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Malaga’s best food & drink

  • Malaga, Andalusia, Spain

  • Bucket List Experience

Last updated: 29 March, 2024

Andalusian cooking is renowned for fresh seafood, olives and olive oil, sun-ripened vegetables, garlic and paprika.

Cooking is simple, letting fresh, delicious ingredients speak for themselves. Much of the preparation in the kitchen is minimal – fish is usually lightly dredged in flour and golden fried in olive oil.

Cold soups star in summer, hearty stews in the winter and melt-in-your-mouth cured ham (jamon serrano) year-round. Many of the desserts, many involving almonds, go back to Arab times.

Sangria, as elsewhere in Spain, is a popular drink, as is sherry.

What to try

Try Andalusia’s famous cold soups: gazpacho, but also ajo blanco, made with garlic, almonds, and bread, and thick creamy tomato salmorejo.

Seafood classics include mixed fish fry (pescado or pescaita frito), bluefin tuna (atun Rojo), and gambas pil pil (garlic and paprika prawns).

Other specialities include carrillada (braised pork or beef cheeks), rabo de toro (bull tail stew) and pringa (slow-cooked beef or pork and sausage).

Also see our round-up of traditional Spanish foods you must try in Spain.

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: -

Getting there & doing it

The food markets of Andalusia are often surrounded by tapas bars and traditional restaurants, patronized by the locals. For eating and drinking recommendations, check out the town-by-town restaurant listings at Andalucia.com.

When to do it

Spaniards traditionally eat later than most Europeans, and in the hot summer months, the Andalusians often dine as late as 11pm or midnight when it’s cool enough to sit out on the terraces. Restaurants, however, open much earlier, and there are always tapas to keep hunger at bay. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, eaten between 1pm and 3pm. In the summer following it with a siesta is strongly recommended.

Who to go with: organised tours

14

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

The Genuine Malaga Wine & Tapas Tour

  • Malaga

Taste your way through Malaga on this 3.5-hour guided evening wine and tapas tour. See why Malaga has become one of Spain’s top dining destinations. Stroll the beautiful streets of Malaga, tasting some of the best local wines available. From Malaga sweet wines, to refreshing whites, fruity reds and even artisan vermouth, you will really get to experience our diverse wine growing regions. Bars, taverns and restaurants will make you feel welcome, offering such fare as Iberian cold cuts, fresh seafood and other local specialties.

Price €73

Min age 4

Rating 4.88 / 5 [844 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Taste of Malaga Tour : Tapas, History and Local Customs

  • Malaga

In this half-day activity, food lovers will discover the traditional products, dishes and hidden treasures of Malaga. During the tour, learn about the history of Malaga’s gastronomy and visit the city's local hot spots. Small Group of just 12 people max

Price €74

Min age 14

Rating 4.92 / 5 [481 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Ultimate Malaga History & Tapas - All Included Full Experience

  • Malaga

Discover the must-see places as you explore Malaga with a licensed local guide in this Ultimate Malaga Food & Culture Experience. See monuments, hidden places, and more, and take in the city’s major attractions as the Alcazaba Arabic Fortress, Roman Theater and Cathedral with all tickets & fast track skip the line included. After this complete history lesson, you will learn and enjoy great local food paired with the best Spanish wines in two different restaurants, all-included on this Ultimate Experience in Malaga – Spain. You’ll get simply the best of the best with this combination of history and food

Price €95

Min age 4

Rating 4.96 / 5 [117 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour

  • Malaga

Visit three of Malaga’s tapas institutions on a 3-hour food tour and sample up to 15 plates of tapas alongside glasses of wine and beer. With a local guide, check out three of the city’s best tapas bars and discover specialties like Malaga’s drool-worthy sardines and melt-in-the-mouth ‘jamón’ (ham). Sip on crisp beers like San Miguel and sample the local moscatel dessert wine while learning about Andalucian culinary heritage.

Price €125

Min age 0

Rating 4.42 / 5 [101 ratings]

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3 Hours Malaga Tapas Crawl Tour

  • Malaga

This experience is a great way to really discover the culture through the local food and drinks and also by mixing with the crowd. Our expert guides are foodies willing to share their passion for food with you. The tour we have designed for you is a selection of some different venues that will give you a great overview of the great local places. With us you will visit places you would never have found by yourself and also taste some fresh and local products that many tourist don't know. All that, in the best atmosphere. *Experience not adapted for vegetarians/vegans. ** Please contact us to let us know about any dietary restriction at the time of the your reservation.

Price €73

Min age 3

Rating 4.93 / 5 [95 ratings]

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Destination guides

2

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Malaga

  • Andalusia, Spain

Close up of the beautiful cathedral from the side

Destination guide

Malaga

A big, vibrant city with a fascinating old centre, lively contemporary art, sandy beaches, great restaurants and buzzy nightlife.

  • Andalusia, Spain

Andalusia

Destination guide

Andalusia

A big dazzling region, packed with fascinating cities, beautiful landscapes and beaches, colourful fiestas and oodles of sunshine.