RESTAURANTE ALMA DE MIGUEL Alma de Miguel has its roots in the original Taberna Miguel, a long-established family restaurant in Estepona’s old town. Situated on the pedestrianised Calle Caridad, the restaurant has evolved over the years from a traditional Spanish taberna into a more sophisticated dining destination, while retaining its emphasis on fresh fish, seafood and quality local produce. Today, it offers a choice of dining areas, including an attractive Andalusian patio

GRILL SANT ANTONI Grill Sant Antoni Ibiza is a traditional restaurant in the old town of Sant Antoni de Portmany, situated opposite the town church. The premises have a long history and were once a popular venue for local weddings and family celebrations. In 2014, local restaurateur Toni Cardona reopened the restaurant, with chef Ramona Escribano taking charge of the kitchen. The restaurant retained its rustic character, including its large fireplace, while specialising in tr

LA CUCHARA DE SAN TELMO We visited La Cuchara de San Telmo, San Sebastián, one of our favourite pintxo bars in the old town, tucked away in a side alley off 31 de Agosto Kalea, at the back of the historic city. It’s definitely worth seeking out, so don’t hesitate to go in, even if it’s busy. La Cuchara de San Telmo is known for its traditional Basque spoon dishes, which differ from pintxos — small portions of food often served on a slice of bread and sometimes held together w

GANDARIAS JATETXEA We returned to Casa Gandarias San Sebastián, one of the best-known pintxos bars in the Parte Vieja, for our regular fill of pintxo de solomillo and red wine! We had a bottle of El Lagar de Isilla Paraje Peñalobos Tinta del Pais 2018 DOC Ribera del Duero. This was a good match with the solomillo. Solomillo pintxos. The famous Basque Gildas. Guindilla pepper, green olive and fresh anchovy - named after Rita Hayworth (hot, tall and spicy). During this visit,

We wanted to explore the charming traditional tapas bars in Estepona’s old town and discover the great prices for a beer and a tapa! These bars play a vital role in preserving the authentic character of the old town, and it’s important that we cherish and support them for future generations Our first stop was at BAR LA ESQUINITA Calle de Pozo Pila, 30, 29680 Estepona, Málaga A tiny bar with a warm welcome from Paco, the owner; this is one of the few remaining authentic tapas

KBZÓN TXIKI During our 2025 trip, we discovered a spot we had not been to before: Bar Kbzón Txiki, a small hidden gem in the parte vieja (old town) that offers a delightful culinary experience. The atmosphere is inviting, and the decor is charming. The bar offers innovative dishes crafted from familiar ingredients. They appear to use the sous vide method in their excellent cooking, which enhances the flavours. We settled in and ordered a couple of glasses of txakoli, the refr

BAR SPORT We returned to Bar Sport, once a bit of an insider tip, but it now gets very busy. True to its name, this place is especially popular during sports events, but it also offers beautifully assembled pintxos throughout the week. This authentic bar offers traditional pintxos in a lively atmosphere, all at very reasonable prices. Popular among locals, it features a rustic interior and provides a classic Basque dining experience. The bar is further enhanced by a good sele

RESTAURANTE LAS GITANILLAS This restaurant, which we have visited several times, is located in a wonderful spot on a pedestrianised street in the heart of Estepona. The family have had a restaurant in Estepona since 1970. In 2004, Paco Bazán, son of Francisco Bazán Hormigo and María Peña Gil, who learned from a young age both behind and in front of the bar alongside his parents, opened Las Gitanillas (which is Spanish for the little gypsy girls). Paco’s daughter, Gema Bazán,

For this visit to San Sebastián for a pintxos bar crawl in June 2026, we concentrated on pintxos rather than sit-down meals. We started our pintxo tour in Parte Vieja (the old town). We always prefer hot pintxos, as they are made to order. The pintxos on the bar are not a problem, but you may eat too much bread! We tend to have no more than two pintxos and a glass of wine or beer per bar, so we don’t get too full too early. The best time to visit pintxo bars is 8.30 — 10.30 p

THE BOAB TREE We recently visited The Boab Tree Restaurant in Estepona, situated in the heart of the Old Town. The restaurant is family-owned and named after the majestic Boab tree, a symbol of strength, resilience, and community. The owner, Jorge, originally hails from Granada but lived in New York before relocating. He brought his American wife, Anissa, and their daughter, and sold everything to pursue this dream venture in Estepona. The Boab Tree features Mediterranean-i