Top 10 Best Restaurants on Costa del Sol
Before getting to know the top ten best restaurants on Costa del Sol, we should distinguish between four different services:
THE TAPAS BAR
Tapas are the image of Spanish cuisine, and especially Andalusian cooking, a light munch to be appreciated with a glass of beer or a fine Málaga wine. There is an almost endless assortment of tapas to try. Tapear, or going for tapas, is about getting an incredible nourishment and getting charged up without investing much energy with others. The general population of Málaga are cheerful and inviting, so let yourself become involved with the jolly air. You can appreciate the tapas by simply standing up at the bar, or, if you prefer you can sit down outside and take advantage of the awesome atmosphere.
With regards to the tapas themselves, assortment is the zest of life. The most common tapas are the Russian plate of mixed greens, Spanish omelette, croquettes, Serrano ham and cheese. However, if you would like to try some of Málaga’s traditional recipes, we would recommend that you ask for porra antequerana (like a thick gazpacho, served cold), pipirrana (a finely chopped salad usually consisting of tomato, onion and green pepper, although there are regional variations), ajoblanco (a garlic and almond based soup) and fried fish. Typical winter dishes from the inland villages are stews, callos (tripe) and migas (a dish based on fried breadcrumbs).
CHIRINGUITO
Shoreline bars or chiringuitos are the Costa del Sol’s most common foundations. They are one of the recognizing elements of the shoreline of the area of Málaga and a mandatory stop on your excursion. Fricasseed fish is the superstar, however the traditional espeto de sardinas (sardines roasted on a flame broiled on a stick) becomes the main focus. This is a normal Costa del Sol delicacy, portrayed by its inquisitive planning strategy.
The shorelines of El Palo and Pedregalejo in the capital of Málaga are known for their shoreline bars. The Carihuela shoreline in Torremolinos, is another place to appreciate the best fricasseed angle right next to the ocean.
OUTDOOR TERRACES
Every town brags on having their own commonplace areas where you can appreciate the extraordinary air and enjoy Malaga’s cooking. The Costa del Sol’s tenants like an open air way of life, as the mellow temperatures welcome you to appreciate the open air accompanied by eating and drinking throughout the entire year.
The old town focuses are a good alternative to get a vibe of the place. The seafront promenades and the shorelines additionally suggest options for drenching up the Mediterranean way of life. And on the off chance that you need to find something more diverse, why not visit the Costa del Sol’s gourmet markets.
TYPICAL RESTAURANTS & TAVERNS
That everybody know and don’t differ much from most of restaurants around the world (except for the food, of course!).
Here we go:
Best Resturants on Costa del Sol
1.Tropicana (Ronda)
Type of cuisine: Tavern
Restaurant’s specialty: Hamburgers
The Best Resturant around the Costa del Sol according to Tripadvisor. They just got the Premio Nacional de Gastronomia Plato de Oro 2016. BURGER Tropicana was a mythical place back in the 80s and is still a landmark in the city thanks to its delicious burgers. It is said to be one of the best restaurants on Costa del Sol so far.
Main comment about this restaurant:
A highly recommended pace. We had a pleasant surprise with its variety and great service. They have dishes to share and very interesting main dishes. We’ll be back soon.
How to get there:
2. Messina Restaurant (Marbella)
Type of cuisine: Haute Cuisine
Restaurant’s specialty: Rare lobster
Creative signature cuisine is best represented in Messina, a restaurant where the chefs experiment with new flavors and textures in carefully prepared and beautifully presented dishes. Medium rare lobster with marinated vegetables, foie gras with cherry chutney meringue, prawn-stuffed sorrentinos with curry, banana and coconut milk, tuna with papaya and octopus salad are some of the dishes you can have at Messina.
Main comment about this restaurant:
Tasting menu was a delight and loved all the crockery. Staff was great and a very relaxing atmosphere. Great night out for a special occasion and for foodies. Wine selection was amazing too but the highlight for me was the desserts….. To die for.
How to get there:
3. La Posada El Tempranillo (Alameda)
Type of cuisine: Spanish
Restaurant’s specialty: Salmon stuffed with prawns and beef tenderloin steaks “Tempranillo”
La Posada has excellent facilities: a large dining room, where white dominates the use of wood, and a summer terrace surrounded by gardens. Its rustic decor and its emblematic fireplace create a cozy and elegant atmosphere. The menu features the best recipes of traditional Spanish cuisine. Among its fish is the salmon stuffed with prawns and among the meats the beef tenderloin steaks “Tempranillo”. La Posada Tempranillo is the perfect choice for weddings and banquets. It has several rooms and also tents in the garden, ideal for holding events in the summer.
