El Pimpi ★ 4.3
El Pimpi has poured sweet Málaga wine since 1971, a rambling bodega on Calle Granada with a terrace facing the Roman Theatre and plates of ensaladilla.
Signature: Ensaladilla, Ajoblanco con mango
Restaurants in Centro Histórico
Mesón Mariano ★ 4.4
Mesón Mariano has cooked seasonal Andalusian food in central Málaga since 1988, famous for artichokes done several ways and a proper gazpachuelo.
Signature: Alcachofas, Gazpachuelo
El Mesón de Cervantes ★ 4.4
El Mesón de Cervantes is an Argentine-run Málaga kitchen off Plaza Merced, an open dining room plating oxtail, fresh fish and grilled meats.
Los Mellizos ★ 4.1
Los Mellizos brings the family's Rincón de la Victoria seafood to central Málaga on Calle Sancha de Lara, all fried fish, clams and rice from the bay.
Marisquería Godoy ★ 4.2
Marisquería Godoy sits on Málaga's Muelle Uno, a portside seafood house serving fried fish, red Motril prawns and rice with the bay in full view.
Uvedoble Taberna ★ 4.4
Uvedoble is a modern Málaga taberna by the Roman Theatre, plating creative tapas like oxtail brioche and boquerones beside the Alcazaba walls.
El Chinitas ★ 3.9
El Chinitas is a Málaga old-town classic just off Calle Larios, its tiled dining room serving traditional Andalusian fish, stews and fritura.
Vino Mío ★ 3.9
Vino Mío pairs international and Andalusian plates with nightly flamenco in central Málaga near Teatro Cervantes, a lively sit-down dinner spot.
Batik ★ 4.0
Batik crowns the Alcazaba Premium hotel in Málaga, a rooftop dining room serving Mediterranean plates with the Alcazaba and cathedral in view.
Asador Ovidio ★ 4.2
Asador Ovidio grills Galician dry-aged beef and market fish over coals on Plaza Uncibay in central Málaga, a carnivore's stop in the old town.
Kortxo ★ 4.1
Kortxo is a lively central Málaga restaurant just off Calle Larios, plating updated Spanish classics and generous shared dishes in a buzzy room.
Fine Dining in Centro Histórico
Kaleja 1 ★ ★ 4.8
Kaleja is Dani Carnero's one-Michelin-star restaurant in central Málaga, rebuilding Andalusian home cooking over live coals across two long tasting menus.
Palodú 1 ★ ★ 4.7
Palodú won a Michelin star in the 2026 guide, where Cris Cánovas and Diego Aguilar cook a market tasting menu four hands in central Málaga, with no head chef.
Blossom 1 ★ ★ 4.6
Blossom is Emi Schobert's one-Michelin-star table in Málaga's old town, folding Peruvian, Mexican and Argentine notes into long Andalusian tasting menus.
La Cosmo ★ 4.5
La Cosmo is Dani Carnero's Bib Gourmand tapas restaurant behind Málaga cathedral, an open kitchen sending out his mother's hake salad and coastal plates.
El Tapeo de Cervantes ★ 4.5
El Tapeo de Cervantes is a tiny Michelin Guide tavern in central Málaga where Dani Carnero first cooked, plating market fish tapas for just 28 seats.
Beluga ★ 4.3
Beluga sits on Málaga's Plaza de las Flores, where chef Diego René cooks meridional seafood from the Alborán Sea with a Levantine, Andalusian accent.
Balausta ★ 4.3
Balausta is the courtyard restaurant of Hotel Palacio Solecio in old-town Málaga, serving contemporary malagueño cooking under an 18th-century arcade.
Ta-Kumi ★ 4.2
Ta-Kumi is a Michelin Guide Japanese restaurant in central Málaga, a long-running sushi and robata counter drawing on the day's catch from Atarazanas.
El Refectorium Catedral ★ 4.2
El Refectorium Catedral is a market-driven restaurant beside Málaga cathedral, an offshoot of the 1973 Malagueta original grilling the day's fish and meat.
Casual Dining in Centro Histórico
Casa Lola ★ 4.1
Casa Lola is a bustling tiled taberna on Málaga's Calle Granada, pouring vermouth on tap alongside croquetas, ajoblanco malagueño and shared montaditos.
