Spaniards are famous for their openness, so it’s no surprise that the concept of sharing delicacies rules in their restaurants. Instead of ordering one big dish for yourself, it is better to try several tapas, or tasting portions. We present six restaurants in the centre of Malaga that are worth going to for such a feast.
Casa Lola
The most popular tapas restaurant in Malaga. If you find yourself at Casa Lola, be sure to try their pinchos, or small sandwiches. They have dozens of them on the menu: with different types of meat, cheese, seafood or vegetarian. There are combinations you might not expect from the Costa del Sol, such as… egg and black pudding. At Casa Lola you will also, of course, eat traditional Spanish tapas. We recommend, for example, the patatas bravas, which are fried potatoes with the famous red sauce. A small portion, which is not so small at all, costs just €2.50.
There are three Casa Lola locations in Malaga – all in the centre. The oldest is located on Calle Granada. Next door is another, also similar, restaurant belonging to this group – Pez Lola. Lola’s menu can also be sampled in Marbella, where Casa Blanca, which has the same owners, is located.
El Pimpi
Did you know that Antonio Banderas is originally from Malaga? And not only that – the actor has several properties in the city and spends a large part of the year here. A few years ago, he took over El Pimpi – in his own words, his favourite restaurant in the city. The establishment, which has been in operation since 1971, was already very popular and has now gained an additional magnet, attracting tourists in particular.
El Pimpi lures them not only with Banderas’ name, also with great cuisine. Of things a little less typical, you will eat here, among other things, ajoblanco, which is an almond and garlic cooler. They also have the great ‘bravas’ mentioned earlier, and especially the sauce with which they are topped – proprietary, specific, less mayonnaise-like than in most Spanish restaurants. El Pimpi’s menu also includes the campero – a snack in Malaga not even so much popular as even surrounded by a cult. El Pimpi is located in the old town, right next to the ruins of the Teatro Romano.
Uvedoble Taberna
About 200 metres from Banderas’ place, also next to the theatre ruins, there is a restaurant serving tapas in an elegant way. Uvedoble looks like an expensive establishment, but is actually a very good option for tourists wanting to try a variety of Spanish snacks. Most dishes are available as tasting plates, much cheaper than full portions.
In Uvedoble, we encourage you to try salmorejo, the bun-thickened cousin of gazpacho. It is a soup very popular in the Andalusian hinterland, but not at all common on the Costa del Sol. Also on the menu is a famous dish that originated in Seville – solomillo al whisky, which is pork tenderloin in a strong alcohol-based sauce (you can order a half portion). In tapas form, there is also fideos negros con calamaritos – baked small pasta with small squid.
See also:
Centre Pompidou Malaga, or contemporary art in Andalusia
Discovering the real wine gems in Malaga
Meet the Polish guides to Malaga and Andalusia
Picasso Bar Tapas
Banderas, after all, is not the most famous artist to have been born in Málaga – that title goes to Pablo Picasso. The famous painter grew up on the edge of the local old town, in one of the townhouses in the Plaza de la Merced. The neighbouring building now houses a pub with his name in its name.
The Picasso Bar already boasts its flagship offer on the board set up in front of the tables: five tapas for €17. What kind of tapas are they? You’ll find out when the waiter brings them to you. This is because it is a ‘chef’s choice’. Looking at online customer reviews, the plates most often land with fried squid, chorizo sausage, pimientos de padrón peppers , ‘bravas’ and paella.
Foto realizada por Fernando Leiva de Grupo El Caserit
FOMO Bar
Slightly out of the way of the old town, along the surrounding Calle Carreteria, you will find Spanish cuisine in a modern style. FOMO is definitely the most ‘instagram’ place in this list. Their speciality is gildas, which are small skewers with, for example, anchovies, olives, peppers and pieces of octopus.
There is also a wide selection of bocados, or sandwiches, on the menu. FOMO offers combinations of local produce – such as beef polikas with Montes cheese from Malaga – as well as non-obvious combinations, such as Andalusian-style calamari encased in brioche – a sweet bun similar to challah. Fans of the classics will also find something for themselves: “padróns”, “bravas” or croquetas.
Lolita Taberna Andaluza
Lola is a diminutive of the name Dolores. The portal ‘El Español’ recently wrote that this four-letter form is becoming fashionable again. It has been in vogue on the culinary map of Malaga for a long time. We mentioned the three Casa Lola establishments, and now we move on to a restaurant operating under a banner with the caressing form of this diminutive.
Lolita is one of those pubs frequented by hungry tourists looking for authentic Spanish cuisine. They are attracted here by the central location and the traditional Andalusian tiles(azulejos) on the walls. The taste qualities are also rated very highly.
In Lolita, they focus on typical Spanish specialities. It is especially worth trying those we have not yet recommended: gambas al pil pil, or prawns in oil with garlic, albóndigas – meatballs usually cooked in tomatoes, or ensaladilla rusa – a salad of octopus, potatoes and mayonnaise.
