An Insider's Guide to the Best Restaurants in Málaga, Spain

There are few restaurants quite so impeccably located as El Huesca. The palm tree-lined Málaga Park, Moorish Alcazaba, cathedral and Málaga Museum are all within a minute’s walk. And the restaurant itself has plenty going for it, not least of all cochinillo (roasted suckling pig) and its speciality homemade pâté. Bizarrely, the ceiling is covered in empty cigar boxes, whose lids hang open – a mysterious design quirk, given that no cigars are sold here.

The name Casaamigos is a direct nod to the average Malagueño’s favourite pastime of dining out with friends. This playful restaurant is designed with a modern Mediterranean motif of bare brick painted white and mosaic-patterned plates. But it’s what’s on those plates that matters the most: an excellent patatas bravas and a variety of croquettes, including prawn with squid, and local sausage with honey and mustard. There are a few special dishes for kids.

When you’ve got wine and cheese, what more do you need in life? The owners at Restaurante La Deriva have struck a neat balance between upscale dining in a modern setting – think classy wood and bare brick with an open-plan kitchen – and excellent value. The large, glass-fronted wine room gives a sense of the wine collection available, while the menu is broad but not overwhelming. The tuna tartare with avocado cream is a popular option, as are the tempura prawns with a habanero chilli mayonnaise. The various cheese boards pair goat-, sheep- and cow-milk cheeses.