Let’s go for tapas!
· 4 min. read
Tapas are typical in Spain. They are a way of snacking as an aperitif, or they can also be a way of having a light lunch or dinner. Their name derives from an old custom. In bars, a slice of ham used to be placed on top of a glass of wine (as a cover, tapa). This way, drinking became less of a problem because you always had something to eat. Today, in honor of all of us who are foodies at heart, we are going on a tapas tour!
Let’s get started!
Tapas bars not to be missed on
El Estrecho
This bar is very long-established as it first opened its doors in 1954. It is a family business and a tapas bar in Marbella which is essential to visit. Right in the centre, it is in a very narrow street (hence its name), called Calle San Lázaro. Here you can enjoy the wonderful harmony between Spaniards and foreigners mingling in the same place, what we call the “Cosmopolitan Marbella”. They serve very Andalusian tapas and the “ensaladilla rusa“, “carne con tomate” and “boquerones en vinagre” (anchovies in vinegar) stand out. Any hot dish is also excellent because the cook cooks beautifully. Nearby are La Niña del Pisto and Bartolo, also highly recommended.
Le Kune
Here you will find the Basque version of the tapa: the Pinxo. These also consist of small portions of food to nibble on, but with a cocktail stick to hold them together. This bustling corner bar is a big hit and you may have to wait a while to get a table, but it’s worth it. The waiters pass between customers with different platters of food (hot and cold) all with their cocktail sticks. You can choose the pinxos you want and then pay according to how many sticks you have on your plate. This is definitely the place to eat cod, in all its versions. Not far away are La Taberna Es Bien V&A, Sidrería Paca and Casa Blanca, fantastic for tapas.
Bar Fiesta
The Municipal Market in the centre of Marbella is full of surprises. As well as being able to buy delicious fresh fish, you can eat in several different places. Among them, there is a fun and inexpensive bar called Bar Fiesta. Run by Rubén and Irene, the name of the bar and the decoration are a tribute to their grandmother’s old flamenco tablao. If you want the best “bocata de carne-mechá” (baked meat sandwich) on the Costa del Sol, this is the place for you. And if you don’t believe it, ask the famous chef Dani García who, as he says himself, is a regular at this delicatessen.
El Pimpi
This is a Malaga “must” in every sense of the word. Not only is the food good, but it is also a place where you can breathe the history of Malaga in the atmosphere. Although it has a large terrace, we recommend choosing the interior and enjoying the decoration. Inside are stacked barrels signed by famous people, mainly Spanish, but also some international personalities such as Paloma Picasso, Rafa Nadal, John Malkovich and Antonio Banderas (who is now one of the owners of this picturesque bodega). The wine is great and the food is traditional southern Spanish. You should not leave without trying a “ligerito de pringá” and a glass of local sweet wine. In this bar ‘raciones’ or ‘media raciones’ are more popular than tapas, but they can be shared by several diners. Nearby are also El Cortijo de Pepe, La Tranca and Casa Lola, which are definitely among the top ten tapas bars.
Taberna del Volapié
Fuengirola has a very nice area to go for lunch or dinner, the Plaza de los Chinorros. There are all kinds of restaurants and cafés here, as well as in the narrow streets nearby. There is a great atmosphere and the quality is good. But La Taberna del Volapié stands out. Their style of tapas is more refined, more gourmet than the typical family tapas bars. Don’t forget to order “cazón en adobo“, “mojama de atún con huevas de maruca con almendras” and “ortiguillas“.
We hope you will try some or all our recommendations. In future posts we will be ‘going out for tapas!’ again to give you some more ideas.
In the meantime, for exquisite, luxurious, stunning homes on the Costa del Sol, do not hesitate to contact us.