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
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Málaga actually eats.
Where to eat well, no fuss
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
El Tintero ★ 4.3
El Tintero is Málaga's singing-waiter chiringuito in El Palo, where fried fish and espetos are auctioned aloud and you grab plates as they fly past.
Order: Whatever the waiters are shouting: grab the fried fish as it passes
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
La Machina ★ 3.9
La Machina is Grupo Gorki's beachfront bar on Pedregalejo's promenade in Málaga, an all-day spot for fried fish, burgers and drinks by the sand.
Order: Fried fish and a cold beer on the Pedregalejo promenade
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