Wondering what the best eats in Malaga are? Discover the best tapas on a Malaga food tour where you'll eat like a local and learn about the city's food scene.
By Liza S. | Updated 17 Mar 2024 | Málaga | Places To Go |
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Ever wondered what it’s like to eat your way through Malaga like a local? That's exactly what I did on a Malaga food tour with Spain Food Sherpas.
This Malaga tapas tour is all about getting to know the real Malaga, one bite at a time, away from the typical tourist hangouts. I was curious about how different my experience would be with a local guide showing me around.
In this article, I'll tell you about the spots we hit, the dishes that wowed us, and all the little details that made this tour more than just a meal. If you’re looking for a unique way to explore Malaga, stick around to see why taking a Malaga food tour could be a game-changer for your visit.
Unsure if a food tour in Malaga is for you? Let me tell you why it's a must-do activity in this vibrant city.
"Where should I eat in Malaga?" or "What are the must-try foods in Malaga?" are common questions we get. A Malaga food tour is the perfect answer, serving as your gateway to the city's culinary heart.
A Malaga food tour introduces you to the city’s hidden spots and best local dishes, away from the tourist bustle.
If you’ve ever tried looking up the best places to eat in a new place, you know how overwhelming it can be - it can involve lots of research, time, and scrolling through restaurant reviews. Food tours streamline this, offering a curated, value-packed experience that combines multiple tastings, expert insights, and a deep dive into Malaga's food culture.
What sets a food tour in Malaga apart from other types of tours is their social vibe. It's not just about eating; it's about connecting with fellow food lovers, exchanging stories, and making new friends. It helps that the group size is limited to 12 persons which makes it easier to connect and chat.
My tour felt like an afternoon out with new buddies, bonding over shared plates and stories.
The guides, often passionate foodies themselves, elevate the experience. They're not just showing you where to eat; they're sharing the soul of Malaga's food scene, with anecdotes and insider tips you won't find anywhere else.
For someone like me, who sticks to the familiar, a food tour is a chance to break out of my culinary shell. It's surprising how much you'll enjoy dishes you'd normally bypass on a menu. With each stop, you're gently nudged out of your comfort zone, but always delightfully so.
And let's not forget the support you're providing to local businesses and guides by choosing a food tour. It's a win-win: you embark on a delicious journey while contributing to the local economy.
A Malaga food tour is more than just tasting some tapas —it's a unique adventure of getting to the heart of the city through its food. You'll laugh, learn, and indulge in some of the best food you've ever tasted.
Fresh produce in Malaga's central market
The Malaga Tapas Tasting Tour by Spain Food Sherpas is a morning tour that begins at 11.00am and lasts about 3.5 hours (it covers lunchtime so you’ll be covered for that meal). On this tapas tour, you’ll visit a handpicked selection of Malaga's best local eateries, including the iconic Atarazanas Market.
There are typically 4 food stops on the tour, located all over Malaga’s historic centre. What I love is that this Malaga food tour is part walking tour as well. To get to each restaurant, you’ll wander through the city’s historic streets, see historic monuments along the way, and learn more about Malaga’s history.
Needless to say, you’ll be well-fed at each stop with a variety of tapas and drinks. Some dishes are shared family-style while others are individual plates. By the end of the tour, you’ll definitely be feeling full!
Have a dietary requirement or restriction? No problem, simply inform them in advance and they’ll be able to accommodate your needs. There are also different drinks available, if you don’t drink alcohol or want something else.
A Malaga food tour is designed to be a social affair, where you can meet like-minded travellers and share the joy of discovering new flavours together. That’s why the group is kept small, with a maximum of 12 participants. It's a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, where laughter and conversation flow as freely as the wine.
Beyond the tour, you'll leave with a list of recommendations from your guide on other great places to eat and foodie spots to explore, so that you can continue to eat well during the rest of your stay. (I recommend doing this tour when you first arrive for that reason!)
Expect to end the tour with a satisfied stomach, a wealth of knowledge about Malaga's culinary traditions, and maybe even a few new friends.
What I experienced is that a Malaga tapas tour is more than just tapas; it's a fun culinary and cultural experience that showcases the best of the city's vibrant food scene.
