La Parrilla de Mané

Updated January 2017

parrilla manu
Who doesn’t love BBQ grilled meat? This fabulous Argentinian grill restaurant has become one of my favourite stops in Málaga. But some advice – as they don’t do tapas try to go with a small group so you can share lots of delicious plates and get lots of variety.

I like everything about La Parrilla de Mané. It’s in a great location, just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral. The restaurant is small, but it also has a bar with some hight tables and stools in front of it, and also a few tables outside on the terrace. I find it comfortably cosy. And the service is wonderful, friendly but still professional. The staff know their stuff and are helpful recommending wines and new dishes to try. The only thing we didn’t enjoy were the Black Angus ribs, which arrived chewy and flavourless. But all the other meats were spectacular, and very simply done. My favourites were the grilled sausages (chistorra, criollo, morcilla) and the secreto Ibérico. All meat dishes come with a choice of fried or baked potatoes, or salad, but you can also get extra side dishes and sauces (recommended! because they are all very good). Amazing value too.

Calle Cañón 3
Málaga
Tel 951 00 82 00
€ € €

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Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

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parrilla mane (4)

parrilla mane quesopayoyo cheese

parrilla mane chistorraschistorras (small spicy chorizo)

parrilla mane criollochorizo criollo

parrilla mane tablagrilled sausage plate

parrilla mane foie burger (1)foie beef cheeseburger (before)

parrilla mane foie burger (2)foie beef cheeseburger (after)

parrilla mane chicken brochettechicken veggie brochette

parrilla mane saucessauces: chimichurri, alioli, mojo picón

parrilla mane angus ribsAngus beef ribs

secreto Ibérico with chips and salad

parrilla mane orujoorujos

parrilla mane (9)team Mané

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Updated January 2017

La Plaza

la plaza
Part restaurant, part tapas bar, with a fabulous terrace for people watching in Plaza Merced. I’ve been meaning to come here for years and finally stopped in for a few tapas with a friend. Open for breakfast from 10am, with both bar and restaurant menus available from 1pm till 2am. There is also a daily set menu lunch.

Plaza de la Merced, 18
Málaga
Tel 952 36 98 78
€ € €

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Food 7 | Wine 7 | Service 7 | Ambiance 6

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la plaza falafelfalafel with cumin and honey yoghurt

la plaza ribstender pork ribs with Chinese spices

la plaza burgermini beef burger with brie & bacon

la plaza (5)

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Vinería Cervantes

vineria cervantes
Just one door over from the “mothership” El Tapeo de Cervantes, the new Vinería is pleasantly light and spacious, with large windows that open onto outdoor seating, and a small dining area at the back. The menu is pretty much the same as at El Tapeo, and there is the same great selection of wines too. The kitchen is open all day from 15.30 – midnight (basically it takes over when El Tapeo closes after lunch and then keeps going), which is especially good for visitors. Looking forward to visiting again soon.

Carcer 10
Tel 951 43 97 09
€ € €

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Food 7 | Wine 8 | Service 7 | Ambiance 8

vineria cervantes (3)

vineria cervantes (10)cured ham rolls with arugula and sheep cheese

vineria cervantes boqueronesboquerones al vinagre with salmorejo and guacamole

vineria cervantes gambasbattered prawns with cilantro alioli

vineria cervantes empanadasoxtail empanada with sofrito

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La Luz de Candela

Updated September 2015
la luz candela

Located in the slightly oddly named “Two Sidewalks Street”, a short walk up from Plaza Merced, newly-opened La Luz de Candela (Candlelight) bills itself as a “slow food” restaurant offering a seasonal mediterranean cuisine. The setting is attractive and relaxed, neither traditional or modern, and the staff are super friendly and helpful.

The French-influenced menu is fairly modest, but does include an interesting selection of tapas, medias and raciones, and the food was very good. Also lovely wines by the glass. The atmosphere was still a bit quiet, but should pick up as it becomes better known. Get there first!

