Tag Archives: tapas bar

Isabella Taller de Cocina

Posted on by

Updated February 2015
isabella tdc

Just off buzzy Plaza Uncibay, Isabella T de C is a charming spot with a bar area on the main floor, an upstairs dining area and a little sidewalk terrace. The market-kitchen menu features both traditional and trad-fusion food that can be a bit hit or miss. Their house speciality of  free range fried eggs with gambas pilpil and fried potato straws didn’t work for me, and I’ve yet to have a decent caesar salad in Spain. But in general the dishes (more large plates than tapas) are good, along with knowledgeable and welcoming staff, and a fun ambiance.

Jose Denis Belgrano, 25
Málaga
Tel 951 130 018
€ € €

orange orange orange
Food 6 | Wine 6 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

isabella tdc (2)

isabella tdc wine olives
isabella tdc porra porra caprese with buffalo cheese, tuna ventresca and basil

isabella tdc cauliflowercauliflower au gratin with creamy white wine sauce

isabella tdc tomato garlic cheese toastcheesy tomatoey herby garlic toast

isabella tdc rollitos turcocrispy cordero “al stilo turco” in filo

isabella tdc caesar“caesar” salad – really it’s a smoked chicken tropical fruit salad

isabella tdc sardinassardines, wheat sprouts and aubergine confit

isabella tdc eggs gambas pilpilfree range fried eggs with gambas pilpil and fried potato straws

isabella tdc croquetas pucherocroquetas de puchero

isabella tdc andres frank rosaAndrés, Frank & Rosa

isabella tdc wall

isabella tdc tapas menu

isabella tdc (3)

Back to Top

orange orange orange
Updated February 2015

El Mesón de Cervantes

Posted on by

Updated February 2015

meson cervantes
El Mesón de Cervantes is just around the corner from its hugely successful sister bar El Tapeo de Cervantes. This new location is bigger and more stylish than the original location, with a bar area in the front for tapas and two dining areas for larger plates (raciones), though the menu and wine list are pretty much the same. Nice open kitchen and attractive space, though service can be a bit slapdash. Be sure to check out the daily specials.

Alamos 11
Málaga
Tel. 952 216 274
El Tapeo de Cervantes Website
€ € €

orange orange orange
Food 7 | Wine 7 | Service 6 | Ambiance 7

meson cervantes barthe bar

meson cervantes dining areadining area

meson cervantes wine oliveswine and olives at the bar

meson cervantes spinach saladspinach salad with shaved manchego cheese and walnuts

meson cervantes pulpogrilled octopus with fideos and romescu sauce

meson cervantes pumpkin risottopumpkin & duck risotto

meson cervantes flamenquinflamenquín

meson cervantes meatballsmeatballs in tomato sauce

meson cervantes secretogrilled secreto with pumpkin and pineapple jam

meson cervantes bacalao with orange confit and spicy tomatobacalao with orange confit and spicy tomato

meson cervantes gambasbattered prawns

meson cervantes salmongrilled salmon with herb butter, garbanzo puree and black rice

meson cervantes dining area 2dining area

meson cervantes nookcosy nook

Back to Top
orange orange orange
Updated February 2015

La Bouganvilla

Posted on by

bouganvillaLa Bouganvilla is the newest offering from Borja Galán, who runs the fabulous La Cosmopolita. It’s a very different style, serving typical Andalusian fare, and doing it very well. There’s a great terraza in the square and two floors of bar and restaurant space inside. And 1.75€ will get you a cold beer and a tapa while you check out the rest of the menu.

Granada 21
Málaga
tel. 951 006 103
Open 12.00 – midnight
(kitchen closed 16.30 – 20.00)
€ € €

orange orange orange

bouganvilla (1)
bouganvilla bar
bouganvilla cervezabeer & a tapa = 1.75€

bouganvilla tapasselection of complementary tapas

bouganvilla arrozarroz del día

bouganvilla huevos rotoshuevos rotos with chorizo and chips

bouganvilla (2)
bouganvilla (3)

bouganvilla terraza

Wendy Gamba

Posted on by

Updated May 2015

wendy gamba

Since my first visit here with my friend Victor @welovemalaga, Wendy Gamba has made a few changes to the menu, including some “friends of Wendy” (non-gamba) items. Owned and operated by the same group who run KGB (previously Manzanilla) across the street, you can still get the famous Dani García bulltail burger here. Heaven. Happily Botani is still available by the glass, but the usual beverages of choice seem to be Victoria beer, vermouth on tap and a small selection of wines. And of course there are gambas galore. Plus a few of Wendy’s friends.

