Paella in Torremolinos is one of the most popular dishes among visitors. This typical Spanish dish is a must on any traveller’s trip when visiting the Costa del Sol, but there are many restaurants serving paella because of its tourist appeal without being good value for money.
That’s why, in this post, we list the restaurants and beach bars (chiringuitos) where you can try the best paellas in Torremolinos, whether by the beach or in the heart of the city. Visitors that come to this town looking for the perfect paella will be able to hire a car at Malaga airport, arriving in Torremolinos in just 15 minutes.
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Paella in Torremolinos by the sea
If there is one thing better than enjoying a good paella, it is enjoying it with sea views and your feet in the sand. Torremolinos has numerous restaurants and beach bars (chiringuitos) along its seafront promenade where you can enjoy a good paella, in addition to fresh fish and seafood. A double pleasure and with the best photographs as a souvenir.
Restaurante José Cerdán
This restaurant is one of those competing for the accolade of the best paella in Torremolinos. Its specialities include seafood and mixed paella, with a drier touch, although if you are looking for a creamier dish full of flavour, the rice with carabinero prawns is the star dish. The brothy rice (arroz caldoso) with lobster is also worth a try, more expensive but using top quality products.
While waiting for the paella, guests will be able to enjoy sardine skewers, one of Malaga’s typical dishes, and a wide variety of fried fish and seafood, including grilled octopus. This beach bar (chiringuito) usually surprises customers with live music, especially during the high season and boasts a hammock service for those wanting to spent the day on the beach in the most comfortable way possible.
Chiringuito La Jábega
Chiringuito La Jábega is situated in the Carihuela area. Highlights of its menu include seafood paella, although its speciality is brothy rice with lobster (arroz caldoso de bogavante), one of the most popular among its customers. La Jábega offers a comfortable dining area with large open windows so you can enjoy the sea views without stepping foot on the sand.
Its menu also features pink clams and butterfly-shell clams (coquinas y conchas finas), two typical varieties of seafood from the area, in addition to sardine skewers and Galician style octopus. To finish, the homemade cheesecake is an absolute must.
Shamba
Shamba is a traditional beach bar (chiringuito) with a renewed vibe. Although the skewered grilled fish and fried fish dishes stand out, it also specialises in paella. Its rice menu includes typical mixed or seafood paella, in addition to brothy rice (arroz caldoso) with fish or with lobster.
This beach bar is characterised for its generous portions and excellent value for money. It also offers customers a hammock and Balinese beds service to enjoy a comfortable and leisurely meal at one of the best beach clubs in Torremolinos.
Habla Pez
The Seafront Promenade is the location of Habla Pez, a beach bar (chiringuito) known for its skewered fish and for the best paellas in Torremolinos. Its rice menu features seafood paella, black rice and brothy rice (arroz caldoso) with carabinero prawns or lobster.
Habla Pez offers almost all of its rice dishes in paella format which is drier or in broth (caldoso). It also offers other less typical options for the area’s beach bars, such as brothy rice with free range chicken or vegetables. Guests will be able to eat with their feet in the sand, or enjoy a cool and welcoming dining area to escape the sun.
Other paella places in Torremolinos
Although it is one of the more popular options, you don’t need a beach bar by the sea to be able to enjoy the best paellas in Torremolinos. Some of the restaurants specialising in this typical dish are found in the heart of the city, most of them just a few metres from the beach.
Bar América
Bar América is one of the best-known bars in the area, with years of experience in hospitality and an extensive and varied menu with dishes from all over the world, from Spanish tapas to sushi, and paellas, Asian cuisine or premium meats. In addition, it offers a daily menu with two courses, a drink and dessert for €10.50.
Its rice menu boasts a wide variety, even offering a vegetable-based vegan option. Its specialities include black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and rice with carabinero prawns, a plethora of options for lovers of rice dishes.
Mesón la Tralla
Mesón La Tralla is possibly one of the best paella restaurants in Torremolinos. Situated in the area of Carihuela, this restaurant specialises in seafood paella and black rice (arroz negro), with generous portions and at an affordable price.
Its star dishes include grilled octopus and oxtail. La Tralla’s customers agree that the excellent service of the staff, who are fast and attentive with customers, provides the best experience and highlight it as one of the best restaurants in Torremolinos.
El Levante
In the area of Carihuela, you can find El Levante, a traditional restaurant with typical local dishes from Malaga at reasonable prices. This restaurant is situated in a commercial area bustling with life and boasts a comfortable exterior terrace. Its menu offers a variety of different types of paella.
El Levante offers a daily menu at an average price of 10 euros during the week. In addition, the service is attentive and friendly, offering recommendations of the best options on the menu. Highlights among its specialities are the mixed paella and Malaga fried fish dish (fritura malagueña).
Where to eat paella in Torremolinos?
As has been pointed out at the beginning, there are many restaurants serving paella and rice dishes to their customers, but to truly enjoy a good paella in Torremolinos, the places listed above are the best options in terms of value for money. The map below shows where each of the restaurants and beach bars (chiringuitos) mentioned are located.