Order: Croquetas and gambas a la plancha with a cold vermouth
Cortijo de Pepe ★ 4.0
Cortijo de Pepe has fed locals on Málaga's Plaza de la Merced since 1971, a no-frills tapas bar of fried aubergine with molasses and cheap house wine.
Order: Berenjenas con miel and a plate of jamón at the bar
La Taberna del Pintxo ★ 3.9
La Taberna del Pintxo works the Basque way in central Málaga, a bar off Calle Larios where you grab skewered pintxos and pay by the toothpick.
Order: A tray of pintxos grabbed straight off the bar
Las Merchanas ★ 4.0
Las Merchanas is a Semana Santa shrine turned Málaga taberna, its walls thick with religious icons and its bar plating flamenquines and fried aubergine.
Order: Berenjenas con miel and flamenquines with a sweet wine
Mesón Lo Güeno ★ 4.0
Mesón Lo Güeno has crammed tapas eaters into a Málaga alley off Calle Larios since the 1960s, a wood-panelled bar of cured meats and hot montaditos.
Order: Solomillo al whisky and a wedge of manchego
La Casa del Piyayo ★ 3.9
La Casa del Piyayo is a snug tapas tavern on Málaga's Calle Granada, plating porra antequerana, boquerones and other malagueño staples at the counter.
Order: Porra antequerana and a plate of boquerones
Pepa y Pepe ★ 3.9
Pepa y Pepe is a rowdy little tapas bar off Málaga's Calle Calderería, chalkboard raciones and cold beer spilling onto a permanently packed street.
Order: Chalkboard tapas washed down with a caña
Gorki ★ 3.9
Gorki is Grupo Gorki's flagship tapas bar on Málaga's Calle Strachan, a polished room of montaditos and shared plates beside its own wine shop.
Order: Montaditos and a glass from the Gorki wine shop next door
La Barra de Doña Inés ★ 3.9
La Barra de Doña Inés is a smart tapas bar on Málaga's Alameda Principal, plating ensaladilla, grilled prawns and market fish beside a long marble counter.
Order: Ensaladilla and grilled prawns at the marble bar
El Gallo Ronco ★ 3.6
El Gallo Ronco sits on Málaga's Plaza de las Flores, an all-day Andalusian kitchen of traditional stews and fried fish with live flamenco after dark.
Order: Traditional stews with a side of live flamenco
Mesón Ibérico ★ 4.0
Mesón Ibérico is a traditional jamón bar in central Málaga, a tight room slicing Iberian ham and charcuterie with cheeses and cured-meat plates.
Order: Iberian ham carved to order with a glass of red
Pez Lola ★ 4.0
Pez Lola is a bright marine taberna on Málaga's Calle Granada, plating fried fish, boquerones and seafood tapas late into the night near the Alcazaba.
Order: Fried fish and marinated boquerones with a cold beer
El Trillo ★ 3.9
El Trillo is a classic tapas taberna off Málaga's Calle Larios, a bustling bar of Iberian charcuterie, croquetas, fried fish and grilled meats.
Order: Croquetas and a board of Iberian cheeses and hams
Cafés in Centro Histórico
Casa Aranda ★ 4.3
Casa Aranda has fried churros beside Málaga's Atarazanas market since 1932, an alley of waiter-served tables dunking them in thick, dark chocolate.
Signature drink: Churros with thick hot chocolate
Casa Mira ★ 4.2
Casa Mira has scooped turrón ice cream and cut nougat in central Málaga since 1890, a fifth-generation counter on the marble of Calle Larios.
Signature drink: Turrón ice cream and horchata
La Tetería ★ 4.0
La Tetería is a Moorish tea room beside Málaga's Picasso Museum, pouring mint tea and infusions with vegan cakes and North African pastries.
Signature drink: Moroccan mint tea and North African pastries
La Bella Julieta ★ 3.9
La Bella Julieta is a photogenic Málaga coffee bar near Calle Larios, stacking cakes, waffles and loaded shakes for a mid-morning sugar hit.
