The offer of restaurants in Estepona has grown exponentially in recent years thanks to the tourist boom that this fishing village has enjoyed which was, for a long time, overshadowed by its luxurious neighbour, Marbella. However, Estepona has generated an increasing amount of interest among national and international tourists, offering a wide range of leisure, culture and gastronomy options.
This town, situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and halfway between Malaga and Cadiz has grown, transforming a town that was once focussed on the fishing trade into a point of tourist interest in the Costa del Sol. Hence, visitors will be able to find a wide range of restaurants in Estepona where they can enjoy the area’s gastronomy, with bars that offer anything from traditional to the most creative dishes.
In order to enjoy some of Estepona’s best restaurants, visitors will be able to choose a cheap hire car in Malaga, enabling them to have their own car to go from the airport to the Costa del Sol to enjoy unique dishes and a city with much to discover.
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Restaurants in Estepona centre
Those visiting this town simply must not miss out on the floral streets of its historic quarter which are bursting with life, a neighbourhood of narrow streets with white houses adorned with colourful flowers. Here visitors will be able to find the best restaurants in Estepona.
Restaurante El Cortijo | Spain from one mouthful to another
With a charming terrace in the middle of a pedestrianised street, El Cortijo is one of the restaurants in the heart of Estepona which is an excellent choice for diners. Fish, meat and the best quality wine which, served together, offer a feast full of flavours.
On its varied menu, El Cortijo stands out for its select meats and fresh fish, with star dishes including aged beef tataki, Iberian acorn-fed ham or pil pil prawn croquettes. Another dish worth trying is its beef ‘cachopo’. Visitors simply must make room for its homemade desserts that will add the icing to the cake of a 100% Iberian cuisine.
Restaurante Los Rosales | Seafaring tradition
Los Rosales is one of the most traditional establishments in the area. Its menu includes all types of local fish, bought each day from Estepona’s fish market to the table. The most popular dishes are the small fried anchovies (boquerones al tintero), sardines in vinegar or cuttlefish. Another speciality is the fried fish.
Oliva Iberoteca | For meat lovers
The Oliva Iberoteca restaurant is located in a charming corner of the historic quarter and highlights of its menu are the meat dishes, with Iberian dishes like juicy Spanish omelette with spicy chorizo from Leon, Iberian pork shoulder cut tataki or beef and red tuna tiradito. Its main courses include aged meats, although there are also pasta, fish and other flavoursome dishes such as roast goat’s cheese with foie gras and apple compote.
Restaurante La Casa del Rey | Pinchos made in Andalusia
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in Estepona is La Casa del Rey. Situated next to the famous Plaza de las Flores, this establishment is situated inside a house with a history spanning more than 200 years. With an exquisite regard for traditional cuisine, in this restaurant they work with local products, using traditional recipes with a modern touch.
Inside the venue, you can find a succulent bar of pinchos skewers which have little to envy of the best tapas bars in Estepona with various gourmet options which are complemented by hot pinchos skewers, toasts, mini burgers, pasta, meat dishes and an extensive wine menu so you can pair every mouthful.
Restaurante Sur | Argentine grill with a Moroccan touch
What do Morocco and Argentina have in common? Without a doubt, Restaurante Sur. Situated in central Estepona, this restaurant stands out for its Argentine style grill, with exquisite cuts of meat cooked to perfection and combined with Arab elements to create a unique menu, with dishes like pastilla or harira. This, together with its excellent service, make this a highly recommended option for lovers of world cuisine.
Restaurants in Estepona port
Estepona’s port area is one of the liveliest parts of the town. It is surrounded by shops and restaurants where you can enjoy typical gastronomy with views of its characteristic leisure port with more than 400 moorings.
Restaurante El Cazador | Paellas and homemade dishes with generous portions
El Cazador is one of Estepona’s most traditional restaurants in the leisure port area. Homemade cuisine stands out from its menu with dishes that include pil pil prawns, avocado au gratin and the traditional seafood or mixed paella, an essential dish to try in this seafront restaurant and which has different options for all types of guests, including a vegetarian version.
Restaurante La Escollera | For seafood lovers
Those looking to enjoy the best fish and seafood in the area should visit La Escollera. With an attentive service and lively atmosphere, this restaurant boasts high quality local produce with highlights such as clams, cooked prawns or marinades. The freshness of its produce makes this one of Estepona’s best restaurants for people seeking the best seafood.
El Palangre Seafood Restaurant | Brothy rice dishes (arroces caldosos) with a Michelin mention
With a charming terrace boasting views of the Mediterranean, El Palangre is certainly one of the best restaurants in Estepona, achieving the ‘Bib Gourmand’ distinction in 2019 from the Michelin Guide which is given to restaurants with high quality menus costing less than 35 euros. It specialises in brothy seafood rice dishes (arroces caldosos a la marinera), with some of the highlights being the black rice or lobster rice. However, you can also find star dishes like oxtail and high quality seafood, in addition to its extensive wine list.
Restaurants in Estepona by the beach
If Estepona is famous for anything, it has to be its seafaring tradition, so some of its best-known restaurants enjoy a seafront location, with fish and seafood as the highlights of their menus in addition to the best views of the area.
Restaurante La Rada | The flavour of Estepona
For the most discerning palates that are looking for an explosion of flavour, La Rada is one of the best restaurants in Estepona, with more than 25 years of experience. With fish and seafood from the market that arrive every day from the sea to the table, aged meats and juicy rice dishes, this restaurant combines an excellent service with the quality of its produce and the views from its terrace. All of this, paired with an extensive wine cellar and great artefacts, make this an unmissable option for visitors to this coastal town.
Restaurante Ancla Sea Bridge | Enjoy an evening meal with the best sunset on the coast
With an idyllic location with views of the horizon, the charming terrace at Ancla Sea Bridge enables guests to enjoy the best products from the sea, cooked in a pure Andalusian style, such as sautéed coquina clams, lemon anchovies or fried lobster. However, its menu also offers more modern dishes, like sushi made using the best fish from the coast. If one thing makes this restaurant stand out, it has to be its views, where you can enjoy the best sunset Estepona has to offer.
Pepe’s Beach Chiringuito | Skewers and cocktails by the sea
Pepe’s Beach Chiringuito beach bar is highly recommended for those looking for beach restaurants in Estepona, you can eat the best dishes with sand on your feet by the sea. This beach bar has been awarded as the national champion on the skewer route, so visitors must try this typical dish, as well as its fried fish. It also offers an interesting cocktail menu for those that decide to sit and chat after their meal on the beach.
Map of Estepona’s best restaurants
With fish being the highlight of the menu thanks to its seafaring tradition, Estepona’s restaurants have a lot to offer visitors, from tapas to gourmet options, and high quality meat dishes or delicious tapas. To be able to choose between them, here you can view a map with all of the establishments mentioned in this post so that travellers don’t miss out on the chance to try the area’s most characteristic gastronomy.
