In Malaga, espetos (or fish skewers) don’t just form part of its gastronomy, but also its culture. Walking along the beach in this city of the Costa del Sol means enjoying the aroma of embers that whets the appetite.
As you near a beach bar (chiringuito), you will see an old fishing boat full of embers with fish and seafood on skewers, cooking slowly over the charcoal. Without a doubt, one of the typical views of this coastal area.
The traditional way to eat them is by taking the sardine and eating the loins directly with your hands. The way they are cooked enables them to be separated easily from the bones.
Fish skewers are one of the tastiest and cheapest dishes in Malaga, priced at an average of 4-6 euros for an espeto with 6 sardines. It is an ideal dish to whet the appetite in one of the chiringuito beach bars where you can enjoy the best fish and seafood by the sea.
However, it isn’t the only product to use this culinary technique: it is increasingly common to find other types of fish, including octopus legs, squid or sea bream which, placed on a skewer, arrive at the table with a smoky touch and cooked to perfection.
In this post, we have prepared a list of chiringuito beach bars and restaurants where travellers to the Costa del Sol can enjoy the best fish skewers in Malaga. That way, they can hire an all-inclusive car at the airport and travel around some of the most famous beaches to try this dish, which is so highly rated among locals, taking a photo as a souvenir of the characteristic espetos boats.
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Ranking of espetos in Malaga
The first rule when it comes to eating espetos, is that a good fish skewer is eaten by the sea. Therefore, our choice of restaurants specialising in this dish focusses on the chiringuito beach bars on the coast, organised from west to east to make planning a route to try some of our favourites easier.
Restaurante José Cerdán (Torremolinos)
In Torremolinos, we can find one of the chiringuitos with the strongest espeto. Restaurante José Cerdán boasts more than 50 years of experience cooking espetos, where more than three generations have helped it to continue to be one of the leading restaurants in the Costa del Sol.
Situated in the heart of the Paseo Marítimo de Playamar seafront promenade, this chiringuito is particularly well-known for its tender octopus legs on skewers. Although the traditional sardines and other fish like sea bass or sea bream are also a must.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 10.00 until 00.00.
- Espeto price: €5.50
- Telephone: 952 050 343
- Location: Paseo Marítimo de Torremolinos, 13
Chiringuito El Espeto Playa
Halfway between Torremolinos and Malaga, on Los Álamos Beach, we can find Chiringuito El Espeto. As its name suggests, it has specialised in this dish for more than 20 years.
The reputation of its barbecued fish and seafood precedes it thanks to their flavour and freshness. It is one of the best beaches in Torremolinos. Visitors simply cannot miss out on the red mullet skewers, a fish full of flavour which will amaze you once it has been barbecued.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 10.00 until 01.00.
- Espeto price: €6.60
- Telephone: 952 050 715
- Location: Paseo de Los Álamos, s/n
Chiringuito La Campana
Located on Misericordia Beach, one of the most popular in the capital of the Costa del Sol, Chiringuito La Campana is characterised for its friendly staff and its fresh fish and seafood.
Customers will be able to enjoy a wide variety of espetos in Malaga, among which the traditional fish skewers are a must. However, squid, octopus legs, sea bass or sea bream are also popular, with the latter having an average price of €5.90 per 100 grammes.
After enjoying some espetos, you can round off the meal with some of the area’s typical dishes, finishing with homemade desserts. Add the icing on the cake with a few cocktails on its exotic terrace with Balinese beds by the sea.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 10.30 until 18.00, including evening hours during summer until 01:00.
- Espeto price: €4.90
- Telephone: 952 239 968
- Location: Paseo Marítimo Antonio Banderas, 9
Chiringuito Rocamar
Continuing along the seafront promenade towards the city centre, Chiringuito Rocamar is situated in the heart of the popular Huelin neighbourhood of Malaga. It is one of the area’s most traditional restaurants.
Sardines or king prawns are a must, but you can also try legs of octopus and fish of the day. Visitors simply have to try its seafood paella and pil pil pink clams.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 10.00 until 18.00 including evening hours during summer until 00:00.
- Espeto price: €4.50
- Telephone: 673 35 27 67
- Location: Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado, s/n
Chiringuito El Cachalote
In the east of the city and situated on La Malagueta, the most popular beach among tourists and residents alike, Chiringuito El Cachalote is another restaurant where you can eat espetos with stunning views of the Mediterranean.
El Cachalote is popular for being one of the best places to eat seafood in the area, including pink clams and coquina clams, but also for having the best paellas in Málaga.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.00 until 18.00.
- Espeto price: €5.00
- Telephone: 627 86 37 23
- Location: Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso, s/n
Chiringuito Miguelito el Cariñoso
Miguelito el Cariñoso, one of the area’s restaurants with the most tradition, is situated in the area of Pedregalejo, a popular fishing quarter to the east of the city. With a glass-walled terrace, perfect for enjoying its dishes at any time of year, guests will be able to enjoy watching how their skewers are cooked in a charming marquee located on the sand.
As well as offering some of the best espetos in Malaga, its most popular dishes also include fried fish platter and rice dishes. This restaurant is only open during the day for lunch and is usually full, so we recommend booking in advance.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 13.30 until 16.30.
- Espeto price: €5.00
- Telephone: 952 299 443
- Location: Paseo Marítimo del Pedregal, 77
Chiringuito Las Acacias
Chiringuito Las Acacias is another of Malaga’s most popular restaurants to eat fish skewers. Located in the neighbourhood of El Palo, this chiringuito beach bar may not be one of the area’s most striking, but its flavoursome dishes and its espetos are the cheapest.
Las Acacias also has a marquee on the sand so you can see how the espeto chef prepares the fish and seafood on the barbecue, one of the most photographable images for visitors to the city. Its cuisine pays tribute to the most typical seafaring gastronomy, with dishes including ‘caldito de pintarroja’ hot seafood soup, pink clams or ‘ipirrana de pulpo’ octopus salad.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 12.00 until 17.00.
- Espeto price: €4.00
- Telephone: 952 29 89 46
- Location: Paseo Marítimo del Pedregal, 90
Casa Kiko (Rincón de la Victoria)
If we are talking about the best espetos in Malaga, then a must in our selection is Casa Kiko beach bar in Rincón de la Victoria. In this restaurant, they cook the skewers traditionally, with olive wood and hand peeled wooden skewers.
Its boat-barbecue features sardines, of course, but also some other typical fish of the area, including European horse mackerel, red sea bream and sea bream.
The good value for money and its attentive service make this place one of the favourites among locals, as well as its menu of traditional dishes.
Information of interest
- Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 13:00 until 16:30 and from 20:30 until 23:30.
- Price: €4.40
- Telephone: 699 47 72 33
- Location: Paseo Marítimo Virgen del Carmen, 8
Map of espetos places in Malaga
For visitors wanting to enjoy a comprehensive tour of the coast to discover the best espetos places in Malaga, the map below shows the locations of all of the chiringuito beach bars mentioned in this post. A tour of the best seafood cuisine on the coast of Malaga, are you going to miss out?
