9 Best Places to Eat in Malaga for Tapas and Sweet Treats

If there’s one thing you’ll never struggle to find in Malaga, it’s good food. This sunny coastal city is bursting with flavour, from traditional Spanish tapas to fresh seafood, spicy Mexican, and indulgent sweet treats that you’ll dream about long after you’ve returned home. Whether you’re exploring the old town or relaxing by the beach, there’s delicious spots dotted all over the city with new discoveries on every corner – it’s a great city for foodies!

After spending all weekend exploring Malaga and eating my way around the Spanish city (purely for research purposes of course) here’s all the spots that I recommend trying on your own trip. Whether you’re after a long lazy lunch, a lively tapas bar, or a little café for your afternoon sugar fix.

Be sure not to miss…

Casa Lola – for the best croquettes
Lucciano’s – for the creamiest gelato
Tragata – a modern take on tapas
El Tapeo de Cervantes – an authentic Spanish experience
Mexicano Tulum – for the best pulled pork tacos
Café Pasteis de Nata – for a deep-filled pastel de nata

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1. Tragata – A Modern Take on Tapas

Located near the seafront, this bright and modern tapas spot serves beautifully presented dishes that are as colourful as they are creative. It’s where I tried my very first Tinto de Verano, and what a discovery that was! If you’ve not heard of it before either, it’s a refreshing Spanish drink made with red wine and Fanta lemon, served over lots of ice with a slice. It’s simple but so good.

Led by chef Benito Gómez (who also has a Michelin-starred restaurant over in Ronda), Tragata has friendly staff, quick service, and a warm welcoming atmosphere. The mix of high stools and cosy tables makes it great for both group get-togethers and couples date nights.

Recommend you try: Spanish omelette topped with goat sausage and peppers

2. El Tapeo de Cervantes – Traditional & Authentic Tapas

Cosy, traditional, and wonderfully authentic. El Tapeo de Cervantes is the place to come if you want to go somewhere that feels incredibly Spanish with a bustling atmosphere. The room is intimate and lively, with tables close together and it feels slightly chaotic, but in the best possible way!

The tapas here was some of the best we had in Malaga. Don’t miss the pumpkin and mushroom risotto, it’s rich, creamy and unbelievably good (and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t even particularly like mushrooms!)

Recommend you try: Pumpkin and mushroom risotto, and the beef meatballs

El Tapeo de Cervantes Malaga pumpkin mushroom risotto

3. Mexicano Tulum – Spice Things up at a Mexican

If you fancy a break from all the Spanish tapas, Mexicano Tulum is a fantastic choice for something a little different. The décor in here might not blow you away (the dangling cucumbers and torn hessian sacks were an interesting design choice) but don’t let that put you off, as the food is seriously tasty.

We ordered blue corn quesadillas, burritos, and a giant bowl of chips with guac which we polished off. But it was the pulled pork tacos that stole the show. In fact, they were that good, that we ended up ordering a second round to share!

Recommend you try: Pulled pork tacos

4. Casa Lola – For The Best Croquettes in Malaga

Casa Lola quickly became my favourite tapas bar in Malaga. Every dish we ordered was delicious, but the traditional ham and cheese croquettes were on another level! They were so light, fluffy, and full of flavour – the best ones we had during our time in Malaga. The patatas bravas was perfectly crispy and the garlic prawns got rave reviews from my friends.

We ended up ordering so many dishes to try, that we were running out of table space, which says it all really.

Recommend you try: Cheese and ham croquettes

Go on a Tapas and Wine Tour Around Malaga

Another great way to taste some of the best food and wine in Malaga, is to go on a tapas and wine tour. I’ll link the exact one we did below as our guide made the experience extra fun. We started off in the oldest winery in Malaga where we enjoyed a glass of sweet Moscatel, before heading off to a few different restaurants for tapas.

5 Best Places for Sweet Treats in Malaga

If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me, you’re going to love Malaga’s dessert scene. Here are a few of my favourites that are well worth seeking out when you’re here.

1. Lucciano’s – Creamy Gelato

One of the best gelato’s i’ve ever had – on par with one I found when visiting New York. But Lucciano’s had so much choice, and the gelato was silky smooth and super creamy. I went for a scoop of Kinder Bueno and banana split which turned out to be an elite combo! The shop itself is modern and super bougie, making this a rather Instagrammable spot!

There’s a choice between cone or cup, and plenty of chairs outside to sit and watch the world go by. The hardest part is deciding what flavour to pick, but theres nothing stopping you from visiting again the next day! After all, holiday calories don’t count.

2. Cafe Pasteis de Nata – For Pastel de Nata

You really can’t go wrong with a warm pastel de nata, and these ones from Cafe Pasteis de Nata were deep filled and super delicious. They are the ultimate custard tart, encased in a golden flaky pasty. It’s the perfect way to end an evening in Malaga or even a quick pick-me-up during the day.

3. Bun – Loaded Donuts

If you’re into over-the-top loaded doughnuts (I am) Bun is the place to go in Malaga. I didn’t have time to try them on this trip, but they looked and smelt incredible. Big chunky donuts with pretty, creative toppings and gooey fillings that i’m sure bring a lot of joy to everyone who takes a bite.

4. O Melhor Croissant da Minha Rua – Croissant Sandwiches

O Melhor Croissant da Minha Rua didn’t have quite as many gelato options as Lucciano’s, but theres still an impressive selection to choose from. I tried a scoop of dulce de leche and strawberry in a pot, and both were winners.

They also serve fully loaded croissant sandwiches, which is great if you’re after something a little more substantial (and savoury-sweet) rather than purely dessert. It’s a great spot for brunch, a mid-afternoon break or even a sweet breakfast stop.

5. Casa Aranda – Delicious Traditional Churros

Whether you want just one singular churro (are you mad?) or an entire plate of them, Casa Aranda is the place to go! Don’t expect the same type of sugar-coated churros we get in the UK. These authentic ones are far less sweet, and get dunked in a little cup of warm chocolate deliciousness.

Casa Aranda is so popular that it takes up pretty much an entire street here in Malaga. We went for early morning churros around 9:30am, and even at that time of day it was still busy.

They were freshly made, fairly priced and the service was quick. It’s also a nice option to be able to buy just the 1 for €0.75 if you just want to give it a try!

Final Thoughts

Whether you visit Spain purely for the traditional tapas or to enjoy trying something new, Malaga has something to satisfy every craving that might come your way. It’s the kind of city where food is a big part of the experience, from late night croquettes at Casa Lola to early morning churros at Casa Aranda. Take it from me, you can easily eat your way around the city one delicious stop at a time, because thats exactly what I did! But when I wasn’t eating, here’s everything else I got up to in Malaga!

So come hungry, pack your stretchy trousers (life’s too short to be uncomfortable!) and get ready to taste the best of Malaga.

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