2 Best Restaurants in Costa del Sol and Costa de Almeria, Spain

Down the road from the tourist office, this ordinary-looking restaurant serves excellent and abundant Spanish cooking for some of the best prices in the area. Inside, traditional wine barrels share space with modern leather stools, pine furniture, and a flat-screen television, and there's also a pleasant outside terrace. Open all day from early to late, the mesón serves breakfast, snacks, tapas, lunch, and dinner—it's often bustling and more than a little loud. Specialties include pulpo a la brasa (grilled octopus), berenjenas fritas (fried eggplant), and pío antequerano (cod, orange, and olive salad). The service is friendly, although it can be slow when the restaurant's busy. Portions are large, so they're best for sharing. Finish off with a liqueur or something from the impressive gin list.

As the name suggests, this cozy restaurant offers art in cooking, and its take on typical local dishes is one of the best in Málaga province. The menu is seasonal with an emphasis on local produce; it might include a selection of porras (thick, cold soup) and choto malagueño (kid goat in spicy sauce). Don't miss the delicious desserts, including the local bienmesabe (made from honey, egg yolks, and almonds, it translates to "it tastes good to me"). Next door Arte de Tapas does excellent, inexpensive tapas.