The 7 Best Malaga Restaurants: My Top Food I Tried in 2026

Malaga is definitely a little overlooked in my opinion when it comes to its food scene. It actually has loads of amazing local tapas restaurants, but also some really cool international places to eat.

Since I’m a huge foodie, that could only mean one thing: I had to try as many different restaurants as I could! I stayed in Malaga for over a week, so I had plenty of time to test out some of the most popular Malaga restaurants, as well as some local hotspots and hidden gems.

I know how much of a struggle it can be, especially in Spain, to find genuinely good restaurants and filter them out from the tourist traps.

That is exactly why I’ve decided to put this little food guide for Malaga together with my seven favorite restaurants that I personally visited during my stay, so you won’t have to do the trial and error yourself!

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The 7 Best Malaga Restaurants: My Top Food I Tried in 2026

What Are the Best Malaga Restaurants? I’ve Got The Answers

I think I’ve spent about three months in total in Spain now, and I was actually really surprised by how good the food in Malaga was. I already knew that cities like Sevilla, Madrid, and Valencia had amazing food scenes, so I didn’t come here with huge expectations, which is why I’m even more excited to show you the cool restaurants I found!

One of my favorite places, and a spot I really want to recommend, is La Tasquita de en Medio. I’ll be honest, this is no “hidden gem”; it’s super popular and even a bit iconic, but for good reason.

They have amazing tapas and great tinto de verano. I had the fried anchovies here, and they were so good that you absolutely have to try them! If you only have one day in Malaga and want a typical, high-quality experience, this is exactly where I’d send you.

Another place I really enjoyed, and actually just stumbled upon, was Anyway Wine Bar. In case you didn’t know, Spanish people love wine bars; they are everywhere, and I am so happy about that because I love them too!

Anyway Wine Bar had such a cool vibe and fun outdoor seating. I had a glass of Chardonnay and we shared a ham and cheese board. It was the perfect setup for a summer night in the city.

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely had some mediocre experiences in Malaga as well. It’s often a bit of a hit-or-miss, and I’ve spent money on food that I really regretted. Especially in the old town, though this goes for any major Spanish city, there are so many tourist traps (restaurants), which is why I always recommend doing your proper research!

1. La Tasquita de en Medio // My Favorite Restaurant in Malaga That I’ve Tried!

Opening Hours: 12pm-1am
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

We came here for a big family outing with six people, and it was such a great experience. We were seated immediately at a large table, and the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, especially with my mom! Honestly, having friendly waiters isn’t always a given in Spain, so I’m already giving them major bonus points for the service alone.

The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered a massive spread to share: patatas bravas, pimientos de Padrón (super yummy green peppers), and I ordered the fried anchovies, which were so good. We also had olives, bread and the pork loin, and of course, we all had beers and tinto de verano. It was so much fun!

If I remember correctly, we ended up spending just over $100 (around 95€) including the tip for all six of us. Everyone had multiple drinks and left totally full, which I thought was such a fantastic deal for the quality we got. If you’re looking for authentic Spanish food with great vibes, I highly recommend coming here.

2. Regina Margherita // Best Pizza in Malaga

Opening Hours: 12pm-11:30pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

No, this list isn’t only Spanish and tapas restaurants! As much as I love tapas, I don’t necessarily want to eat them every single day. So number two on my list is actually the best pizza I’ve had in Malaga, which I found at Regina Margherita.

To be honest, the place didn’t look like much from the outside, so I was actually a little skeptical at first, but trust me, it is so worth it!

The staff here was incredibly friendly, the prices were affordable, and the pizza was just incredible. We had a burrata, mortadella, and pesto pizza, plus another one with buffalo mozzarella.

Oh my god, if you are craving pizza, you have to come here. Even just writing about it and looking back at my pictures makes me want to go there again!

3. Kraken Centro // My Favorite Fine Dining in Malaga

Opening Hours: 12:30pm-11:30pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I had a friend who used to live in Malaga recommend Kraken Centro to me. He told me to go there if I wanted a more upscale tapas experience, so we decided to head there for a date night.

Honestly, it was exactly that! While it is a tapas restaurant, all the dishes were less traditional and featured a modern, creative twist that was super fun to try.

The interior is really pretty and I truly enjoyed the atmosphere, but keep in mind that it was also definitely one of the more expensive restaurants I have been to in Spain in general. It’s a spot I for sure recommend for a special occasion or a nice date night when you want to treat yourself to something a bit different.

4. Meson Mariano // One of the Best Traditional Tapas Bars in Malaga

Opening Hours: 1pm-4:30pm, 8pm-12am
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Back to something typically Spanish and very popular in Malaga: Mesón Mariano. This is a traditional tapas restaurant that I personally really loved. If you asked me for a recommendation for something truly authentic, this would be it.

