The best restaurants to eat very well in Malaga
The ABC food critic proposes his favorite addresses in a city that triumphs in weekend tourism for its cultural offer
Canceled in good part by the wide and excellent offer of the rest of the Costa del Sol , the gastronomy of Malaga capital has not been particularly attractive. Too many bars and restaurants are more concerned with quantity than quality, of attracting customers among foreign tourists, competing more with low prices than with a decent level proposal. Any visitor can verify it by visiting the most central areas, especially those that extend around Calle Larios, with terraces packed with customers who consume rice and other "specialties" whose appearance alone is already worrying. Obviously that shouldn't be the way. Fortunately, in recent years the number of restaurants that are committed to quality gastronomy has grown and that bring the Malaga capital closer to the rest of the other towns in the province, especially Marbella.
Currently, Malaga has only one Michelin star. It is held by José Carlos García , a man from Malaga who follows a Mediterranean avant-garde line, with refined dishes in a menu that is frequently renewed. A cuisine that focuses on local produce with an abundance of oriental hints , but without falling into excesses. The tasty Andalusian ramen, or the Café de Paris beef rib with which he pays tribute to his father and the restaurant where he started as a cook, the Malaga Café de Paris, are dishes that reflect very well the cuisine of this house. In addition, it is located in a magnificent location on Pier One , with a large and comfortable terrace, and a huge open kitchen that separates the two dining rooms, one of them with excellent views of the port.
Along with García's, the other great restaurant in the city is La Cosmopolita , where Dani Carnero works , a long-term cook with a great future ahead of him. Pending a transfer to a more suitable place that is delayed by innumerable bureaucratic obstacles, for the moment it remains in the same space in which it has surprised fans of good food, many of whom travel to Malaga to have lunch or dinner in that house. Carnero worked with Berasategui and later with Adriá and De la Osa, and has been able to adapt his knowledge to a kitchen model based on the Malaga tradition, with knowledge and intelligence, adjusted to the season and to the local produce. And most importantly, a tasty cuisine is not without risks with dishes that are sometimes extreme.
Also noteworthy is the cuisine offered by the restaurants of the El Refectorium group , owned by the Ramírez family. They have one in La Malagueta, another next to the Cathedral and a third, called De Campanario , in an urbanization at the top of Malaga, with excellent views over the city and the port and a pleasant terrace. All three are characterized by the quality of the product they offer, from fine shell and excellent red prawns to ravenous on the back. In the Campanario, in addition to the good raw material that characterizes the group, they offer more elaborate dishes. In another urbanization, in this case El CandadoNext to the golf course is the restaurant of the same name, with a solid chef, Javier Hernández, at the helm. Careful market cuisine and beautiful views from the dining room.
If you are looking for oriental cuisine, Ta-Kumi , a branch of the restaurant of the same name in Marbella, one of the best Japanese in Spain , is essential . You will also find good sushi in Óleo, located in the CAC (Centro de Ate Contemporáneo), with a pleasant and quiet terrace. Its offer is divided into two: on the one hand, Japanese elaborations, on the other tapas, salads and meats that Sergio del Río is in charge of with success. In this line of modern tapas, KGB also stands out , in the city center. And if what you are looking for is good seafood and fish from Malaga, the Jacinto seafood restaurant is one of the most reliable addresses in the capital. Finally, you will find good traditional cuisine, especially stews, in Castizo. As you can see, a very complete offer.
Addresses
José Carlos García. Capilla Square, 1. Muelle Uno. 952 003 588.
The Cosmopolitan. José Denis Belgrano, 3. 952 21 58 27.
Bell Tower Refectorium. Paseo de la Sierra, 36. Urb. Cerrado de Calderón. 952 203 935
The Golf Padlock. Calle Golf del Candado, 2. 952 299 341.
Ta-Kumi Malaga. New World, 4. 952 060 079.
Oil. Center for Contemporary Art. Germany, s / n. 952 21 90 62
KGB. Fresh, 12. 952 22 68 51.
Hyacinth. Bishop Ángel Herrera Oria, 7. 952 270 098.
Castizo. Editor Ángel Caffarena, 11. 609 56 14 01.
