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

This superb restaurant run by the congenial brothers Jorge and Nacho Rodriguez moved down from the hilltop to a new venue right on the seafront in early 2018. The light and airy dining room has stunning sea views, and there's an outside terrace as well. The dishes, all creatively presented, include traditional options like grilled sardines, oven-baked lamb, and braised oxtail as well as more innovative choices like skate in Champagne sauce, which goes well with the excellent local white wine, Calvente blanco. The desserts are sublime, particularly the cheesecake and the selection of tropical fruit. The three-course menu (€15) offers a particularly good value.

Set in the pine-clad foothills of Sierra Blanca with panoramic views of the Mediterranean, this “secret oasis in Marbella” offers Andalusian-French fusion cooking, with innovative dishes created by award-winning chefs (and brothers) Jacques and Matthieu Lagarde. Their maxim is sustainable local produce—they have their own garden and orchard, and forage in the nearby woods—and all dishes showcase the seasonal food calendar. Don’t miss the charcuterie of the day (the Lagardes make and cure their own), the butternut with Mexican red pipian or the fresh fish dishes. You’ll also find perhaps the only mashed potato with horseradish in southern Spain. Good-value tasting (€85) and lunchtime (€32) menus are available. The outside terrace enjoys a fresh breeze and sea views, while inside is rustic with an open fire for cooler days. La Cascada also has a pop-up, Le Patio, with quick bites and live music on July and August evenings. 

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.

This bright and airy restaurant is one of the best spots in the village for quick bites (tapas start at €4), pastas and pizzas, or a more substantial fish or meat dish. Spanish classics such as patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and croquettes sit alongside bao buns and tacos. There’s a good choice of salads and a range of dishes for vegetarians. The pleasant outside terrace looks out over the main square, with refreshing shade under the palm trees.

Attached to the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, this small restaurant offers a range of Mediterranean dishes and sushi best enjoyed on the riverside terrace. Sharing plates include hummus or Vietnamese rolls with Málaga kid goat; highlights on the main menu are carrillada ibérica (stewed Iberian pork), tuna steak, and a long list of sushi. The terrace is also great for summer evening cocktails.

A bright and airy venue offering traditional Spanish staples—croquettes and patatas bravas—as well more modern takes on quick bites. Try the pulled-pork bao with honey nuts and hoisin sauce or the torta de boquerones y anchoas (anchovy toast). There's also a good selection of salads and mains, where grilled octopus with paprika and tenderloin pork with sweet wine and raisins are star dishes.