Malaga Restaurants and Dining

(Malaga, Costa del Sol, Spain)



Picture of Malaga al fresco dining areaBeing a major tourist resort, Malaga contains a wealth of restaurants and dining options, as you would expect. Malaga also offers visitors an enormous variety of cuisine and dishes, with plenty of traditional Spanish restaurants serving the flavours of the Mediterranean.

There are also an endless supply of more cosmopolitan restaurants in Malaga, including Chinese, Indian, Italian and seafood restaurants, amongst others.



Opening Hours

When dining in the Malaga area, be prepared to dine at the same times as locals. Breakfast (desayuno) is always eaten first thing in the morning, with many visitors to Malaga choosing to eat at their hotel restaurants, where buffet-style dining is often available. Coffee shops and cafés are a popular alternative breakfast option in Malaga, with a number overlooking the bay.

Photo of restaurants surrounding a Malaga plazaLunch (la comida) generally starts in midafternoon, at around 14:00, during Malaga's main siesta time, when many of the resort restaurants can become busy. Although a large selection of restaurants in Malaga now open earlier for evening dinner, starting at around 18:00 onwards, this is targeted solely at tourists and those used to dining at this earlier time. Dinner (cena) in Malaga really begins from around 21:00 onwards, with most Malaga's main restaurants and dining venues closing at midnight or later, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays.

Where to Eat

Tapas bars in Malaga have long been popular with both tourist and locals, designed to be eaten whilst drinking wine. Offering a large and appealing range of small savoury snacks, Tapas bars and restaurants in Malaga are the epitome of Spain. Often served free, Tapas in Malaga can cover an enormous variety of nibbles and includes tasty cheeses, stuffed olives, seafood nibbles, pickled anchovies, grilled prawns, cold meats and potato chips. A number of restaurants, eateries and coastal dining venues in Malaga also serve a large and more substantial version of Tapas, known locally as 'recion'.

Image of diners outside a Malaga restaurantMany traditional Spanish restaurants can be found in Malaga and serve a range of authentic dishes and simple Mediterranean-style cuisine. Popular local dishes in Malaga include paella, tortillas (omelettes), pescaito frito (small fried fish - reputed to be the best in Spain), hot soups (sopas), papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes), and ropa vieja (shredded meat). Some of the best Spanish restaurants in Malaga can be found around the Alameda area, and in the heart of the Old Town area, along the historic streets, together with a range of cafés, taverns and small shops.

For those looking for dining with a view of the coast, the seafront promenade of Paseo Maritimo Antonio Machado is lined with all kinds of different restaurants, together with refreshment kiosks for those looking for a quick snack. Fast-food restaurants and eateries are also available nearby in this part of Malaga, serving burgers, fries and pizzas. Stretching from the Misericordia area right up the port, beaches in Malaga are never far from cafés, restaurants and hotels.

Lovers of seafood should be sure to visit the Huelin, El Palo, Malagueta and Pedregalejo areas, which are known for their quaint fishing shacks and outstanding fish restaurants, often specialising in fried fish dishes and sardines. Other notable restaurants in Malaga can be found around the Cerrado de Calderón area, where fine dining is at its best.