with…$Around TownLa Cosmopolita
Set a few paces off Plaza del Siglo, this breezy little spot is a midday favorite for Malagueños in the know. Many show up just for the big sandwiches made on baguettes from Las Garrochas bakery. The signature sandwich is the Don José, aka Pepito, with sliced veal, roasted peppers,…$Around TownLa Manzanilla
Practically next door to Gorki, Manzanilla is superchef Dani García’s homage to the classic tapas bar—with a twist, of course. His reinventions of the classics have an American accent, in part from his experience with his New York outpost of La Manzanilla. Every contemporary chef in…$Around Town- Málagan
Mesón Santiago Sedeño
Located on a narrow, picturesque pedestrian street behind the cathedral, this home-style restaurant is operated by a son of the founders, who also consider his staff part of the family. Santiago and his wife Loli set out to serve the dishes that locals treasure the most. Head here…$$Old Town - International
Restaurante Gorki Selección
Located just off Calle Larios, this handsome dining room also has an attractive group of street tables. It’s a great place for a midday meal. The three-course menu del día served Monday through Friday is a real bargain. Or you can opt for burgers, finger sandwiches of smoked salmon…$Old Town - Andalucian
Vermutería La Clásica
Literally a 2-minute stroll from the Picasso Museum in the heart of the old city, La Clásica represents a historic variation on the tapas bar—a place that makes its own sweet Spanish vermouth. The house version is delicious and sneaky, as the sweet and fruity flavors mask the kick,…$Old Town