The morning of my Malaga tapas tour was (sadly) grey and gloomy but that didn’t dampen my excitement to discover Malaga’s best foods. The meeting point for the tour is right at the top of the famous Calle Larios, so it was easy to find.
When I arrived, there were already others there waiting, including our lovely guide for the day, Elise. As we waited for the rest of the group to arrive, we introduced ourselves and chatted amongst ourselves.
Once most of the group had arrived (one couple was running late), Elise got everyone together and gave an overview of the tour so that we would have a better idea of what it’d be like. And then, off we went to our first stop of the day: the Atarazanas Market.
I don’t know about you but whenever I’m in a new place in Andalucia, I love checking out their central markets! They’re a fantastic place to get a sense of the local vibe, check out local food products, and maybe even get a bite or two.
As we approached the market, Elise stopped us at a spot across from it so that we could get a good view of the building and share some information about it.
Fried fresh anchovies
Atarazanas Market, or Mercado Central de Atarazanas, is the heart of Malaga's vibrant culinary scene. Nestled in the city centre, this market is not just a destination for fresh produce; it's also a cultural landmark that’s just bustling with life and energy.
Originally built in the 14th century as a shipyard (hence the name "Atarazanas," which means shipyard in Arabic), the building has undergone several transformations. The only remaining part of the original structure is the stunning marble archway at the entrance, a testament to its Moorish architectural heritage.
In the 19th century, the building was converted into a market, and today, it stands as a magnificent example of the blend of Moorish and modernist influences.
Our first food stop was part of the market and we headed to a section of reserved outdoor tables, eagerly awaiting our first eats of the day.
Elise gave us a short introduction of the tapas that she had ordered before the plates started arriving. We started off with some classic tapas: boquerones fritos (fried anchovies), berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant with honey), and pimientos de padron (little green peppers), all washed down with tinto de verano.
While these were dishes that were already familiar to me, these versions were very tasty - in fact, Elise shared that this is her favourite spot in town for fried eggplant!
I also learned about the locally-made cane honey (miel de caña) that’s used to drizzle on the eggplant. It’s almost like molasses but with a different flavour. I loved it, and it was the perfect foil against the crispy fried eggplant.
So many olive variations in the market
After having our first round of tapas, we were ready to move on to exploring the market itself.
We were visiting on a Monday so the fish section was closed and the crowd was smaller, which made it easier to go around. When I did a return visit on another day, the market was completely buzzing with the energy of locals and tourists navigating through the bustling stalls!
As we went around, Elise told us about the three main sections of the market: fish, meat, and fruits & vegetables. Each section offers an abundance of the freshest produce, sourced locally and seasonally, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Andalusian region. In the market, we had a great stop at a stall selling olives, nuts, and spices, where we got to sample some of the items.
The marinated olives were simply divine, and so much tastier than the jarred olives you typically find in the supermarkets! We also got to try some salted toasted almonds (so good that some of us bought them right there and then) and the heart-of-Malaga fig (a local specialty that’s both cute and delicious).
As we exited at the back of the market, we learned about the architecture in Malaga with Elise pointing out some different building styles around us.
Selection of iberico jamon and sausages
A short walk later, we arrived at our second stop on our Malaga tapas tour. Within a minute of stepping inside the location I knew what this stop was all about: jamon.
Filled with various local produce and products, from charcuterie to cheeses and wines and olive oils, this local store is the place to go if you’re interested in Andalucian food products. At the table reserved for our group, we each had a selection of iberico ham and sausages, with a whisky (or the non-alcoholic substitute which was a lovely grape drink) to go with it.
We learned what each of them were and how they were made, before sampling them. By this time, the group had warmed up to each other and there was lively conversation which gave a very jovial atmosphere to the tour.
Along the way to our third stop, as we wandered through the streets of Malaga, we stopped several times as Elise shared some interesting facts, historical details, and shared recommendations about the city.
Our next stop was a restaurant located on a lovely little plaza, and we were lucky that the weather was turning sunny as a group had a table on the terrace. This turned out to be the most relaxed stop on the tapas tour as we got to settle in our outdoor seats and continue our culinary adventure.
