Because of its close proximity to the sea, Malaga cuisine is typically Mediterranean with fish and seafood featuring heavily. The most famous local dish is deep fried fish in batter called Pescaíto Frito or Malaga style fried fish which requires the freshest fish and right kind of oil to achieve the correct crispness and taste. Adobo is a local recipe made with fried fish marinated in wine, and the chanquetes (tiny fish cooked in vinegar) and sardinas (sardines) grilled over charcoal are superb. Vegetarians will be delighted by the fresh vegetables in the region, and should try Ajo Blanco which is a cream of almond, garlic and olive oil.
Spanish cuisine incorporates halal food with so many parts of the country having undergone Moorish rule. One of the more popular forms of halal is lamb kebab which is delicious. Other dishes worth trying are Malaga-style noodles; anglerfish soup; Malaga-style stuffed tuna; potatoes with garlic sauce; coquinas or small clams cooked with white wine and bull’s tail (Spain being the land of bullfighting).

The seafood is usually fried with healthy olive oil and includes red mullet, whiting, fresh anchovies, baby lobsters, clams, grilled shrimp, mussels and squid. There are also some good quality but cheap restaurants located along Paseo Maritimo Antonio Martin serving traditional Malaga food.

La Posada de Antonio
Calle Granada 33
Tel: 34 95 2602123

Situated at the Cathedral end of Calle Granada this is one of the most popular restaurants in Malaga. La Posada de Antonio is owned by the one of Malaga’s most famous sons, the Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas. They specialise in grilled meat of various styles (lamb kebab mentioned earlier as halal food). Dishes on the menu include meat-filled croquette, potatoes in spicy sauce, patatas bravas, eggplant with honey, grilled sausage berenjenas con miel and churascos.

Bodega El Pimpi
Calle Granada 68
+34 952 22 8990

El Pimpi is close to the Picasso Museum and is a popular haunt of the rich and famous with King Don Juan Carlos being amongst its patrons. The interior is like a traditional Andalusian house with the addition of wine barrels and colourful pots of geraniums in the windows They are famous for the local wines they sell from Andalucia, Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Albariño: all accompanied by delicious homemade tapas like Spanish-style potato salad, octopus in a tomato-based sauce, potato croquettes, ham pudding and spicy pork sausages. There is a wide range of dishes on offer including cold meat platters, Spanish omelette and spinach with peppers.

Café Central
Plaza de la Constitución 11
Tel: +34 952 224 972

The Café Central has tables spilling over into a pretty square and is open all day starting with breakfast of hot chocolate and churros (spiral-shaped doughnuts), and then moving on moving on to tapas and traditional Malaga dishes later in the day.

Restaurante Adolfo
Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruíz Picasso 12.
Tel: +34 952 601 914
www.restauranteadolfo.com

One of the best known Malaga City restaurants with hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. Here you can expect excellent service and a menu accompanied by some excellent Andalusian wines. Daily specials might include hake in a green sauce or duck glazed with sweet wine. Their showpiece is roast suckling pig with garden herbs.

La Ménsula
Calle Trinidad Grund 28
Tel: +34 952 221 314

A welcoming and traditional restaurant with a barrel vaulted ceiling, and a delicious menu including stone cooked steak, warm fish salad and king prawns with oyster mushrooms.

El Chinitas
Calle Moreno Monroy 4-6
Tel: +34 952210 972
A traditional restaurant full of traditional and colourful ceramic tiles situated close to the tourist office in the centre of Malaga. Items on the menu include local specialties like sopa viña (fish soup flavoured with sherry) and solomillo al vino de Málaga (fillet steak in Málaga wine sauce).

Restaurante Rojo
Calle Granada 44
Tel: +34 952 227 486
www.restauranterojo.com

Chic and stylish restaurant serving innovative Mediterranean cuisine including oriental lentils with cumin and coriander, with trendy desserts of white chocolate cake with a mango drizzle. Décor is minimalist with steel, black and red furnishings.