Where to Eat in Málaga: Best Tapas Bars, Restaurants & Wine Bars to Visit

Where to eat in Málaga

Best tapas bars, restaurants & wine bars to visit in Málaga, Spain.

Málaga is easily one of my favourite cities in Spain for food and drink. I’ve visited a few times now – sometimes for a quick weekend, sometimes for a longer escape – and every trip has left me even more in love with the city’s energy, architecture and, of course, its amazing food and drink scene. It’s one of those cities that’s made for wandering. Completely walkable, but full of side streets leading to artisan shops, bars and restaurants – you wouldn’t even know they were there! And for a relatively small city, Malága has plenty of bars and restaurants with delicious tapas and local wines – you’re spoilt for choice.

There’s loads to see in Málaga – from the Picasso Museum to the Alcazaba – but, in this guide, I’m focusing on the best places to eat and drink in Málaga city centre. Think: authentic tapas bars, natural wine spots, and laid-back local favourites. These are the places that leave me thinking about this Andalusian gem of a city long after my visit.

Best Tapas Bars and Restaurants in Málaga, Spain

If you’re heading to Málaga and not diving into the tapas scene, you’re doing it wrong. Spain thrives on its tapas culture, with tiny, authentic bars scattered through city streets, each boasting their own signature dishes. Sure, you’ll find your go-to spots where you could happily spend a whole evening, but the brilliance of tapas lies in bar-hopping, crafting your own tapas crawl and sampling the best of the best at every place you visit. When it comes to Málaga, these are the best tapas bars to add to your list.

Bar Málaga

Calle Sta. María, 4, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga, Spain

A charming split-level tapas bar and restaurant packed with vintage decor. Downstairs, the venue is cosy with classic Spanish decor – there’s only bar seating, so it fills up fast, but it’s perfect for a quick snack. Upstairs, Bar Málaga has a bit more of a restaurant vibe going on, with sit-down tables and waiter service. Great if you’re after a more relaxed evening away from the buzz of the bar. I’m a sit-at-the-bar kinda girl, so for me, the downstairs bar area was all I needed at Bar Málaga. And when I spotted two free seats at the bar, you bet I snapped them up immediately. Tapas + wine + a seat at the bar? The best combination.

What to order: The Iberian ham plate paired with a glass of Ribera del Duero. It’s the perfect way to kick off your night – simple, delicious and light enough to ensure you’re good to go for the rest of the tapas crawl!

Opening hours: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am every day

El Tapeo de Cervantes

Calle C. Cárcer, 8, Distrito Centro, 29012 Málaga, Spain

If there’s one restaurant that I can firmly say made my trip to Malaga, it would be, without a doubt, El Tapeo de Cervantes. Cosy and traditional in its decor, El Tapeo de Cervantes is known for its upscale and modern tapas, as well as showstopping meat-focused main meals. We worked our way through a few of their recommended dishes, and a few picks of our own, trying out some signature fish dishes and one seriously stand-out steak dish. Long story short, El Tapeo de Cervantes’ food kind of blew my mind. A definite must-visit when you visit the city. However, be sure to book in advance because the restaurant fills up rapidly.

Opening hours: 1:00 – 3:30 pm and 7:30 – 11:30 pm. CLOSED on Mondays

Méson Lo Gueno

Calle Marín García, 9, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga, Spain

When I first visited Málaga, back in 2018, Mesón Lo Gueno was one of my most-visited spots on the trip. Right in the centre, just off the main shopping street, is where you’ll find it. It’s got a great mix of bar seating and restaurant dining, but my tip would be to skip the sit-down dining experience and just pop in for a couple of tapas at the bar. That’s the best way to experience the venue. Park yourself at the bar, order Prawns Pil Pil and one of their signature aubergine, tomato and goat’s cheese stacks and thank me later.

Opening hours: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am every day

Best bars and wine bars in Málaga, Spain

We’ve covered the best tapas bars in Málaga, but where can you go for a great glass of wine? Don’t get me wrong, every single one of the tapas bars above offers great cañas of beer and wine – at incredible prices, might I add – but now we’re talking all about the places for natural wines, craft beer and more.

Central Beers Craft Beer

Calle Cárcer, 6, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga, Spain

I’m aware that a craft beer bar might not be exactly what you had in mind when looking for must-visit spots around Málaga, but bear with me with this one. Located on Calle Cárcer, and very conveniently just around the corner from where I was staying, Central Beers quickly turned into a go-to bar of mine for a quick afternoon/early evening drink. Whilst I’m no beer expert, I’ve always loved a good Belgian fruit beer and, at Central Beers, there was plenty to choose from. Their Lindemans cherry beer ended up being a staple of mine while I was away (as was the house red). As for the space itself, it was effortlessly cool – high tables, exposed brick walls and an incredibly well-stocked bar. For a relaxed few drinks in the heart of Málaga, Central Beers should certainly be on your list.

Opening hours: Friday and Saturday 1:00 pm – 3:00 am. All other days 6:00 pm – 2:00 am

Vertical Larios

C. Moreno Monroy, 3, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga, Spain

It’s not a Female Original travel guide without a wine bar feature now, is it? Now look, I’ll admit it’s pretty easy to get a brilliant glass of wine in almost every venue in Málaga. Whether it’s a local tapas bar, upmarket restaurant or late-night bar, you can get a great glass of Ribera del Duero for less than €3.50. But as a self-proclaimed wine nerd, I’ve always got to check out a local wine bar whenever I travel (for science, obviously) and, in Malaga, this was Vertical Larios. With a fantastic wine list to choose from, and super friendly staff who are more than happy to chat you through their bottles, and let you try a few options before committing, it’s a great little spot for wine lovers right in the city. It’s on the pricier side with wines around €9 a glass (closer to what you’d pay in UK-based natural wine bars) but, for more of a wine experience in the city, I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Opening hours: 1:00 pm – 12:00 am Tuesday to Saturday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm – 12:00 am Sunday. CLOSED on Monday.

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