Nice friendly atmosphere and cheerful staff, in spite of there being no heating or airconditioning. Most comfortable times to go: spring and autumn.

Fresca 10
Málaga
Tel. 952 22 30 24
€ € €

orange orange orange orange
Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service 8| Ambiance 7

 wendy gamba tiles

wendy gamba salmorejosalmorejo with jamón

wendy gamba tartareprawn tartare with olive oil and madras curry “roe”

wendy gamba gabardinacrispy battered prawns

wendy gamba escondidaWendy escondida!
hidden inside grilled mushrooms with red pesto sauce

kgb gambasgrilled king prawns with salsa verde

wendy gamba croquetascroquetas de – what else? – gambas!

wendy gamba al ajillospicy gambas al ajillo

wendy gamba mollete chorizomollete de Antequera with chorizo, caramalised onion, chipotle sauce

wendy gamba morcilla rondamorcilla from Ronda

wendy gamba bb“bulltail burger” with au jus mayo and havarti cheese

wendy papaspatatas bravas

wendy gamba cornerIMG_3991

wendy gamba bar seats

orange orange orange orange
Back to Top
Updated May 2015

Los Gatos

Posted on by

Updated May 2015

los gatos
Already well-established in Madrid for over 30 years, owner Miguel returned to his native Málaga and opened this second Los Gatos location in Plaza Uncibay. It’s a bright and buzzy spot that serves tapas all day long, many of them are displayed in a long case on the bar pintxo-style so you can just point and choose, or you can get hot dishes made to order. Genuinely friendly service and a fun kitschy atmosphere makes this is a great meeting point for the beginning of a tapeo, or even a full meal.

Make sure you try the morcilla with pine nuts and gambas with alioli, served on slices of crusty bread. Also very nice solomillo al whisky served with great chips. The bar doesn’t have a coffee machine but if you fancy one it’ll be brought over from the café across the square. It also has the best poured beer on tap I’ve had anywhere in Spain (watch them do it in the video below!) and with each drink you get a complimentary tapita. Plus you may find yourself with on-the-house cava and chocolates after paying your bill. This is the ultimate “cheap & cheerful” bar.

[note: the nickname for Madrileños is gato, for Malagueños it’s boquerón]

Plaza Uncibay 9
Málaga
tel 952 22 23 40
Open 11.00 – 1.00  / 7 days a week
(all day kitchen)
€ € €

orange orange orange orange
Food 7 | Wine 7 | Beer 10 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

los gatos tables

los gatos plaque
los gatos beera perfectly poured cervecita

los gatos tortillacomplimentary tortilla slices with beers

los gatos morcillamorcilla with pinenuts on toast

los gatos brie mushroomsbrie and mushrooms on bread

los gatos gambas alioligambas with alioli

los gatos anchoas solomilloCantabrian anchovy with tomato
grilled solomillo with peppers

los gatos ensaladillaensaladilla

los gatos tomatestomato salad

los gatos jamonjamón

los gatos complementary tapacomplementary tapa with drink

los gatos selectionselection of pinchos

los gatos salmonsalmon with blue cheese

los gatos (4) blue cheese

los gatos pimenton tortillasobrasada tortilla

los gatos croquetascroquettes

los gatos tapastapas display case

los gatos quesoqueso

los gatos (12)grilled solomillo (pork tenderloin) in whisky sauce

los gatos (16)toro

http://instagram.com/p/oEoXxnEVnH/
[click to see instagram video]

 los gatos ceiling

los gatos private room

los gatos wall

orange orange orange orange
Updated May 2015

Taberna Uvedoble

Posted on by

Updated July 2018

Modern tapas are smartly served up by chef Willie Orellana at this minimalist taberna in the heart of Málaga, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral. Excellent food with a wine list that is also well thought out and very well priced, either by the glass or bottle. Friendly and informed staff offer good attentive service.

For me the most important thing is how well it all works together: fabulous food, friendly service, reasonable prices. If I lived in Málaga this would be a regular hangout – check out the tapas menu on their website and you’ll see what I mean. But it fills up fast, especially at weekends, so try to get there early. Must tries include the swordfish collar in Iberian pork fat (you know you want this!) the toasted squid ink fideo noodles with eensy Málaga calamares and alioli, and the super tasty mini prawn pil-pil kebab.  But it’s all good. Just go.