The restaurant has a super old wooden bar and hand-painted tiles on the walls, it feels like it has been there for hundreds of years (and it probably has!).

I came here for dinner and, naturally, I had to order my favorite: anchovies! This time, I went for both the fried anchovies and the boquerones (anchovies in vinegar). We also grabbed some pimientos de Padrón and, of course, some croquettes, which are an absolute must-order at any tapas restaurant.

I loved every single dish here. The vibe was so lively and great that I honestly could have stayed for drinks and snacks all night if I hadn’t been so tired!

5. Anyway Wine Bar // Best Wine Bar in Malaga

Opening Hours: 7pm-12m
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I absolutely love a good wine bar, and Spain is basically heaven for that, they are literally in every single city I’ve visited.

In Malaga, I stumbled upon Anyway Wine Bar, and I am so glad I did! I haven’t always been a huge wine drinker, but over the last few years, I’ve really started to love it and enjoy the atmosphere of a great wine bar.

We found this place randomly while wandering around and ended up having a couple of glasses of Chardonnay, which was fantastic. We paired it with some olives and a ham and cheese board and let me tell you, the Iberico ham and Manchego in Spain are just to die for!

6. Kiena Kiena // My Top Spot for Lunch

Opening Hours: 12pm-4pm, 8pm-11pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

So, there is this other thing that I have recently become absolutely obsessed with. If you’ve been to Italy before, you might have seen those incredible focaccia sandwiches with mortadella, stracciatella, and pesto. Well, they have amazing ones in Spain too!

I had an incredible one in Madrid (which I’ll add to my best restaurants in Madrid list later), but I also found a really, really good version here in Malaga at Kiena Kiena.

I tried the mortadella and stracciatella one, as well as one with ham and rucola, and they were just so good. I personally love something a little lighter for lunch, so a sandwich on the go is just perfect for me while I’m sightseeing and exploring. If you want a quick, delicious break from tapas, I highly recommend this spot!

7. Los Marfiles

Opening Hours: 7:30am-4:30pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

This last restaurant on the list is one I actually haven’t been to myself, but it was another recommendation from my friend who lives here. Unfortunately, I just didn’t make it there during my stay! It’s located a little further out from the city center, which is why I never got around to it, but she told me that this is a true local favorite with amazing food.

Her favorites are the paella and the meatballs (albóndigas), and apparently, the place gets super busy because it’s so popular with the locals. I recommend going for lunch, as it’s supposedly a bit easier to snag a table then. That’s really all I can tell you for now, but maybe you can try it out and let me know what you think!

FAQs About The Best Restaurants in Malaga Spain

Is Malaga worth visiting?

Absolutely, I would say so! I’ve always said that Malaga is a little underrated. From my experience, it has an amazing food scene and a beautiful beach. Overall, I had a great time here during my family vacation and would highly recommend it.

When is the best time to visit Malaga?

I personally think April, as long as you avoid Easter time, is the best time to visit. That’s when I went to Malaga, and we had blue skies every single day with sunshine. However, it was a little chilly, so it was a bit too cold to swim, but it was absolutely perfect patio and sightseeing weather!

Is Malaga expensive?

I would say yes and no. I think Europe in general is just a little more expensive lately, especially when it comes to hotel prices. However, I thought that eating out in Malaga was super cheap! A coffee can be around 2€ and a beer is often the same, so it definitely can be an affordable trip if you know where to go.

Where can I find the best tapas in Malaga?

This is a hard one for me! I think my favorite tapas I had in Malaga were at La Tasquita de en Medio, but I can also definitely recommend Mesón Mariano, which was also amazing and a little cheaper, too.

What is the best food in Malaga?

Overall, the best food I had in Malaga was probably at La Tasquita de en Medio. It’s my favorite tapas restaurant in the city. Specifically, their fried anchovies and their tinto de verano were great andI definitely recommend ordering them!

Final Thoughts on The Best Food in Malaga Spain

All in all, I was really surprised by Malaga’s food scene. I’ll be honest: it’s not quite on the same level as a gourmet hub like Madrid or Valencia, but that’s okay! Not every city has to be a Michelin star destination.

The food I had in Malaga definitely exceeded my expectations. I had some amazing tapas here, and honestly, maybe some of the best pizza I’ve ever had at Regina Margherita.

A little extra tip I want to give you is to go to the Mercado Central de Atarazanas. It is my favorite market hall in all of Spain! I tried some incredible Iberico ham, olives, cheeses, and oysters there. All those goodies added up were probably enough for a whole meal on their own.

I hope this little guide helps you get a good idea of where to eat in Malaga. Enjoy Spain!