The best fish restaurants in Malaga – 9 eateries to discover!

Posted on 21st October 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

One of the first questions our customers make us when arriving to Malaga is where they can go eat delicious, fresh, fish in the city. Therefore, we’ve prepared for you a list of the best fish restaurants in Malaga.

You can read also our post on the “Best fish in Malaga” to know what’s produced locally and their traditional preparation in malagueño cuisine.

So read on, mark the spots in your maps, and prepare your appetite to eat delicious fish!

Chupytira:

This restaurant is located in the neighborhood of Huelin, on Calle Tomas de Echeverria 13. Mostly frequented by locals, this restaurant in located close to the beach in a residential area.

Their shrimp is always cooked to perfection, their prices are affordable and the staff very efficient. If you go on a weekend we recommend making a reservation as it is always full.

Los Delfines:

This is whitout a doubt one of the best fish restaurants in Malaga, an absolute find! You’ll find it on Calle Reding 12, at La Malagueta. The servers do not speak much English, so the fresh fish display is perfect to point at what you want to eat. The restaurant is usually busy and loud, but the food it completely worth it.

Puro Pescaito:

Calle Mendez Nuñez 12. This restaurant is simple and casual, the main stage is taken by their very fresh fish, deep-fried or grilled. Make sure you understand (or ask) how something is prepared or served as to avoid surprises. Language is not a problem as most servers speak English, and the central location make it a great stop during your landmarks tour.

El Tintero:

This is one of the many great fish restaurant you will find at Pedregalejo. Located on Av. Salvador Allende 340. This restaurant is very particular, the waiters bring out food from the kitchen and shout out what they have, and if you want that, let them know. It’s sort of like going to an auction. The good thing is you order what looks good, and you don’t have to wait for your plate to be prepared. Visit this place for a different, fun type of restaurant.

El Balneario:

This restaurant is located at the end of La Malagueta beach. Great location and atmosphere, perfect for watching the sunset and enjoying a meal with the family or for a romantic dinner. The food has ups and downs, sometimes it’s fantastic and some just ok, but service is always quick and attentive and the setting is magical.

El Caleño:

Another great and simple restaurant at Pedregalejo. Fresh fish served right in front of the beach. Nothing fancy, so you can roll up your sleeves and enjoy the shrimp, shellfish and paella. It’s a good idea to call in advance and make your reservation, especially for dinner service. Make sure to try the sardines Espetos. Delicious!

Pez Tomillo:

This is one of the more modern, fancy restaurants on the Pedregalejo boardwalk. Fresh fish with a contemporary/asian twist. Higher prices than other restaurants in the area, but totally worth it. Makes our list of the best fish restaurants in Malaga because they only use the freshest ingredients and because their menu is completely different from anything you’ll fiend elsewhere. It’s a great place for a romantic dinner. Location: Paseo Maritimo el Pedregal, 1.

Los Mellizos:

Located in the city center, on Calle Sanchez de Lara 7. Excellent fish and very fresh. They are mostly cooked in simple ways and do not hide flavour under thick sauces. Try the pulpo a la gallega or the sea bass and you will not be disappointed. Yum!

Catedral del Pescaíto:

This centrally located restaurant is movie-themed. Simple, casual, and with no tables outside, can be easy to miss. Once inside, you’ll be at one of the best fish restaurants of Malaga. Their fried fish is fantastic andthe razor clams are garlicky and delicious. Prices are also very reasonable. Located on Calle duque de la Victoria 3.

There are more great eateries in Malaga, but these are our favourite. The best fish restaurants in Malaga and their very different price ranges. One general recommendation for any restaurant is to always make sure you know the price of the “specials of the day” before ordering, as to avoid surprises.

Aside that, we recommend to always call ahead and make a reservation, these restaurants are well known among locals and you could wait a while until you are seated.

We hope you enjoy great seafood while in Malaga and if you find a great place that should be included in this list, let us know. We love good fish!

Make your holiday property in Malaga your best investment!

Posted on 12th October 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

With the holiday rental market in Costa del Sol rapidly growing, you can make your property the best investment you have ever made. We will help you get a higher return on investment that any financial product available today!

