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
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Málaga lingers in over a cortado.
Where to sit and slow down
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