The coast of Malaga is a region full of places of interest for tourists, charming beaches and a first-rate gastronomy. That’s why, in this post, we aim to provide you with a guide of restaurants in the Costa del Sol that are worth visiting for those discovering this part of the south of Spain for the first time or who, on the contrary, want to escape the typical tourist bars.
In order to do a tour of some of the best restaurants in the Costa del Sol, the best option is to hire a car in Malaga and start the journey in the capital where visitors will be able to find a vast culinary offer, to later travel some of the best-known and picturesque cities of this coastal area.
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Restaurants with views in the Costa del Sol
Restaurants with views are one of the Costa del Sol’s great secret treasures. With more than 175 kilometres of beaches bathed by the Mediterranean sea, there are many establishments that enable customers to enjoy surroundings that make the senses fall in love.
Blankko (Benalmadena)
With a terrace with views of the sea where you can delight in the best sunsets Benaladena has to offer, Blankko is one of the most popular restaurants with views in the Costa del Sol. For that reason, many customers choose it to celebrate some of their most special events.
Its menu features dishes like crispy duck on an apple compote, mushroom croquettes with truffle mayonnaise and the meat dishes, which include the Iberian pork cheek glazed with apple jelly and grilled blue cheese, receive the highest ratings from customers. This, together with a friendly service, makes this a top restaurant for lunch, an evening meal or to enjoy a drink.
El Higuerón (Fuengirola)
El Higuerón is one of the best restaurants in the Costa del Sol. With years of family tradition in its kitchens, this restaurant is in a privileged location at the foot of the mountain and enjoys panoramic views of the sea. In El Higuerón, you can enjoy a meal with views all year round, whether in its dining room with large windows or on its cosy terrace in summer.
Some of the most popular dishes of Spanish gastronomy are cooked on its stoves, with local food and Asturian products that uniquely combine together to form tasty dishes such as Millefeuille of foie gras (milhoja de foie), spider crab pate au gratin (paté de centollo gratinado) and an extensive selection of cheeses and wines. In addition, you can enjoy a delicious signature cocktail menu in its bar.
Restaurante Amador (Málaga)
Headed by one of Andalusia’s most prestigious chefs, Amador Fernández Van Vlijmen, Restaurante Amador is a place to enjoy creative cuisine in an inspiring atmosphere surrounded by nature and art. This restaurant is situated in Hotel Villa Guadalupe and enables guests to enjoy Spanish and international fusion cuisine with the city of Malaga at its feet.
Noteworthy dishes from its menu include paellas finished in a charcoal oven, tuna tartare or shoulder of lamb slow cooked at low temperature for 24 hours. Its dishes are characterised for containing fresh seasonal products, with vegan and vegetarian options available. In the dining room, guests will enjoy the colourful work by artist, Irene Van Vlijmen.
El Refectorium (Málaga)
Talking about restaurants with views in Malaga is talking about El Refectorium. This touchstone of Malaga cuisine has three restaurants, all with enviable views. While El Refectorium del Campanario is situated at the top of the city, with a panoramic view of the coast of Malaga, El Refectorium Catedral is situated at the foot of the Cathedral of the Encarnation (Catedral de la Encarnación), one of the most emblematic monuments of the city. A third restaurant is El Refectorium Malagueta, situated next to the Bull Ring (Plaza de Toros) and Malaga beach.
Although all three have a concept that unites them, focussed on seasonal and local cuisine and a unique fusion between tradition and cutting-edge cuisine, each of them has a different style that makes them unique. The menu features Iberian meats, seafood and Almadraba tuna, in addition to an extensive wine cellar with denomination of origin.
Romantic restaurants in the Costa del Sol
For visitors looking for romantic restaurants in the Costa del Sol, there are numerous options that combine an intimate and cosy space with delicious cuisine that makes any date a time to remember.
Alexso (Málaga)
Alexso features an intimate dining room in the heart of Malaga which offers customers a relaxed environment where they will be able to enjoy creative and delicious dishes with a charming service, background music and an extensive wine list to add a romantic spark to any date.
Under the motto “Cooking sensations” (“Cocinando sensaciones”), this restaurant features a tasting menu at an affordable price, around 37 euros for the short menu and 52 euros for the long one with wine pairing included. It is also possible to order from the menu, highlights of which include the toasted noodles with prawns and roast pepper aioli and the 00 anchovy with banana sponge and honey caviar.
Amanhavis (Benahavís)
Belonging to a rustic hotel with a great charm, Amanhavis is one of the romantic restaurants par excellence in the Costa del Sol. This complex is ideal for a romantic getaway, enjoying a meal in its magical garden and spending the night in themed rooms with a comprehensive experience to remember forever.
In the restaurant, which specialises in market produce, guests will be able to find a different menu each day with the products the chef finds in the local markets. They can choose between six starters, eight main dishes and four desserts. Visitors will decide whether to enjoy a meal in the romantic garden with a pool or in the charming dining room which is like a cosy sitting room.
Aire Gastrobar (Málaga)
Just a few metres from La Malagueta, in a small colonial style house, we can find Aire Gastrobar, a gourmet restaurant which is characterised for its creative cuisine with seasonal products. Run by a couple whose aim is to ensure guests enjoy a unique culinary experience, Aire boasts creative dishes protagonised by some of the area’s most typical products.
This restaurant offers a tasting menu at a price of 50 euros without wine pairing, although you can also order products from its menu which include a type of sponge cake called ‘falso pionono’ with chorizo, cheese soup (crema de queso), cane honey and confit egg yolk (miel de caña y yema curada) and ajoblanco cold soup with pistachio.
Vegan restaurants in the Costa del Sol
Vegan and vegetarian travellers can also find a wide variety of restaurants in the Costa del Sol, with options that meet their culinary needs. These are some of the most notable:
Wabi Sabi (Marbella)
This Hawaiian restaurant in Marbella is based on a concept of sustainability and respect for the planet through the creation of nutritious and tasty dishes suitable for all palates. Wabi Sabi offers a Hawaiian cuisine with north American, Japanese and Portuguese influences.
Although there are dishes which include products of animal origin, this restaurant supports the consumption of seasonal foods from local suppliers. Highlights include the vegetable gyozas with ponzu and shichimi, jackfruit bao bun or green love poke, all free from ingredients of animal origin.
Alcuzcuz Gallery (Benahavís)
Situated in a rural adults-only hotel, within an Andalusian farmhouse that dates back to 1850, Alcuzcuz is a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle and surrounded by vegetation with sea views where you can get away from stress and connect with nature.
Its menu features seasonal and local products in a concept of environmentally aware and sustainable cuisine where homemade and natural dishes predominate, from breakfasts with jams, juices and artisan pastries, to its menu starring grilled aubergines with salmorejo cold soup, rocket from the garden and homemade stews that change each day.
Mimo Vegan Bistro (Málaga)
With original and delicious cuisine, Mimo Vegan Bistro is a vegan restaurant par excellence situated in the Bohemian district of Soho in Malaga. Its varied menu includes all types of dishes that are free from products of animal origin that would make any non-vegan reconsider their diet.
Its colourful and flavoursome dishes are affordable in price, and its star dishes certainly include raw-vegan royal tartare (tartar royal crudivegano), MIMO lasagne and the onigirazu sandwich. Its menu also features organic wines and artisan beers which are committed to a more responsible production.
Map of the best restaurants in the Costa del Sol
Although the gastronomic offer of this part of the south of Spain is of the most varied, this is a good summary of some of the best restaurants on the Costa del Sol where visitors will be able to find the most diverse options, from those dedicated to the finest palates to those that opt for an aware and sustainable cuisine