Solaga specialises in high quality holiday homes. Thanks to our extensive experience, great customer service and personal attention, we are one of the highest-rated rental holiday agencies in Malaga.

The company

Danish resident Steffen Hansen founded Solaga 10 years ago. Steffen fell in love with our beautiful city and decided to spread the word among Scandinavians and British visitors.

Today, Solaga welcomes customers from all over the globe. The constant being their utmost satisfaction with the service and the quality and standard of their apartments. The independent review platform reviews.co.uk rates us with 4.7 out of 5 stars. Impressive!

Currently, the team is made up of 12 professionals who oversee that our guests’ holiday is perfect from the moment they land at Malaga airport until their departure day. Our multilingual staff can assist customers in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Danish. Below part of the Administration team:

Our services

Solaga is proud to be the pioneer company specialising in holiday rentals in Malaga. Over the years we have developed strong partnerships with both homeowners and guests. This is how Solaga has grown to become synonymous with quality and trust when it comes to holiday rentals.

We can tailor-make an exclusive rental agreement suited to your goals that can realistically generate a minimum of 25,000€ per year, and allows you the use of your own property whenever you wish.

Solaga also helps you with any documentation and permits needed to start renting your property. A wide-reaching international marketing strategy is put in place to get the maximum occupancy rate and generate the highest income possible.

Our agency takes care of maintenance, cleaning, check-in and check-out, so all you have to do is watch money come in while we take care of all the work.

We oversee the maintenance of your property to keep it in perfect condition and maintain the highest standard of quality. At solaga we make sure your property is well taken care of and that guests have the best experience during their stay.

So contact Solaga today for an assessment of your property. We will advise you on the income that can be generated and give you the best plan of action. Settle for the best!

The best paella recipe ever!

Posted on 28th September 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

If you like paella, you don’t have to wait coming to Spain in order to have some. Below you will find the recipe for the best paella in the world: the one you will make at home. Surely, some field work will come in handy to adjust a few personal touches, and perhaps even buy some saffron to highlight your dish even more.

First thing is first: depending on the region of Spain, you will find paella comes with seafood, veggies, rabbit, pork, etc. Rice can have more broth (like risotto) or dry and loose. This is all a matter of personal preference and depends on your taste, but people say the “original” Valencia paella has rabbit and the rice is loose.

Paella should be done in a low rim sauce pan, or a paella pan.

True paella ingredients (makes 4 servings)

2 cups rice (round grain, bomba or senia type)

4 cups water

200 gr of chicken

180 gr of rabbit

100 gr duck

100 gr of romano beans (flat green beans) cut into 2-inch pieces

100 gr of butter beans

50 gr of tomato (blended or grated)

2 artichokes previously cooked, cut in wedges

Saffron (in strings, NOT powder)

Turmeric (for coloring)

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Preparation

On high heat, pour a generous amount of the olive oil into the pan. Once it is hot, place the chicken, rabbit and duck and turn when golden. Add the beans and the tomato and wait until liquids start to boil. Add salt and pepper to taste. This will be when all the flavors start to come together. Time to add the water and afterwards the artichokes. Add saffron and turmeric for flavor and to add that nice yellow color distinctive of this dish.

Add the two cups of rice and mix everything together and to spread the rice all over the pan. Still on high heat, wait for water to start boiling. After 7-8 minutes, turn heat to medium.

The paella will be done in exactly 18 minutes. Do not mix rice while it is being cooked! This will only break the grains, make your paella too starchy and give it an unpleasant texture.

When the 18 minutes have passed, you can turn the heat to high again to get the rice at the bottom of the pan crispy. Leave it on for approximately 1 minute, then turn off. Let it sit for 5-6 minutes on the cook top before serving.

Now, research is very important, therefore we recommend an internship in southern Spain eating a lot of paella in the city, on the coast and anywhere you can think of. A good idea would be to stay at one of our apartments in Nerja and go to the famous Ayo restaurant to have paella ‘till you drop right at the beach.

Or you can come to Malaga, buy the best saffron in the world and do a “paella tapa tour” and taste all the different variations of this delicious dish. Make sure to stop by Arrozeando, Puro Pescaito and Meson Cantarrana, they’re famous for their rices. In the city, Solaga has over 40 apartments to choose from in the center or nearby. Whenever you come, chances are the weather will be great and the paella delicious!