Cister 17
Málaga
Tel 951 248 478
Uve Doble Website
€ € € €

orange orange orange orange orange
Food 10 | Wine 9 | Service 9 | Ambiance 9

uvedoble bar
uvedoble wines

uvedoble new (3)

uvedoble olives winewine and local alora olives

uvedoble ajoblancoajoblanco with sardines and moscatel grape granita

uvedoble empanadillaempanadilla filled with boletus and gambas

grilled asparagus with romesco sauce

uvedoble spring rollscrispy prawn springrolls with soy sauce

uvedoble cevicheswordfish ceviche with Axarquía avocado

swordfish collar (morillo) in manteca colorada with tomato chutney

uvedoble salmon tatakisalmón tataky

tuna tataky with porra antequerana

uvedoble manitadeboned pork trotter with tart apple and pistachio

uvedoble pulpotender roasted pulpo with potato purée

uvedoble chistorrasgrilled chistorras with crispy potato straws

uvedoble prawn wrapmini kebab of gambas pil-pil with pimentón mayo

uvedoble flamenquin (1)flamenquín with presa Ibérica, cheese and padrón peppers

toasted fideos negros with calamaritos de Málaga and alioli

uvedoble lamblamb with couscous

suckling pig on a brioche bun

uvvedoble presagrilled presa Ibérica with padrón peppers

uvedoble willie noeliachef Willie and Noelia

uvedoble new (1)orange orange orange orange orange
Updated July 2018

El Tapeo de Cervantes

Posted on by

Updated November 2014

tapeo cervantes
I was first introduced to this fabulous little bar just off the Plaza Jeronimo Cuervo (where the Teatro Cervantes is) a couple of years ago by friends who had just moved to Málaga. Co-owners and partners Gabriel and Romina have created a super-popular spot that is always packed with locals and visitors alike. If you don’t call ahead to book a table either get there early or be prepared to wait a while.

There’s a great selection of wines by the glass to pair with either traditional or innovative tapas. Favourites include the crispy jamón & manchego cheese flamenquín, grilled red tuna with cauliflower and carrot purées and the grilled secreto Ibérico. Be sure to check out the daily specials. Excellent value for money.

Also check out their second location El Mesón de Cervantes around the corner at calle Álamos 11.

Cárcer, 8
Málaga
Tel. 952 609 458
El Tapeo de Cervantes Website
€ € €

orange orange orange orange
Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

tapeo cervantes the bar (2) the bar

tapeo cervantes jamonjamón Ibérico w/grilled asparagus, artichokes, porra antequerana

tapeo cervantes boqueronesboquerones al vinagre with salmorejo and guacamole

calamari with preserved lemons

 tapeo cervantes gambascrispy battered prawns

tapeo cervantes seabasshake with sweet potato

 jamón Ibérico and manchego flamenquín with tomato chutney

tapeo cervantes red tuna with purées red tuna with cauliflower and carrot purées

tapeo cervantes meatballsmeatballs in tomato sauce

tapeo cervantes bacalaoconfit bacalao with leek purée and piquillo pepper jam

tapeo cervantes chiperonespan-fried chipirones and spinach

tapeo cervantes pulpogrilled octopus with smoked paprika mash

pink salmon with herb butter and crispy black rice

tapeo cervantes secreto with pumpkingrilled secreto with pumpkin and pineapple jam

tapeo cervantes morcilla sweet potatomorcilla with egg and sweet potato

tapeo cervantes boletus asparagusgrilled boletus and asparagus with jamón

carrillada Ibérica with white beans and green chilis

warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream

tapeo cervantes gabriel and romina  co-owners Gabriel and Romina

 

tapeo cervantes corchos

tapeo cervantes tables

Updated November 2014

Almocábar Bar & Restaurante

Posted on by

I’m afraid that the other photos I took of Restaurante Almocábar have gone missing – this is one I salvaged from my iPhone. But it’s probably enough to make you want to go there, right? We were on a lunchtime “tapeo” as I wanted to try as many places as possible during our 24-hour visit, and the Almocábar was stop number one that afternoon. It’s a very traditional place with both a dining area and tapas bar inside. Outside in the square there is a lovely terrace set up under the trees with a view of the Almocábar gates, which is where we ate this wonderful grilled swordfish with perfectly grilled vegetables.

Friends had told me this was one of the best places to eat in Ronda and one look at the menu made me wish we were stopping there for a full meal. The service was pleasant but (ahem) a bit relaxed. Nice wine list. And nothing came served on slate or lathered up into a liquid nitrogen froth. Just well-executed, good quality food. I’ll be back.

Ruedo Alameda 5
Ronda
Tel 952 875 977
Closed Tuesdays
€ € € €

orange orange orange orange