Signature drink: Loaded milkshakes and specialty coffee
Recyclo Bike Café ★ 4.0
Recyclo Bike Café is Málaga's original bike-cafe near Atarazanas, bicycles overhead and a menu of organic breakfasts, vegan plates and local craft beer.
Signature drink: Specialty coffee and craft beer
Bertani Café ★ 4.2
Bertani Café was Málaga's first specialty coffee bar, opened in 2012 near the market, a small counter of carefully sourced espresso, filter and cakes.
Signature drink: Specialty espresso with homemade cake
Syra Coffee ★ 4.1
Syra Coffee brings the Barcelona roaster's ethically sourced beans to central Málaga, a compact bar pulling bright espresso and pour-overs on Calle Mártires.
Signature drink: Cortado or filter with the Barcelona roast
Kima Coffee ★ 4.3
Kima Coffee is a specialty roastery and cafe on Málaga's Calle Carretería, roasting single-origin Arabica in-house and brewing it across espresso and filter.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter from the in-house roast
Café con Libros ★ 3.9
Café con Libros is a bookish cafe on Málaga's Plaza de la Merced, an old-style reading room of coffee, cake and cultural events near Picasso's birthplace.
Signature drink: Coffee among the bookshelves
Bakeries in Centro Histórico
La Canasta ★ 3.8
La Canasta is a Málaga bakery-cafe on Plaza de la Constitución, its counters piled with fresh breads, cakes and savoury pastries since the 1980s.
Worth the queue: Freshly baked cakes and sandwiches
Confitería Aparicio ★ 4.0
Confitería Aparicio has made Málaga sweets since 1908, a Capuchinos confectioner famous for pastelitos de gloria of marzipan and rich egg yolk.
Worth the queue: Pastelitos de gloria
La Mallorquina ★ 3.9
La Mallorquina is a traditional Málaga pastelería near Plaza Félix Sáenz, its counters lined with classic cakes, tartas and Andalusian sweets.
Worth the queue: Classic tartas and Andalusian sweets
Santa Canela ★ 3.9
Santa Canela is a Málaga bakery known for its cinnamon rolls and American-style bakes, a bright counter of sweet pastries and specialty coffee.
Worth the queue: Rollo de canela (cinnamon roll)
Coffee Roasters in Centro Histórico
Next Level Specialty Coffee ★ 4.3
Next Level Specialty Coffee sits just off Málaga's Alameda, a small bright bar pairing rotating single-origin filters with organic snacks near the market.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Mía Coffee ★ 4.3
Mía Coffee is a tiny specialty bar on Málaga's Plaza de los Mártires, where the owner brews carefully and bakes the homemade cakes that sell out daily.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Guatemala
How they serve: Espresso, Filter
Bun and Coffee ★ 4.2
Bun and Coffee pairs specialty espresso with vegan artisan doughnuts in central Málaga, a bright counter frying its rings fresh through the morning.
Sources from: Colombia, Ethiopia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Wine Bars in Centro Histórico
Los Patios de Beatas ★ 4.3
Los Patios de Beatas is a Málaga wine bar in two restored 18th-century houses, pouring over fifty wines by the glass under stained-glass courtyards.
Signature pour: A glass of Málaga Moscatel from the local list
Wine focus: Over 600 Spanish and international wines, 50 by the glass
Antigua Casa de Guardia ★ 4.5
Antigua Casa de Guardia has poured Málaga sweet wine from the barrel since 1840, the city's oldest tavern chalking your tab straight on the counter.
Signature pour: Pajarete or Seco Añejo poured from the cask
Wine focus: Málaga sweet wines drawn straight from the barrel
Casa de Vinos La Odisea ★ 4.1
Casa de Vinos La Odisea is a snug Málaga wine house in La Coracha, its barrels holding only wines of the province beside plates of fried fish.
Signature pour: A barrel-drawn Málaga Virgen with fried fish
Wine focus: Fifteen barrels of wines from Málaga province
Bodegas Quitapenas ★ 4.1
Bodegas Quitapenas is a century-old Málaga bodega on Calle Marín García, pouring local wines and vermouth beside boquerones and fried anchovies.