The Botanical Garden of Malaga

Posted on 14th September 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

The Botanical Garden of Malaga is one of the most fascinating visits you can do during your stay. The exuberant nature, the historical constructions and the large variety of flora are truly a magical experience of contact with nature.

10 places to visit outside Malaga city center

Posted on 9th September 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

There is plenty more to see in Malaga that the main landmarks at the historical center or Malagueta beach. Below we propose 10 places to visit outside Malaga city center that the whole family can enjoy. If you stay for more than four days, we strongly recommend you visit these places as it gives you a broader idea of what our city is like. You’ll get a chance to go deep into more residential areas where locals live. Get a taste of the “real” Malaga in these great spaces of our city.

Marbella: The heart of Costa del Sol

Posted on 24th August 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

Marbella is the biggest city in Costa del Sol and the second largest in the province of Malaga after Malaga city. It’s famous for being a beach resort for jetsetters, millionaires and celebrities; but there is much more to Marbella than that. The tourism infrastructure is developed and diverse, so you can find services for your every need.

History of Marbella

Marbella was a small fishing village until the mid-20th century, when a few Spanish Aristocrats started building summer resorts for themselves and their acquaintances. Names like Rothschild, Bismark, Thyssen-Bornemisza are no stranger to the town.

Later on (promoted by dictator Francisco Franco) Puerto Banus was built. Famous people like Grace Kelly and Rainier of Monaco, Julio Iglesias, Sean Connery and Arab monarchs like King Fahd of Saudi Arabia became regulars of the fast-growing city. It is estimated that between 1950 and 2001 the population of Marbella grew by 897%.

By fernando0 – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nowadays, urban development has been more regulated as to avoid over-exploitation and the loss of the local flora and fauna.

The city

Marbella is bordered by coastal mountains to the north which provide great views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. These mountains have very little urban development, so they preserve the local flora and fauna of the region. In the city, green spaces are made up mostly by the many golf courses available (currently 32 courses and driving ranges).

West of Marbella is neighboring town of Estepona, and to the east Mijas. In both these towns there are many parks and attractions to make your stay even more interesting if you run out of things to do in Marbella.

Picture by Herry Lawford – CC 2011

Within Marbella, you have plenty of places to visit both in the summer and the less warm months of the year (wink at the great temperatures throughout the year). The historic center, is great for a late afternoon walk, enjoying the smell of orange blossom and jasmine during spring time. Get lost in the crooked little streets, remnants of the Arab heritage of southern Spain and take a few pictures of the small balconies decorated with geraniums in the most traditional Andalusian style.

What to do

You can do great shopping in the newer parts of town or in one of the many shopping centers available. The Plaza del Mar located on the seafront promenade, Marina Banus, Corte Ingles and the Plaza Mayor are just a few of the great shopping centers you’ll find in Marbella.

There are many fantastic restaurants in Marbella to have a grand meal and enjoy the best dishes created by Michelin Star chefs like the Marbella-born Dani García, and other awarded restaurants like Skina, El Lago. El Ancla in San Pedro de Alcantara is a great restaurant with views of the sea, ideal for having quality traditional seafood.

You can’t visit Marbella and not go to one of the many golf courses. Connoisseurs recommend Finca Cortesin, Santa Clara Golf and Atalaya Golf. If you are not an avid golfer, you can wait for your party relaxing in their spa, the pool or having cocktails in one of the bars. There are also many music festivals like Starlite which present world renowned artists from many different music genres. Beach parties, nightclubs, casinos and and much more complete the list of possibilities to have a wonderful time in Marbella and never get bored.

Naturally, you can go to the beach as well. There are plenty of water sports and activities for hire at the many beaches of Marbella. Stating May and until end of September you can bathe in the warm Mediterranean waters. In the area of the Congress Center, close to Dani García’s restaurant “Bibo” is our holiday apartment Mariana. Ideally located a short walk away from shops, the beach and lots of restaurants. The perfect holiday apartment to enjoy this beautiful city and have an unforgettable time.

