5 Best Restaurants in Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical, and Costa de Almería, Spain

Between the casco antiguo and the seafront, this innovative restaurant has an unpromising plain exterior, but forge ahead: the interior's contemporary elegance in gray tones and wood make for cozy surroundings for a quiet dinner from chef Mauricio Giovanni, who renewed his Michelin star in 2025. The seasonal tasting menu has an international slant, with more than a sprinkling of Spanish cuisine in its unusual fusion dishes, such as local mini shrimp with blue cheese and gazpachuelo soup with squid. If there are four of you, book the chef's table for a tailor-made menu and a more hands-on dining experience.

Mediterranean cuisine based on fresh, local produce takes center stage at this restaurant, which has both a minimalist, intimate dining room and a pleasant terrace that's heated in winter. The seasonal menu (it changes four times a year) highlights local fresh produce including fish. Service is excellent, and there's a good-value tasting menu (€65 for eight courses) and an extensive wine list.

Just under the Don Pepe Hotel and right on the promenade, this is the perfect spot for some refreshment before or after a long stroll along the seafront. Done in orange and white with wicker chairs and navy director seats, this outdoor café--restaurant has a fitting nautical theme, and if the temperature drops, blankets and gas heaters are at the ready. Meals are available all day, starting with a range of breakfast options and continuing with brunch-style dishes such as Caesar salad with king prawns and omelets, or something a little more filling like minute steak. Drinks are on the expensive side, but the ocean view is well worth it.

If you've done any traveling on the Costa's main A7 highway, you've doubtless spotted this place, high in the pine-clad hills above the village—the views from the dining room stretch all the way to Africa on a clear day. The dishes, made with the freshest ingredients, have a definite touch of northern Spain, and the restaurant and tapas bar are both popular with a sophisticated Spanish clientele. Highlights include traditional stews such as fabes con almejas (beans with clams), creamy rice with king prawns, and steaks grilled over oak wood embers. There's an extensive wine list.

This popular, central spot serves fine regional specialties, such as arroz de marisco (rice with seafood), cazuela de rape en salsa de almendras (monkfish stew with almond sauce), and the delicious kokotxas de bacalao en salsa de ostras (cod cheeks in oyster sauce). The surroundings are rustic-yet-elegant Andalusian: whitewashed walls, dark wood, and exposed brick. If you're open to a splurge, go for the lobster. Book ahead to be sure of a table for dinner.