Signature pour: A copa of Málaga wine with a plate of boquerones
Wine focus: Málaga wines and vermouth from a century-old bodega
Bars in Centro Histórico
La Terraza de la Alcazaba ★ 4.2
La Terraza de la Alcazaba is a rooftop cocktail bar atop a Málaga hotel, mixing award-winning drinks over floodlit views of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro.
Signature drink: Award-winning cocktails with a view of the Alcazaba
Puerta Oscura ★ 4.1
Puerta Oscura is a Málaga cocktail bar of 19th-century velvet and classical music near the cathedral, a hushed room for slow, well-made drinks.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails to a soundtrack of classical music
Chester & Punk ★ 4.2
Chester & Punk is one of Andalusia's top cocktail bars, a playful central Málaga room off Calle Larios pouring inventive, competition-grade drinks.
Signature drink: Inventive signature cocktails from a top-guide bar
La Terraza de Larios ★ 4.2
La Terraza de Larios sits atop Hotel Larios on Málaga's Marqués de Larios, a rooftop bar with retractable roof and cocktails over the cathedral rooftops.
Signature drink: A cocktail over the cathedral rooftops
Renard Cocktail Club ★ 4.2
Renard Cocktail Club is an intimate central Málaga cocktail bar off Calle Larios, a low-lit room of classic and signature drinks made with real care.
Signature drink: Classic and signature cocktails made with care
La Destilería ★ 4.0
La Destilería is a Málaga cocktail bar on Calle Beatas making drinks with its own distillates and live music, running late into the early hours.
Signature drink: Cocktails made with the bar's own distillates
The Pharmacy ★ 4.2
The Pharmacy is a hidden Málaga speakeasy dressed as an old apothecary, its bar mixing precise cocktails from vintage bottles behind an unmarked door.
Signature drink: Precise cocktails from vintage apothecary bottles
La Terraza Molina Lario ★ 4.1
La Terraza Molina Lario is an eighth-floor rooftop bar in central Málaga, cocktails and a pool deck with front-row views of the cathedral and the port.
Signature drink: A cocktail beside the cathedral view
Street Food in Centro Histórico
Tejeringo's Coffee ★ 3.9
Tejeringo's Coffee fries fresh churros and tejeringos across central Málaga, dunked in thick chocolate or dulce de leche at a quick counter.
Try: Churros and tejeringos with chocolate
Bar El Yerno ★ 4.2
Bar El Yerno is a legendary seafood counter inside Málaga's Atarazanas market, serving the day's catch raw, grilled and fried straight off the stalls.
Try: Market fish served raw, grilled and fried
Tip: Find it at stall 218 inside the Atarazanas market and order the fish three ways.
Breweries in Centro Histórico
Central Beers ★ 4.3
Central Beers is a craft-beer bar on Málaga's Calle Cárcer, fifteen rotating taps and a rockabilly room pouring Spanish and international small-batch brews.
Birras Deluxe ★ 4.1
Birras Deluxe is a craft-beer bar and bottle shop by Málaga's Plaza de la Merced, sixteen taps and hundreds of cans just behind the Picasso Museum.
La Botica de la Cerveza ★ 4.0
La Botica de la Cerveza is a laid-back Málaga beer bar on Calle Victoria, over three hundred bottles and rotating taps run by a Nerja beer obsessive.
La Madriguera ★ 4.0
La Madriguera is a snug craft-beer bar in Málaga's old town on Calle Carretería, eight rotating taps and a wall of bottles in an intimate room.
Markets in Centro Histórico
Mercado Central de Atarazanas ★ 4.6
Mercado Central de Atarazanas is Málaga's grand 19th-century market behind a Moorish gate, its stalls piled with the bay's fish and Andalusian produce.
Mercado de la Merced ★ 4.1
Mercado de la Merced is a restored gourmet food hall by Málaga's Plaza de la Merced, slicing Iberian ham and frying fish beside Picasso's birthplace.
Mercado de Huelin ★ 3.9
Mercado de Huelin is Málaga's second-largest market in the Carretera de Cádiz district, 162 stalls of fresh fish, meat and produce for local kitchens.
Mercado de Salamanca ★ 3.9
Mercado de Salamanca is a 1920s Neo-Mudéjar market in Málaga's El Molinillo, tiled arches over stalls of fish, meat and produce off the tourist trail.
