It is not easy to have a tapas bar crawl in Marbella, at least, not in the strict sense of the term, as the bars are not very close together. So we were pleasantly surprised with our evening stroll in mid-January. The town's geography is quite peculiar, without a clearly defined old town or centre, which means there can be a bit of walking between bars. There are various styles here, including tapas and pintxos, markets and seafood cuisine, from traditional small wineries to

RESTAURANTE EL CALEÑO We returned to the still-very-traditional village of Pedregalejo, just outside of Malaga. This village has kept its local character and charm and has not been ruined by tourism. The beaches here are divided into small U-shaped coves, perfect for families with young children. This old fishing village is now known for its excellent fish restaurants, which line the promenade next to the beach. In the warm summer months, sometimes during pleasant days in win

LA COSMO Michelin Bib Gourmand La Cosma is the younger sibling of Dani Carnero's La Cosmopolita. It has a more modern vibe and setting, but still serves big-flavoured Andalucian cooking without any gimmicks. We enjoyed an excellent early dinner, sitting at the long bar looking into the open kitchen.  We started with some excellent bread. Ostras (oysters) La Gilda atún, tomate, piparra y anchoa (a new take on the Gilda, the iconic pintxo inspired by actress Rita Hayworth, wi

ANTIGUA CASA DE GUARDIA After a visit to the Mercado Central de Atarazanas (Málaga's local food market, which also has excellent tapas bars), a short walk will take you to the oldest bar in Málaga, founded in 1840.  Here, they mainly sell Málaga sweet wine directly from the barrel. It is a typical spit-and-sawdust, old-fashioned drinking bar, and it is great fun.  It's like stepping back in time to one of the few places in Málaga that still maintains its atmosphere. Try the p

LA CEPA DE CÁDIZ This is a great local bar where you can drink beer, wine, or Manzanilla, accompanied by chicharrones, cheeses, and other products from the Sierra de Cádiz, cold cuts from Extremadura, and a large assortment of tinned preserves. It is a place with a lot of charm, a little piece of Cádiz in Málaga for gaditanos. We settled in and had, Anchoa y leche condensada (tinned anchovy and condensed milk). Chicharrones (Pork belly with spices such as paprika, oregano, an

BODEGA BAR EL PIMPI This boisterous bar, right in the historical city centre, next to the Alcazaba, is one of Malaga's most famous. El Pimpi is mentioned in every imaginable tourist guide. Despite its reputation as a tourist hotspot, this restaurant has maintained the quality of its food for which it first became famous. It is well-priced. Bodegas Bar El Pimpi is an interesting maze-like building with a series of rooms with many different styles and cultural experiences. Phot

CHIRINGUITO PACO If you are looking for fresh seafood, including an expansive range of fresh fish, on the beach at Estepona, this v ery authentic Spanish beach bar, which has been here since 1997,  is a great place to start. Once settled in, we had some excellent espeto de sardinas (sardines skewered and cooked over hot coals). Conchas Finas (local Málaga smooth clams) . Coquinas al ajillo y vino blanco (small flat clams from Huelva, with garlic and white wine). There is insi

CHIRINGUITO EL MADERO If you are looking for fresh seafood, a wide ranch of fish and rice dishes, on the beach at Estepona, this...

CASA ELADIO Michelin Plate IIO Casa Eladio was founded in 1965 by Eladio Cabello Serrano. It was managed by José Eladio Cabello Santaella (the founder's son) for 38 years during Marbella's golden age. It has a contemporary, maritime-inspired décor that has been given a new lease of life, with José's son, Carlos Cabello Jimenez (the family's third-generation), now working in the kitchen. Carlos worked in Northern Spain and Málaga before returning to the family restau

BLOSSOM - RESTAURANTE EN MÁLAGA One Michelin Star If you're looking for a restaurant in the centre of Málaga, just a few meters from the Cathedral, this restaurant could be the perfect option. Argentina-born chef Emi Schobert draws inspiration from the sea, the mountains, and local ingredients. The inside of the restaurant is tiny, most of the tables are on the pedestrian street it fronts. On arrival, we settled in with a small beer and an Aperol spritzer. We started with