See you in Marbella!

Step back in time at Nerja

Posted on 17th August 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

The Costa del Sol has become a very popular destination among tourists, but for a truly “authentic feel” you should look towards the east and step back in time at Nerja.

Although more and more people are starting to visit this charming little town, it still keeps the essence of a small fishermen’s town. Its low rise buildings, white-colored houses (red geraniums on the balconies), and that slow-paced lifestyle of rural living, ideal for holidays.

The best beaches of the province of Malaga

It’s as if you step back in time, where traffic, crime and technology are not a big concern. Although summertime can get a lot busier and louder, you can still disconnect in one of the many beautiful beaches of Nerja, like Burriana and Maro. The latter particular, is considered one of the best beaches of the province of Malaga. Be sure not to miss it and the kayak and stand up paddle excursions offered there.

Caves of Nerja

Another great visit during your stay in Nerja is the caves. Great for the whole family, these subterranean caves have 3 huge caverns where concerts are held during the months of June and July. Check the concert programs and visit one if you’re lucky enough to be there during one.

In the town itself, you have plenty of fish restaurants to choose from, tapas bars, seafront restaurants called “chiringuitos” where you can have from homemade paella, to ice cream, to the staple fish of Malaga sworded sardines (espetos). Go to Balcón de Europa and awe at the magnificent views of the Mediterranean. Take the perfect postcard picture with your loved ones on center stage!

The caves at Nerja will entertain both young and old.

Take a stroll down Balcon de Europa

The whole Balcon de Europa area is pedestrian, and filled with ice cream shops, live music in the summer evenings, street markets, bars… the list goes on. In this area are located our Sol and Mar apartments, on Calle Carabeo. It is the ideal spot to spend a quality time relaxing, enjoying the peaceful views and sunbathing.

If you prefer to stay farther away from the center of town and enjoy the views from higher up the hills, you can stay at our newer apartment Irene. There you will enjoy the comforts of a swimming pool, three terraces and room to park out on the street.

Wherever you stay at Nerja, you will definitely have time to disconnect, enjoy the simple things in life and recharge your batteries. This charming village will delight your five senses and make you come back over and over again. Ask anyone who has come if they would recommend it and you’ll convince yourself why you should spend your next holidays in Nerja.

What to do on Feria? Activities during Feria de Malaga

Posted on 10th August 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

If you happen to be in Malaga this weekend or throughout the next week, you’re going to find all malagueños out partying. The local festivity “Feria de Malaga” begin this Friday at midnight with a concert at La Malagueta beach and fireworks. The fiesta will last until the 20th of August.

Therefore, embrace the Feria de Malaga, do as locals and go to the different events and activities… and dance ‘till you drop!

Art shows and exhibits during Feria de Malaga

Firstly, all museums will open during Feria de Malaga. Special exhibits have been inaugurated for the celebration. Visit them to take a break from the hot August weather.

Carmen Thyssen Museum
Contemporary Arts Center
Pompidou Center
Museum Picasso Birth-house
Russian Museum
Picasso Museum
Etc.

Paper lanterns decorating streets and squares during Feria de Malaga

Live music and concerts

Especially relevant is mentioning that celebrations in the center occur during the day. Between 13:00 and 18:00 during Feria de Malaga, music bands play live music at the different squares of the center. From flamenco, to blues, to pop, the center fills up with music and dancing. Tents are also set up with food stands, so you can try the most traditional and delicious Andalusian cuisine.

In the evenings, all major concerts take place at the auditorium set up in the Feria venue. It is called Cortijo de Torres and is located on the outskirts of the city. You can access by transit, bus lines are doubled during the festivities. The bus fare from the city center (Alameda Principal) to the venue cost 1,50€. Daytime bus lines are: 4, 19, and bus F runs all night.