Main comment about this restaurant:
Whilst travelling around this area with friends, we stopped off to have lunch at this lovely rustic/rural hotel. The menu del dia was good wholesome food and reasonably priced. I am a vegetarian and although there was nothing on the menu to suit me, they managed to revamp the dishes to cater for my needs. Would definitely eat here when next in the area.
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4. Casa Juan Los Mellizos Restaurant (Torremolinos)
Type of cuisine: Spanish
Restaurant’s specialty: Fish
A very popular restaurant in La Carihuela, one of the best districts in Málaga to enjoy a nice meal, Casa Juan Los Mellizos is the perfect place to eat out with friends and business associates or family meals. Located in Plaza de la Carihuela, Casa Juan Los Mellizos has room for over 170 guests, an ample terrace, a VIP room and a private meeting room. You will love the creamy rice, the rice with lobster, the vegetable paella, the black rice and the most popular dish in the region, deep-fried fish or pescaíto frito. It is well known as one of the best restaurants on Costa del Sol.
Main comment about this restaurant:On a recent holiday to La Carihuela my Husband and I visited Casa Juan Los Mellizos for lunch. It was extremely busy but we didn’t have to wait long for a table. The staff were nice and helpful. We had a mixed salad which was fantastic . It was so fresh and tasty. We had a mixed paella which was delicious. We had two beers to wash it down. We were too full for desert but they looked lovely maybe next time.
How to get there:
5. Ristorante Fresco (Fuengirola)
Type of cuisine: Vegetarian
Restaurant’s specialty: Vegetarian pizzas
As its name says, Ristorante Fresco “FRESH RISTORANTE” serves a variety of fresh ingredients with a refined and modern Italian accent, proposing an excellent selection of cooked dishes on their menu “a la carte” along with a wide choice of pizzas, handmade stone oven, and numerous homemade tidbits.
Main comment about this restaurant:Excellent Vegetarian-Italian cuisine, best pizza in Fuengirola, very good service, attention to customers. 100% recommended.
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6. El Muelle de Arriate (Arriate)
Type of cuisine: Mediterranean food
Restaurant’s specialty: Smoked salmon salad
A beautiful place. Its owner works for everything to be perfect. A very good raw tuna.
Main comment about this restaurant:A treasure place. The quality of the food, its friendliness… I ordered some tapas and everything was fine, with a high quality. If you like to eat well, you should not miss this restuarant.
How to get there:
7. Aba (Estepona)
Type of cuisine: Asian food
Restaurant’s specialty: Curry soap or Magret de pato
It is said to be the best Asian restaurant around Costa del Sol. The quality of the food is excellent, fresh, with delicate textures and all very tasty.
Main comment about this restaurant:Friendly atmosphere. Good service. Spectacular food. You must try the “magret de pato”. Excellent quality-ratio rate.
How to get there:
8. The Village Bistro (Mijas Pueblo)
Type of cuisine: “Haute Cuisine for foreigners” according to some reviews.
Restaurant’s specialty: Scallops
On their website, we can read a main text saying: At VILLAGE California Bistro and Wine Bar we feature Californian inspired cuisine focusing on the bounty of artisan quality and seasonal ingredients grown right here in our own backyard, from the Wine Country to the Central Valley and the Pacific waters surrounding the Northern California coast and Monterey Bay. Emphasizing on freshness, the quality of the ingredients and classic cooking techniques our chef creates ever changing seasonal menus.
Main comment about this restaurant:The food is good and the service is cheerful and efficient. It is a good idea since the restaurant is very popular.
How to get there:
9. Antigua Casa de Guardia (Malaga City)
Type of cuisine: Old Tavern
Restaurant’s specialty: Matched cheeses, salads and TAPAS
Considered to be the oldest tavern in Malaga, Antigua Casa de Guardia has remained an iconic landmark of the city ever since its opening in 1840, and is a top attraction for those in search of a history lesson outside of the museum – in this case, among the many sherry barrels of a typical bodega. Needless to say, this is also the ultimate destination for wine enthusiasts, who get to taste a top selection of the best Spanish wines. All accompanied by perfectly matched cheeses, salads or tapas is a must here.
Main comment about this restaurant:It is a very typical Spanish restuarant as well as its tapas which are typical tasty dishes. If you want to discover the gastronomy of Malaga City, this is a recommended place.
How to get there:
10. Punto&Pasta (Torre del Mar)
Type of cuisine: Italian
Restaurant’s specialty: Pasta
A small Italian restaurant where “La Pasta” is the main actor. In between all the Italian restaurants around Costa del Sol, this one has a very good presentation, exquisite food, and a great and friendly service. Plenty of sauces.
Main comment about this restaurant:Delicious pasta, combined with a wide variety of sauces. In addition, the business owners are endearing and very attentive. IT must be visited.
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