Dos Aceros, 18
Málaga
Tel 951 382 251 / 648 853 253
€ € €

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Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

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luz candela (6)amuse bouche

luz candela lubinasea bass with fennel cream and saffron

luz candela turbotturbot and veggies with parsley butter

luz candela mollejaslamb sweetbreads, cream of asparagus, new potatoes

luz candela secretogrilled secreto Ibérico, roasted potatoes with thyme, peach chutney

luz candela osso bucoosso buco with mini scalloped potatoes

luz candela chocolatebitter chocolate and orange quenelles

luz candela teamthe Luz de Candela team

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Updated September 2015

La Barra del Soho

la barra soho (1)
I actually hate writing negative reviews, but here we go. Stopped in at this brand new bar in Málaga’s Soho barrio. Inside there are only four tables and three were pushed together with a reserved sign on it. The other had two women sitting at it. So I sat at the “bar” (actually a ledge running along the wall) and asked if I could move to the single table when the women left, and was told I could. I ordered a drink and a tapa from the surly barman and a few minutes later when the table became free I was told I couldn’t sit there because suddenly it was reserved too (though it stayed empty for the whole time I was there). Whatever.  I had a couple more tapas and went to the bar to pay. Surly barman turned out to be the owner, and when I told him it cost nothing to smile he got even surlier. Then when I told him the “service” at this establishment made me feel like not coming back he said… “then don’t come back”.  WTF?

So okay, I won’t go back. And I suggest you don’t bother either. Lots of other great places to eat in Málaga where the owners actually care about their clientelle.

Food was standard gastro-bar fare, by the way. Nothing special.

Tomás Heredia, 4
Málaga
Tel 656 42 02 55
€ € €

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Food 5 | Wine 6 | Service 1 | Ambiance 2

la barra soho (3)where I sat

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la barra soho (9)where I didn’t sit

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Óleo

oleo
Óleo is the popular sushi and tapas fusion restaurant attached to the Contemporary Arts Centre in Málaga. The décor is light, open and modern, and includes “bench” seating for some of the tables, as well as an outside terrace. The tapas menu (also available as media raciones) is modest, but includes a good mix of traditional and more innovative dishes, and there are also salads, and meat and fish dishes in larger plates, as well as a range of sushi options, all of excellent quality. Our favourite dish was the jurel ceviche served with lime – a spectacular bite. Service was efficient and friendly, and it’s well worth stopping here as part of your visit to CAC.

Alemania s/n
Contemporary Arts Centre
Málaga
Tel 952 219 062
€ € € €

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Food 9 | Wine 9 | Service 9 | Ambiance 8

oleo (2)

oleo bravaspatatas bravas with spicy foam

oleo cevichejurel ceviche with lime

oleo prawn rollscrispy soy-marinated prawn rolls

oleo tempura makitempura tuna maki

oleo kebabgoat pinchito with ras el hanout and onion chutney

oleo viet rollsbaby goat Vietnamese roll

oleo (1)

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Sr Lobo Café

Updated September 2015

sr lobo
Although basically a burger and sandwich bar, the recently opened Sr Lobo Cafe is a refreshing change: an independent where the quality of the food is exceptional, and the whole enterprise carried off with such humour and panache. Owner Victor and staff are friendly, welcoming and informative, and this is an important element of what makes this place tick.

The bar is light and open, and the tongue-in-cheek “graffiti” on various sections of the walls is well worth a read. The aforementioned burgers are all made with Retinto beef, a special breed of cow that is native to Cádiz, and are served with very good chips. And aside from the hearty sandwiches, there are salads and snacks such as hummus and nachos. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, be sure to check out the daily specials and lunchtime set menu. It’s a fun spot with a great vibe and has become a must-visit for me.

Somera 10
Málaga
Tel
€ € €

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Food 9 | Wine 8 | Service 9 | Ambiance 8

sr lobo (4)

sr lobo (3)

sr lobo (9)give me the coffee and no one gets hurt

sr lobo victorowner Victor pouring wine

sr lobo tinto limona very generous tinto con limón

sr lobo croquetascroquetas de puchero

sr lobo kevin baconthe Kevin Bacon

sr lobo fetaLondon Burger with hummus, onion, apple, feta cheese

sr lobo picantePicante Pedante with guacamole, red pepper, cheddar and chillis

sr lobo chipotle

Chipotle Burger with crispy onions, tomato, cheddar

sr lobo burger burgerBurger Burger with bacon, cheese, onions and pickle

sr lobo cecina burgerMatadero with manchego cheese, cecina and special mayo

sr lobo bravaspatatas bravas with two sauces (spicy & mild)

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Updated September 2015

KGB

Updated August 2015

kgb

KGB is just off Calle Larios, in the same spot where michelin super-star chef Dani García first started off the gourmet tapas scene in Málaga with La Moraga, and later Manzanilla. Up until recently run by Cordobés michelin-star chef Kisko García, KGB continues to offer fusion gourmet tapas with an every-changing selection of internationally-influenced dishes. New management will continue to spy-out new influences.