Concerts include:

11 de agosto, viernes: Chambao. La Malagueta Beach (pop)
12 de agosto, sábado: Danza Invisible. (pop)
13 de agosto, domingo: Bertín Osborne. (balads/rancheras)
14 de agosto, lunes: Málaga de Copla: Erika Leiva and Antonio Cortés. (flamenco)
15 de agosto, martes: Café Quijano. (pop)
17 de agosto, viernes: David Bustamante. (pop)
18 de agosto, sábado: Soraya. (pop)
19 de agosto, domingo: Camela. (flamenco)

Malagueta bullring

Bullfights

Parallel to celebrations, there will be bullfights and other bull-related events everyday during Feria de Malaga at the Malagueta bullring. From Saturday 12th to Sunday 20th the bullring will host a variety of bullfights. Most events are already sold out.

For more updated information or to purchase tickets visit: https://www.servitoro.com/en/61-bullfight-tickets-malaga

Make sure you check out our previous post about Feria de Malaga for a more general idea and history of this week-long celebration.

Lastly, we recommend if you are coming with kids, pass by Calle Alcazabilla (side street of Albeniz Cinema). There will be different activities focused on the young ones. Games, storytelling, magic and more to keep them entertained and happy!

Entrance to daytime Feria on Calle Larios

Tour of Malaga center: Discover the city for free!

Posted on 4th August 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

If you are visiting our beautiful city for the first time, you might want to consider taking a tour of Malaga city center. The good news? One of the best in the city is free!

At Solaga we are always looking for ways to improve our guests’ experience and enjoy our city to the fullest. That is why in an attempt to help you get a first glimpse of what the the city has to offer, we have partnered-up with Explora Malaga, one of the best walking city tours company in Malaga.

Daily tours are given in English and Spanish, with around 10-12 people by group. You can arrange your tour of Malaga in other languages in advance. The meeting point for their free walking tour around the center (2 1/2 hours) is Plaza de la Constitucion, in the heart of the city. The tour begins at 11:00, which is the perfect time to begin your Malaga experience after a hearty breakfast.

Start your holiday with a tour!

It is the ideal beginning to your holidays as it helps get your bearings around the city. The tour takes you around the most important landmarks of Malaga. They explain our history, culture, traditions, etc. with great humor and enough detail for you to actually remember specifics! Forget about boring audio-guides that spout dates and names so much you can’t even remember the first sentence. Our partners at Explora Malaga make your tour fun, entertaining, educational and surprisingly short. At the end you can’t believe two and a half hours have passed.

Young, friendly and knowledgeable staff takes you for a walk around Malaga city center. Maria, one of the tour guides, explained that the word marmalade came from French doctors who recommended eating oranges for sea sickness (French words mer for sea and malade for sick). Being that oranges in Malaga were sour, they were preserved with sugar. Due to evolution of language and economisation of words, people ended up calling this preserve marmalade. All this cool explanation came under the shade of an orange tree at the entrance of our cathedral. Magnificent view, sea breeze and good company included.

Tour with history, culture and…wine

Then you go off to visit one of the oldest bars of the city. Decoration include old wine barrels, a traditional Andalusian patio, bull fighting parafernalia, etc. They even provide a small tasting of sweet local moscatel wine. The tour of Malaga promotes local businesses without overwhelming or hustling visitors. You can buy something local without feeling forced to do so.

At the end of your tour, you decide how much you think it was worth and pay your guide accordingly. Don’t think of is as a tip, but more as a way of the customer to show their satisfaction with a service provided. Our friends at Explora Malaga they are so confident about the quality of their tours and their guides, that they don’t pre-set a price for many of their tours. So far customers are never disappointed.

Other tours they offer

If you are not a morning person, you can take one of their evening mystery tours, where they take you around the center while telling dark stories and legends of different places in the center. Perhaps you want to take a tour of the Alcazaba or a private one with just your family… maybe on a Segway. On their website you can see all different tours available, we are certain you will recommend it.

The sure thing is that we want our customers to have the best Malaga has to offer, and with Explora Malaga we are certain you will be satisfied with whatever tour you want to take. They are professional, offer a quality service and can tailor-make a tour to your specific needs.

The best ice cream in Malaga

Posted on 27th July 2017 by Teresa Galuppo

You have to try the best ice cream in Malaga! Try our most popular flavors like leche merengada, turron or seasonal fruits. Now that the heat will be with us for the next months, you find yourself having ice cream twice a day! More →

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Author Archives: Teresa Galuppo