GASTRONOMY

Sea and mountains leave their mark on the vast number of flavours that translate into culinary dishes and creations that, sprinkled with the exquisite wines of this land, will delight casual and foodie travellers alike. To discover the cuisine of Málaga is to immerse yourself in its culture and history.

We invite you on a most delicious trip: a tour of Málaga's gastronomic culture. The table is set!

• SEAFOOD | Discover recommendations

The maritime tradition has inspired Málaga's recipes for centuries. The Mediterranean, which shapes the identity of this city on the Costa del Sol, is the source of dishes that are recognizable to any palate, from the already internationally renowned skewers to a noodle casserole or Málaga prawns. Every bite of a seafood dish takes you on a far-reaching tour of the city through its flavour: fry-up, skewered fish, fresh seafood from the bay and much more. A seaside menu that extends beyond the summer and that, in autumn, raises the stakes with the stews and casseroles that are essential to Málaga cuisine.

From eastern Málaga, in areas such as La Araña, El Palo and Pedregalejo, to beyond the west, there are a multitude of beach bars and bars specializing in fried fish, as well as typical seafood and dishes such as ajoblanco and pipirrana a la malagueña (a type of salad).

• INLAND | Discover our Inland Cuisine

With your hands on the steering wheel and the window open to let in the scent of pines and cork oaks. So begins the trip that takes you along the road of Los Montes past endless roadside restaurants that dot the road and beckon you to discover the essential dishes of inland Málaga.

The traditional dishes of Los Montes - migas, snails and lamb - make up, along with many others, the classic and characteristic menu, mainly in the autumn and winter months. After walking along some of its routes or trails, and discovering mills along the way, it's typical to stop at a restaurant to regain your strength.

• START THE DAY RIGHT | Breakfast in Málaga
  

“Ponme un mitad y un pitufo!” (Give me a cafe au lait and a sandwich) This might be one of the most repeated phrases in Málaga's cafés. Breakfast, in addition to being essential in a balanced diet, is part of Málaga's gastronomic commandments. The unique varieties of bread, like pitufo and viena, the unique way to order a coffee, the freshly squeezed orange juice, the delicious churros and the care taken to make sure every detail is just right, make breakfast one of the most special times of the day.

The quality of local products sets the pace for each breakfast, no matter the time of year. Likewise, new trends and ingredients from outside Málaga's borders have expanded the options on the menu. The traditional local breakfast is combined with more international fare featuring bowls of yogurt and seeds, poached eggs, croissants or toast, and a wide assortment of homestyle jams.

• TAPAS | The most authentic thing about our city
  

If there is one thing that really defines Málaga, it is its ability to share. Getting together with friends or family and ordering some tapas or servings is part of Málaga's culture par excellence, and the perfect way to try a little bit of everything.

From the most traditional ones, like Málaga salad or the anchovies in vinegar, to those with innovative nuances like Málaga sausage tartar. In any case, going out for tapas is a common theme at any time of the year. More than a way of eating, it’s a way of living and enjoying the flavours of Málaga in good company. It's also easy to find different guided tours with special dishes, both in restaurants and in bar counters alike.

• SIGNATURE CUISINE | Michelin Star

The creative revolution and the innovation of chefs and hospitality professionals have earned Málaga cuisine a spot in the global ranking of gastronomy. Local products, many of them artisanal, and new cooking techniques have laid the foundations for signature cuisine.

• THE SWEETEST GASTRONOMY | Málaga Desserts

Almond, egg, cinnamon and olive oil. Ingredients that, in perfect balance, are able to give birth to some of the most iconic treats of Málaga confectionery. Borrachuelos, roscos de vino and tortas locas are some of the most popular, and the bane of sugar addicts.

The different peoples and cultures that have inhabited Málaga have left their mark on what today has become a source of inspiration for pastry chefs around the world. Even so, history shows how the Muslim legay has left a special passion for ingredients such as flour, sugar and honey, in addition to nuts such as almond, and spices such as cinnamon or aniseed.

These days, the most traditional products and trends in the world of Málaga pastry coexist with new ingredients and techniques that experiment with textures, new flavours and variety, without losing sight of its origins.

• THE WINES OF MÁLAGA | Tradition & Flavour

Reds, whites, rosés, sparkling and sweet wines make up the wide range of wines currently made in Málaga. The grape has been around the entire province since time immemorial. Despite the great phylloxera plague back in the 14th century, the vineyards of Málaga have resurfaced and are now renowned, unique and in demand by the most demanding palates.

The unevenness of the terrain, the proximity of the sea in some areas and the influence of the climate have all led to the development of viticulture here. Also worth mentioning are the numerous wineries, the involvement of the hotel establishments in showcasing local wines and their interest in pairing them with unique local dishes.

• FLAVOURS TO REMEMBER | Local Products

To venture into the city of Málaga is to savour its land, its sea and its history through the food and products that fill pantries in Málaga, such as the classic Málaga sausage or the tasty marinated chopped olives.

Markets and shops offer all kinds of local products with plenty of produce, meats and an extensive variety of fish and seafood that make the Málaga table such a delight for everyone. And to prove it, you just have to enjoy them. The list is long: fresh anchovies, sardines and prawns just shipped in from the market, local meats such as lamb, and fruits such as orange, melon, watermelon or grapes, and much more.

The best local ingredients fill the pantry and are then used in elaborate recipes, a Málaga tradition. Zurrapa, pork loin fried in lard and salt that is then pulled - ideal for spreading on toast - the classics of Málaga desserts, such as borrachuelos and tortas locas, and local wines are some of the perfect typical products to put in your shopping basket.

• RONDA & MÁLAGA | Málaga & Wine, the origin

The gastronomy of Malaga and its province could not be fully understood without the contribution of its wines, a sign of identity, even cultural, whose legacy has been passed down from generation to generation through the centuries. Malaga has been able to preserve a local gastronomy focused on the quality and authenticity of the product: a cuisine rooted in the Mediterranean diet originating from the world of olives, fish, grapes...

Here, the traveler discovers a genuine gastronomy which is constantly reinvented, but whose essence is the product of origin. Thus, in order to discover its wine, there is nothing better than learning about its origin, the qualities of the product, from the grape to its careful elaboration process, its imprint in the territory, in the culture of the place, in the traditions which have endured until today.