Budget Eats in Centro Histórico
La Tranca ★ 4.1
La Tranca is a chaotic, poster-plastered Málaga tavern on Calle Carretería, pouring vermouth on tap and sending out ensaladilla and tripe from about €1.50.
Try: Homemade tapas and vermouth on tap
Pepa y Pepe ★ 3.9
Pepa y Pepe is a rowdy budget tapas bar off Málaga's Calle Calderería, chalkboard raciones from a couple of euros with cold beer spilling onto the street.
Try: Chalkboard raciones and cold beer
Casa Aranda ★ 4.3
Casa Aranda is Málaga's cheapest great breakfast, an alley of tables by Atarazanas serving churros and thick chocolate for a few euros since 1932.
Try: Churros with thick chocolate
El Trillo ★ 3.9
El Trillo is a good-value tapas taberna off Málaga's Calle Larios, croquetas, cheeses and Iberian charcuterie at a bustling bar near the centre.
Try: Croquetas and Iberian charcuterie
La Casa del Piyayo ★ 3.9
La Casa del Piyayo is a cheap, tucked-away tapas tavern on Málaga's Calle Granada, plating porra antequerana and boquerones by the plate at the counter.
Try: Porra antequerana and boquerones
Casa Lola ★ 4.0
Casa Lola is a lively, affordable tapas taberna on Málaga's Calle Granada, vermouth on tap and croquetas, ajoblanco and montaditos at low prices.
Try: Croquetas and vermouth on tap
Brunch in Centro Histórico
Brunchit ★ 4.1
Brunchit is Málaga's original all-day brunch spot near Atarazanas, plating eggs benedict, pancakes and smoothie bowls to a young, sunny crowd.
Order: Eggs benedict with a smoothie bowl on the side
Brunchit Alhóndiga ★ 4.0
Brunchit Alhóndiga brings the brand's all-day brunch to central Málaga by the Mercado Central, a bright room of benedicts, avocado toast and bowls.
Order: Avocado toast and a flat white by the Mercado Central
Recyclo Bike Café ★ 4.0
Recyclo Bike Café doubles as a Málaga brunch stop near Atarazanas, its organic breakfasts and vegan plates served under bicycles by the market.
Order: Full breakfast with a specialty coffee under the bicycles
BYOKO ★ 4.1
BYOKO is an organic all-day brunch spot on Málaga's Plaza de la Merced, serving seasonal, mostly plant-based plates and specialty coffee near Picasso's home.
Order: An organic brunch bowl with a specialty coffee
La Bella Julieta ★ 3.9
La Bella Julieta doubles as a Málaga brunch stop near Calle Larios, stacking waffles, cakes and loaded shakes through a photogenic all-day menu.
Order: A loaded milkshake and a waffle stack
Late-Night Eats in Centro Histórico
El Pimpi ★ 4.3
El Pimpi keeps its Calle Granada bodega open past midnight in Málaga, a rambling late stop for sweet wine and tapas facing the floodlit Roman Theatre.
Try: Sweet wine and late tapas on the terrace
El Gallo Ronco ★ 3.8
El Gallo Ronco stays open toward 01:00 on Málaga's Plaza de las Flores, an Andalusian kitchen serving stews and fried fish to a late flamenco crowd.
Try: Traditional stews with late-night flamenco
Mesón Lo Güeno ★ 4.0
Mesón Lo Güeno serves tapas until midnight in a Málaga alley off Calle Larios, a wood-panelled bar of cured meats and hot montaditos for a late bite.
Try: Solomillo al whisky and cured meats
Chester & Punk ★ 4.2
Chester & Punk runs cocktails to 03:00 at weekends in central Málaga, one of Andalusia's top bars pouring inventive drinks well past midnight.
Try: Late cocktails off Calle Larios
Pez Lola ★ 4.0
Pez Lola serves seafood tapas past 01:00 on Málaga's Calle Granada, a bright marine taberna for late fried fish and boquerones near the Alcazaba.
Try: Seafood tapas and fried fish
La Destilería ★ 4.0
La Destilería runs cocktails to 04:00 at weekends on Málaga's Calle Beatas, a late-night bar of house distillates and live music in the old town.
Try: Late cocktails with live music