What to Eat in Malaga: 10 Treats You Should Not Miss

It is no secret that most of us head to new cities excited to try the traditional dishes and local food that make these places unique. If you have decided to travel to Malaga, you might be interested in a food guide to help you to make the most of your culinary experience there. If you have dietary restrictions, you should be sure that you check out our guide to the best vegetarian restaurants in Malaga. There are many amazing restaurants in every part of the city, and there is no shortage of delightful local dishes to try when you visit Malaga.

You might also want to be on the lookout for the best tapas bars or the best street food in Malaga for a quick and tasty meal that you can fit in as you are enjoying sightseeing and other adventures in the city. The tapas bars in Malaga are some of the best anywhere in the world, and this is an experience that you need to make time for when you eat in Malaga.

No matter what kind of plans you have to eat in Malaga, you will want to be sure that you get your luggage securely stored before you do anything else. Having the peace of mind that your luggage is not going to be in your way can be a big benefit. Place your luggage into secure storage in Malaga so that you can make the most of this Malaga food guide and try all the typical food and excellent specialty dishes that this part of the world has to offer!

Once your bags are securely stored, you will be able to head out into this lovely city in southern Spain and make the most of your trip by visiting the best restaurants and food carts in town.

Best Food to Try in Malaga

Malaga food is delightful in so many ways, and there are few places where food tours are so enjoyable. Even if you are just going to head around the city to try Mediterranean cuisine one meal at a time rather than taking a tour, these delicious food items should be on your list. From amazing fish made in extra virgin olive oil to lovely desserts made with cane honey, you will find something delicious around nearly every corner of the city.

While you will want to make time to check out the Roman theatre, the Gibralfaro Castle, and the Cathedral of Malaga during your trip, you can also add some tasty food adventures when you're here. From cold soup to excellent wine, Andalusian cuisine is some of the most unique and hearty in the world. You will find many places to enjoy traditional food and traditional recipe options in this historical city.

Malaga Food: Gazpachuelo Malagueño

This traditional food is made with fresh seafood. This is a warm soup that is meant to be eaten in the winter, unlike gazpacho. This is one of the most traditional food items that you can try in Malaga, and you will love the hearty and filling nature of this soup. It is made with seafood, potatoes, water, salt, mayonnaise, and wine vinegar. This was a poor man's dinner in the beginning, but now it is one of the most classic food items in southern Spain, and it is considered a fancy dish rather than a basic dish.

This soup is sometimes served with a boiled egg and toast, but it might be offered as a starter for your main meal at some locations as well. This is one of the most typical dishes to enjoy when you head to the city during the colder part of the year.

Malaga Food: Plato De Los Montes De Malaga

This is one of the most delicious meals to eat in Malaga. The name of this Malaga food item literally means “Dish of the Mountains of Malaga.” Plato De Los Montes is a dish called a combination plate by locals, and it is made of fried potatoes and a fried egg. The dish combines chorizo, morcilla (black sausage), and also fried green peppers and pork in the traditional “manteca colorá.” This is lard mixed with paprika and other spices to help to preserve the meat. This is another meal that was peasant fare once upon a time, but it is offered today at many of the nicest restaurants in the city centre.

This is a Malaga city must-try, and if you love spicy items as well as filling food, you will want to make sure that you put Plato De Los Montes on your list of things to eat in Malaga.

Malaga Food: Porra Antequerana

Another soup that is always on Malaga food guide lists, is this really delicious cold tomato-based soup. Refreshing soups are a big part of the food options in southern Spain, and you will be offered this kind of delicate dish when you eat in Malaga at many restaurants. Traditional food in Malaga is often unique, and Malaga cuisine offers you access to many delightful soups. You will miss out if you do not try all of these dishes. You should consider making the most of traditional food in southern Spain while you are in Malaga.

If you are not a fan of tomato sauce or tomato soups, you might not love these dishes as much as people who enjoy soup, but this is a dish that you might want to try at least once.

