If you love good food and discovering new flavours then on the beach in the province of Malaga is where you’ll find true temples of gastronomy. Great service combined with the characteristically outgoing Malagueños and the fresh products on offer all add to the experience of trying the local cuisine on the Mediterranean shores. We've selected our faves from the many magnificent dishes available at the chiringuitos (beach bars) found in the Costa del Sol that you can’t leave without trying.
Espetos de sardinas (Sardine skewers)
The gastronomic symbol of the Costa del Sol, these sardine skewers are cooked right on the beach, with the traditional fishing boats serving as outdoor kitchens. The skewered sardines stand upright around a barbecue lit in the centre of the boat, roasting slowly from the heat of the fire. It’s a real spectacle that delights all the senses.
Pescaíto frito (Fried fish)
This is one of the most popular snacks in the Costa del Sol. Calamari, red mullet, whitebait…You can taste a wide selection of fried fish at the chiringuitos that line the coast. If you can’t decide what to go for, order a fritura mixta - a mixed selection - but without doubt, the fried anchovies are the star of the show. In fact, this small fish - boqueron in Spanish - is also the name given to people from Malaga as a nickname. Although in the province of Malaga anchovies are not just fried, but also prepared in vinegar.
Wild-caught fish - skewered or salted
The quality of the fish in the Costa del Sol is unquestioning. Sea bass, bream, mullet and other excellent wild Mediterranean fish are the main feature of the menu at chiringuitos on the Malagueña coast. Chargrilled or salted? You choose how you like it.
Seafood
Prawns, langoustines, clams, cockles, coquinas…What a treat to be able to try all this seafood on just one beach. The famous cañaíllas/búsanos - a type of whelk - are in high demand on the beaches of Malaga, as well as bolos and conchas finas, two types of clams that you can eat raw with a squeeze of lemon, salt and pepper: the true taste of the Mediterranean at its freshest.
Where can I try these delicacies?
The list of chiringuitos on the Costa del Sol is endless, but we wanted to mention some of our favourites that you can visit to round off your day at the beach:
- Chiringuito de Ayo, Nerja. A classic in the Costa del Sol. You can’t go to Burriana beach without trying the paella here, prepared in an enormous pan over an open fire. This beach bar featured in the well-known TV series Verano Azul. The best thing? You can go back as many times as you like.
- La Plata – Casa Matilde, Benajarafe. The tastiest seafood delicacies in a lovely beach bar in front of the sea with attentive service and live music to complete the evening after your meal. All this on the quiet beach of Benajarafe, a dream setting for treating yourself to a tasty morsel.
- El Tintero, El Palo beach, Malaga. A popular spot in Malaga city that does things differently. With no menu in sight, waiters emerge from the kitchen laden with dishes of fish and seafood calling out what they have. Essentially a fried fish auction, it’s up to you to get that dish on your table.
- Casa Juan, Fuengirola. A fail-safe spot on Los Boliches beach where you can eat some of the freshest fish and seafood. Sardine espetos, wild-caught fish, rice dishes, pescaíto frito...enjoy some fishy delicacies with your feet in the sand at this legendary chiringuito in the Costa del Sol.
- Pepes Bar, Marbella. Everything is a must-try here in this chiringuito which received an award in 2009 and 2010 as the establishment with the best sardine espetos in the Costa del Sol.
- Marisquería El Ancla, San Pedro de Alcántara beach, Marbella. Known for its great quality ingredients, it’s one of local chef Dani García’s favourite places. Its rice dishes are the highlight.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of beach bars to taste the best flavours of the Mediterranean. Fish, seafood, rice…Be seduced by the mouth-watering Malagueña cuisine at one of the Costa del Sol’s charming chiringuitos.