The menu hasn’t changed much, just a few tweaks here and there. Missing is the bulltail burger, served with a killer “au jus” mayonnaise, but it can still be found across the street at Wendy Gamba (also run by the KGB group). Favourites here include the innovative takes on patatas bravas and flamenquín, and the glazed pork rib taco.

The decor is modern, with clean lines and plenty of light from the big windows, contrasting nicely with views of the old traditional street outside. It’s busy and buzzy, so be sure to get there early to grab a spot at the bar.

Fresca 12
Málaga
Tel. 952 226 851
€€€€

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Food 7 | Wine 8 | Service 7 | Ambiance 7

kgb (2)

kgb (3)

kgb botaniBotani

kgb (9)“gastrobar estado puro” inspired patatas bravas

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kgb mackerelblow-torched mackerel with soy, lime and herbs

kgb prawnsking prawns in bric pastry with mint

IMG_1071croquetas de puchero

IMG_1051Ibérico stuffed chipirón (squid)

kgb (10)pork cheek burger with mayo and gorgonzola cheese

kgb cochinillocochinillo onna bun with curry sauce and rocket

IMG_9088 IMG_9078Iberian “pizza”

flamenquinflamenquín

kgb ribsglazed ribs with cabbage and avocado cream

kgb (1)

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Updated August 2015

El Tres

el tres

El Tres is the newest venture of the Gorki Group, which has several differently-themed restaurants and bars in Málaga. El Tres is their “classic haute cuisine” spot and local chef Rosa Serrano has created a menu that blends Spanish, Basque and French influences.

The restaurant in smack in the centre of Málaga and is tastefully decorated with a small terrace outside. Aside from the regular menu there are a couple of tasting menus available, which seem to be good value for money. As I was with four serious foodie friends we opted to order several media raciones from the a la carte menu and share them (tapas style!). It was a fun way to try what appealed to us rather than sticking to a set tasting menu. My favourites were the smoked eel terrine, octopus & rabbit smoked rice, and crispy skin cochinillo.

Service was terrific and we enjoyed a few wines from the very well thought out list. It was an altogether lovely experience sharing great food with dear friends. Only downer was getting our bill and finding a 2.50€ PER PERSON “service charge”…  12.50€ for the five of us. What? When will restaurants get that they should factor in these fixed costs (napkins, table cloths… toilet paper?) and not tackily tack them on after the end of an already pricey meal. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Strachan 7
Málaga
Tel 952 223 364
€ € € € €

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Food 9 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 7

el tres dining (2)
el tres (6)amuse-bouche (can’t remember what it was…)

el tres porra antequeraporra Antequera with jamón & chopped egg

el tres smoked eel terrinesmoked eel terrine with Williams pear compote

el tres parienteJosé Pariente verdejo

el tres veg menestrecrispy cooked mixed veg with a velouté of creamy jamón

el tres hakeline-caught hake in salsa verde with clams and confit potatoes

el tres monkfishmonkfish wrapped in cured pork cheek with crab cream and artichokes

el tres pulpo rabbit arrozoctopus & rabbit smoked rice

el tres cochonillocochinillo with crispy skin and apple confit

el tres steak tartareGalician beef tartare prepared at our table, served with crispy veg & chips

el tres squabsquab with carrot purée and toasts topped with its livers

el tres wines
el tres dining (1)
el tres gorki

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La Barra

la barra
La Barra belongs to the ever-growing Gorki chain of restaurants and is their “market kitchen” bar. It’s in a great location in central Málaga and has a nice terrace on pedestrianised calle Bolsa, as well as seating inside at the bar. There are also a couple of tables at the back which is apparently a dining area. I found this out on my third visit after sitting at a bar table near the front door and almost getting knocked out by a constantly spritzing “air freshener” (not noticable in the area directly in front of the bar). I was moved to a table at the back of the room – really right next to the bar tables – and was charged 1.80€ “table service” for the privilege. So basically, don’t sit there.

If you stop in for a quick tapita at the bar you can enjoy a nice assortment of tasty tapas, prettily presented. Service is professional and efficient, wines are good.

Bolsa 8
Tel 952 22 39 54
€ € €

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Food 6 | Wine 7 | Service 6 | Ambiance 5

la barra bar

la barra pincho pulpooctopus, olive and hot pepper gilda

la barra butter fish with seaweedbutter fish with pickled seaweed

la barra presa mostazagrilled presa Ibérica with grainy mustard sauce

la barra (4)octopus mayo salad

la barra pork potatoesgrilled pork with potatoes and padrón potatoes

la barra window

la barra tables

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