Malaga Food: Fritura Malagueña

If you love fried fish, this is the right dish for you! This is a dish that is often referred to as “pescaíto frito” (fried fish) in the city, and you can find this treat to eat in Malaga at food carts and also on menus in the best restaurants. If you love sweet wine, it's often paired with this dish to create one of the most typical food options you will see for lunch in Malaga. The secret to this dish is to get a consistent fry on the fish, and this requires the perfect temperature as well as extra virgin olive oil to achieve. There are so many really delicious items made from seafood that are offered in Malaga, and you will see these offerings at the top of most lists of Malaga food to try for good reason.

Malaga Food: Espeto

Another fried fish dish, this item is sardines that have been skewered and roasted over a barbecue pit. This dish might be offered as a traditional tapas dish, or it could be offered as a typical food item on the menu at food carts or restaurants. If you are not a fan of salty fish, this might not be a big hit for you, but you will love this delightful fishy snack as an afternoon treat if fried fish is something that you enjoy. This is a typical fisherman's dish, but you can enjoy it in the fancier form at some of the traditional food carts in the city as well. Some of the best restaurants offer it as a starter. so this delicious seafood snack knows no limits.

Malaga Food: Tarta Malagueña

Malagueña is made with almonds and Malaga sweet wine, and it is one of the things that you cannot leave off of any Malaga food guide. This is a delicious treat that is often a breakfast food and is paired with coffee. You might also see this cake on offer at Malaga food carts. This is one of the most delightful desserts that you can enjoy in the city, and you will see it on the menus at almost all of the best restaurants in the city. No tour of Malaga food would be complete without enjoying this lovely little cake/pastry combination.

Malaga Food: Almendras Fritas

Almonds are one of the most classic snack items that you can buy nearly anywhere in downtown Malaga. You might find local vendors selling salted almonds all around Malaga's Old Town, which you can buy and snack on as you tour the city. You might also see these snacks at places like wine bars or in good restaurants at the bar while you wait for your table. Tapas bars often also offer almonds that have been prepared in many delicious ways that you can snack on as you wait to enjoy your regular meal. Malaga is a place where simple food is made to be delicious, and these lovely almonds that are grown locally are extra delicious because of how fresh they are.

Malaga Food: Pipirrana

Food that is perfect for hot weather is necessary for the summer months in Malaga, Spain. Pipirrana is a lovely salad made with finely chopped red pepper, some green pepper, tomatoes, onions, olives, fresh tuna, and mussels or other seafood. The whole salad is dressed with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt as well. This is a really enjoyable classic dish that many people have at the top of their list of authentic items to enjoy. This is so much better and fresher than potato salad or other common sides that are offered in other countries.

Malaga Food: Wine

There are many places where you can enjoy lovely Malaga sweet wine in town, and you might be treated to a wide array of options when you sit down to eat. Tapas bar locations are a common place to find an extensive range of Malaga's famous wines. If you want to head to a tapas bar for some traditional food, make the most of the chance to try some delicious Malaga wine at the same time. These are wines that are more like dessert wines than some people are used to. Even if this is not your favorite wine style, at least give Malaga wine a shot once during your stay.

Malaga Food: Ice Cream and Gelato

While good ice cream and gelato is not a Malaga-specific item, you can find many decadent ice cream shops in this city. It can get quite hot in Malaga during most of the year, and you might want to enjoy a cool treat to help with the heat during the hot part of the day. These shops are called heladerias, and there are many different flavors that you will find in most shops. Strawberry and other normal flavors are common, but there are also many shops that offer unique flavors like avocado or anchovy ice cream as well. If you want to enjoy some really unique flavors, Malaga has you covered.

Conclusion

With all the delicious Malaga foods you're bound to indulge in, you might want to consider some more active things to do during your stay. If you want to get out and explore, check out our guide to the best hikes in Malaga, and you can work off some of the calories you've already consumed or are planning to.

Make sure that you consider trying everything that Malaga has to offer, from sweet wine to traditional dishes like cold tomato soup and fresh seafood. This is a city that is made for those who love culinary adventures, and you will be able to have a special eating experience for each meal of the day if you plan ahead.

Be sure to place your luggage into secure storage as soon as you arrive at the Malaga Airport so that you can have your hands free to make the most of your time sampling all the best food in Malaga. You will be able to tour so many delicious desserts, snacks, and traditional dishes when you visit this city, and you will have a much better time during your adventures if you're not carrying more than is necessary!