Here, Elise’s drink recommendation was a local wine, which I opted for. We also got 2 individual dishes: salmorejo which is a lovely chilled tomato soup and a local favourite, the Malaga salad.
Now, I was definitely intrigued to try the salad as I hadn’t heard of it before and the ingredients sounded like a unique mix. Cod, potatoes, and orange, anyone?
When the Malaga salad arrived at the table, it looked so appetising… and I ended up simply loving it. It was such a harmonious dish; the cod and potatoes made it feel hearty and the orange really livened up the dish. This was probably my favourite dish on the tour.
By this time, the atmosphere was very relaxed and warm, and I was thoroughly enjoying conversing with some of the other folks on the tour. We were an international group, so it was fun and interesting to talk about our different cultures, lifestyles, and experiences.
I was definitely starting to feel full… but we still had one more stop to go on the tapas tour!
Our final stop on the Malaga food tour
After a quick stop by the Malaga Cathedral, we ended up at our final restaurant. It definitely had a different vibe from the previous one, with a more traditional atmosphere with wood panelling and furniture, colourful paintings depicting Andalucian culture, and old faded black-and-white photographs.
As we settled into our table, Elise shared the history of the restaurant; that it was founded by a former bull-fighter and remains in the hands of the same family.
Here, we had some fried fish, a grilled pork sandwich, and wine. I was definitely more than satisfied with the quantity of food on the tapas tour; everything added up and by the end, I was stuffed!
And then it was time to say goodbye as the tour ended.
Overall, I found the Malaga tapas tour by Spain Food Sherpas very well-paced. It never felt like we were rushing anywhere or that we were rushed to finish our food; everything was perfectly timed. Elise guided our group with ease, sharing information about Malaga, its history, food and culture in an engaging way.
Even though some of the food we had weren’t new to me, I still enjoyed learning about little details I hadn’t known before and discovering what’s the best spot to have a particular dish. That’s what it’s all about, right? Getting closer to a city’s culture and getting tips from locals never gets old.
And well, the food was very very good.
I love that each stop is chosen by the guide for its quality. And by choosing local and family-run establishments, the tour supports the community, ensuring that our participation in the tour has a positive impact.
Booking a spot on a Spain Food Sherpas food Tour is easy and takes less than 5 minutes. You can find this tapas tour on Get Your Guide, my favourite platform for booking tours and activities in Andalucia.
Simply input your desired date/time and number of participants to check availability and then make your booking.
Their Malaga food tours are family-friendly and you get reduced rates for adolescents aged 13-17 and children under 12, making it a great activity for families visiting the city.
They also have other food tours in Malaga:
Don’t forget that the maximum group size for the Malaga food tours is 12 pax so it’s recommended to make your reservations in advance, especially if you’re travelling during peak periods.
By booking on Get Your Guide, you can make a reservation with the ability to cancel (without penalty!) at least 24 hours before the activity in case something comes up and your plans change.
➡️ Book your spot on the Malaga tapas food tour here
If you have any dietary requirements, be sure to let them know when you book. They are usually able to accommodate most requests with prior notice.
I had an awesome time on the Malaga tapas tour and would highly recommend it, whether you’re a foodie or just looking to try something new in Malaga.
As I experienced, a Malaga food tour is a unique way to the heart and soul of the city's rich culinary traditions. From savouring traditional dishes that have been perfected over generations to uncovering hidden gems that only locals know about, this tour offers an authentic taste of Malaga's vibrant food scene.
Armed with the practical information provided, you’re well-prepared to embark on this delightful exploration. Whether you're a food enthusiast eager to expand your palate or a curious traveller looking to connect with the local culture, taking a Malaga food tour promises an array of flavours and unforgettable foods.
So, as you plan your visit to Malaga, consider making the tapas tour with Spain Food Sherpas a highlight of your trip. It's an opportunity to indulge in the city's best eats in a fun, social way… like no other activity in the city.
Buen provecho and enjoy your culinary voyage through Malaga!
➡️ Get details on the Malaga tapas food tour here
A food tour is just one of the many things you can in Malaga. Read our full list of the top things to do in Malaga here.
For more on Malaga, check out our other articles.
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Historical Guide to Málaga City
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