Welcome to Malaga!
If you have chosen our city, it is because you have surely heard a lot of good things about it. But we are convinced that no one can give you better advice on places to visit and places to eat than us, the locals. That's why, so you don't have to bother looking, we've put together this list for you:
On a cultural level
Malaga's architecture beautifully blends historical influences with modern designs, showcasing a captivating mix of Roman, Moorish, and contemporary styles.
- Cathedral: one of the distinctive signs of Malaga is our beloved cathedral, which we call La manquita. The imposing 16th-century construction fuses Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic styles. You can enjoy observing it from the outside and visiting its gardens. However, we also recommend a visit to its interior, as you will be impressed by the architecture, the altars, and the choir.
- Roman Theater: despite being one of the oldest monuments in Malaga, it is also the most recent, as it was restored and inaugurated in 2003, allowing the public to visit. It is the perfect example of the mark left by the Romans in Malaga after their passage. It is located right in the center of the city, at the foot of the Alcazaba, another one of our jewels.
- Alcazaba: this fortification from the Islamic period is located on Mount Gibralfaro. Despite this, its access is in the center of the city. It is the perfect plan if you like cultural activities and enjoy good weather, as it has numerous courtyards and gardens inside.
- Picasso Museum: surely you've heard of Picasso, haven't you? What many people do not know is that the painter was born in Malaga, and as such, it was necessary to have a museum to house a large collection of his works. Like the previous monuments, it is located in the center of the city. What we do recommend if you want to visit it is to make an appointment online!
- Museum of Malaga: this imposing building houses two museums: the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Malaga and the Museum of Fine Arts of Malaga. It has more than 15,000 archaeological references and more than 2,000 works of art. Located in the center of the city, it was the Palacio de la Aduana at the end of the 19th century, and its function was to attend to marine traffic, as the water reached there at that time. We also recommend the rooftop restaurant.
- Thyssen Museum: this museum is located near Larios street, in the old Villalón Palace. In it you can find a large collection of Spanish and Andalusian works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries divided into four main sections: Old Masters, Romantic Landscape and Costumbrismo, Preciousness and naturalistic landscape and Fin de siglo.
Tapas restaurants
Malaga's tapas restaurants offer a delectable culinary experience, serving an array of traditional and innovative small plates bursting with flavors that perfectly complement the city's vibrant atmosphere.
- Casa Lola: located in Uncibay square, it is a tapas restaurant that we all Malagueños love. Here you can enjoy many different tapas and you can also order more consistent dishes.
- La Tranca: although unnoticed from the outside, it is one of the most popular and charming tapas bars in Malaga. Inside, you can have a great selection of tapas while enjoying typical Spanish music.
- El Pimpi: surely when you have been looking for information before coming to Malaga, you have come across this tavern. What many people don't know is that it belongs to the actor Antonio Banderas! In fact, he lives next door. In its menu, you can find plenty of tapas, dishes, and wines, as it is also famous for them. We also recommend you to visit its interior because it concentrates a very Spanish essence, and on its walls and barrels, you can see photographs and signatures of celebrities who have attended the place.
- Quitapenas: if you want to enjoy fish without having to go to the beach, this is the restaurant for you. It is located in a very central location, and you can enjoy seafood and the typical Malaga fried fish (boquerones, rosada, calamaritos), and all for a good price.
- Los Gatos: this bar perfectly reflects the essence of Malaga through its decoration. In it, apart from heavy, you can enjoy more varied tapas such as croquettes, lomo en manteca, different types of meat, etc. If you prefer to eat outdoors, you can also do so since it has an outdoor terrace.
Local restaurants
Malaga's local restaurants offer a gastronomic adventure for food enthusiasts, with their authentic and diverse menus featuring locally sourced ingredients, traditional recipes, and warm hospitality that truly captures the essence of Andalusian cuisine.
- Los Mellizos: this is a restaurant characteristic of Malaga gastronomy where you can enjoy rice dishes, seafood, paellas, and of course, fried fish. It is located just at the beginning of Larios street, and if you wish, you can enjoy tapas and half portions instead of large plates.
- Taberna Uvedoble: in addition to a magnificent location, near the Roman theater, this tavern has one of the best menus in the city. Here you can find typical Spanish dishes with a more contemporary touch. In addition, their Russian salad has been awarded the prize for the best in Malaga, you can't miss it!
- La Merchana: this restaurant, conceptually, is very similar to that of the cats, as it shows the essence of Malaga through its decoration, but its aesthetics is much more focused on Easter. This is perhaps the cheapest option of all our recommendations, and here you can enjoy a variety of tapas and more elaborate dishes. The tapas are quite large, so if you order several, you may not need to eat more.
- El Cortijo de Pepe: this restaurant is in the Plaza de la Merced, next to the house where Pablo Picasso was born, and is perfect for you if you like meat. Chistorra sausage, meat montaditos, homemade croquettes, or lamb chops are some of the specialties you can find here.
- Byoko: this is an option, on the one hand, more ecological and sustainable since they are committed to local food and free of pesticides, and on the other hand, more avant-garde than the rest of the recommendations we have given you in this list. It is also located in the Plaza de la Merced and is perfect if you like a bit healthier food.
- Tercer Acto: in 2019, the Soho Caixabank theatre opened its doors to the public, and so did Atrezzo, a restaurant right next to this theatre. Both financed in part by the actor Antonio Banderas. Here you can find a wide variety of food from fish to meat to sushi, etc. This is the perfect choice for a more elegant lunch or dinner. Here you can enjoy the most refined Italian cuisine. Besides, it is right next to our shop!
Chiringuitos
If you want to enjoy the best chiringuitos, as malagueños that we are, we recommend you to go to the area of Pedregalejo and el Palo. Here in Malaga, the weather is usually sunny and this area is the perfect place to enjoy a good fish in the sun and then have a coffee. Here is a list of some of our favourites:
- El Tintero
- Miguelito el cariñoso
- El Gabi
- Pez Tomillo
- El Cabra
Rooftops and cocktail bars
Another plan that we Malagueños love is to meet up with friends for a beer or a drink, and one of the best places to do this in this city are the rooftop terraces. They are the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Some of the most popular are:
- El Batik, which overlooks the Alcazaba.
- El Chinitas, overlooking the cathedral.
- The terrace of the Malaga AC Hotel. This is the perfect place to watch the sunset.
- El San Juan. Despite being in the middle of the centre, it is a very quiet place.
More Stuff!
Finally, here are more places that we didn't know where to classify them, but that we love:
- El Parador: hotel/restaurant on Mount Gibralfaro. Despite being a bit far from the city center it is well worth the hike up to this location either for hiking or to enjoy the hotel's restaurant.
- La Casa del Guardia: located at the back of the main avenue, this is another very typical place of our city. It is the perfect place to have a glass of wine before lunch.
- Casa Mira: if you ask the people of Malaga which is the best ice cream in our city, 80 percent of them would surely answer Casa Mira's. This chain, which opened its first business in 1890, has one of the tastiest traditional ice creams in the city, and the good thing is that its main establishment is in Calle Larios.
