Where to Eat and Drink in Andalusia: 11 Restaurants You Have to Try

With its many tapas bars, fresh seafood, and famous churros, Andalusian cuisine has everything a foodie could want. During our most recent trip through southern Spain, we tried a number of excellent restaurants, some of them more than once, because we just couldn’t help ourselves. Here are 11 delicious addresses to discover for eating and drinking well on your next Andalusia getaway!

Where to Eat in Seville

1. Bar Alfalfa — Seville

A true institution in the beautiful city of Seville, Bar Alfalfa is one of the most authentic rustic taverns you’ll find. Serving a wide variety of dishes in tapas-sharing format, it’s a great place to work your way through the house specialties without spending a fortune. The space fills up quickly so don’t be surprised to find a line even in low season, but the wait is absolutely worth it.

Our personal favourites were the seafood paella, the marinated salmon, and the utterly decadent Iberian pork cheek stew (carillada ibérica). You’ll also find the emblematic ham croquettes (croquetas) and freshly carved charcuterie, including Iberian jamón. To drink, we recommend a glass of tinto de verano, a quick sangria-style drink hugely popular with locals or a glass of local red wine.

If you’d rather visit Bar Alfalfa in the morning, they open at 9am for coffee and pan con tomate, a perfect way to start the day.

Address: C. Candilejo, 1, Casco Antiguo, 41004 Seville, Spain

2. El Commercio – Classic Churros con Chocolate (Since 1904)

Founded in 1904, El Commercio is the go-to address for one of Spain’s most iconic treats: churros con chocolate. Unlike the churros you might know back home, Spanish churros are wider in shape but surprisingly light and fluffy on the inside. The proper way to eat them is dipped in a cup of rich dark chocolate, an absolute delight.

It’s also fascinating to watch the team make the churros from scratch right there in front of you, cutting them with precision just before they arrive at your table. On-site, you can also try their tortilla, not to be confused with corn tortillas, the Spanish tortilla is a thick omelette layered with potato and onion, and it’s a classic not to be missed.

Address: C. Lineros, 9, Casco Antiguo, 41004 Seville, Spain

3. Bar La Ilustre – Craft Beer & Tapas

When we travel somewhere new, we always put together a restaurant list before we leave, but Bar La Ilustre was a happy on-the-ground discovery, stumbled upon while looking for a drink close to our apartment.

With several local craft beers on tap, some brewed in-house by the team, La Ilustre is a great spot to unwind after a full day of exploring Seville, snacking on their excellent patatas bravas. We loved the atmosphere so much that we came back for breakfast before leaving the city. Their smoothie bowl was a brilliant way to fuel up for a travel day back toward Malaga.

Address: Correduría, 35, Casco Antiguo, 41002 Seville, Spain

Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL

Where to Eat in Malaga

4. Casa Lola – Traditional Andalusian Tapas

After a full day walking through Malaga’s neighbourhoods, we stopped at one of the Casa Lola locations and couldn’t have asked for a better first dinner in Andalusia. This Malaga taverna serves a menu full of Andalusian classics, the famous Iberian jamón, delicious croquettes (the squid ink ones are incredible), and pintxos. Similar to tapas, pintxos (pronounced ‘pinchos’) are small bites served on bread and made for sharing.

Beyond the food, don’t miss Casa Lola’s house speciality: vermouth. This fortified wine, served red or white as an apéritif, has flavour notes that remind us a little of mulled wine, worth trying at least once.

Address: C. Granada, 46, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga, Spain

5. El Ombú Empanadas Argentinas – Quick & Delicious Snacks

When you’re exploring a new city on foot all day, sometimes you just want a quick bite to refuel before heading back out. That’s exactly how we stumbled onto El Ombú Empanadas.

We know what you’re thinking, Argentine empanadas on a list of things to eat in Andalusia? Hear us out. Empanadas actually trace their roots back to Spain during the Moorish occupation in the 16th century, and they remain incredibly popular in the region. With over a dozen varieties, all equally good, they make the perfect affordable snack to keep you going without breaking the bank.

Adresse: C. Carretería, 86, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga, Espagne

Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL

6. No Piqui Málaga Centro – Hearty Brunches

During our stay in Malaga, we made the most of being right in the Centro neighbourhood and tried the brunch at No Piqui. Generous portions, excellent coffee, and an incredibly charming décor, it’s the perfect setting for a great start to the day. We went for the smoked salmon eggs benedict (MJ’s pick), the hollandaise pancakes (Max’s pick), and their freshly squeezed orange juice. Everything was exquisite.

Address: C. Nosquera, 19, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga, Spain

Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL

7. Central Atarazanas Market – Fresh Local Products & Tapas

Considered one of Malaga’s most beloved markets, the Central Atarazanas Market is at the heart of everyday local life and an absolute must-visit in the city. Whether you’re after fresh seafood, fish, charcuterie, fruits and vegetables, cheese, or freshly pressed juice, you’ll find everything you need to stock up for a day of exploring. Beyond the market stalls, there are also tapas bars inside if you’d rather sit down for a proper meal.

We really loved our visit here, it gave us a great feel for the rhythm of the city and the habits of locals. The building itself is also steeped in history: a former shipyard built during the Moorish occupation in the 14th century, it’s gone through many lives: warehouse, military barracks, hospital, before becoming the city’s largest market. The stunning stained glass windows that flood the stalls in coloured light are not to be missed.

Address: C. Atarazanas, 10, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga, Spain

8. Casa Aranda – Churros Since 1932

One institution for churros is great, two is even better. If your Andalusia itinerary doesn’t take you through Seville, you can still treat yourself to excellent churros at another legendary address, Casa Aranda, open since 1932. With two side-by-side locations, it’s essentially a churros alley waiting for you in the heart of Malaga’s historic centre. Busy day and night, you can satisfy your craving with the classic Spanish churros dipped in dark chocolate. At under a euro per churro, this address will quickly become a daily ritual during your visit.

Address: C. Santos, 6, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga, Spain or C. Herrería del Rey, 2, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga, Spain

Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL

Where to Eat in Granada

9. Minotauro Tapas – Free Tapas Tradition

When you think Andalusia, you think tapas, but Granada takes things one step further with a tradition that sets it apart: free tapas with every drink. As one of the last Spanish cities to keep this culinary custom alive, it’s yet another reason to add Granada to your itinerary. The system is simple: with every drink, whether a local beer, a glass of wine, or a tinto de verano, the restaurant brings you a small dish of their choice.

During our visit to Minotauro, we were treated to mini-burgers and mixed olives alongside our drinks. From the menu, we also tried their excellent tortilla, honey-drizzled fried eggplant, and their croquetas. Everything was deeply satisfying and very affordable.

Granada is genuinely a city where you can eat very well without spending much, we’d encourage you to simply wander and stop at the many tapas bars you encounter along the way for some incredible spontaneous food discoveries.

Address: C. Imprenta, 6, Albaicín, 18010 Granada, Spain

10. Teteria Al Waha – Moroccan Tea Room

Alongside the free tapas tradition, Granada has another beautiful legacy from the Moorish conquest: the tea house culture. Located in the heart of the Arab quarter, Teteria Al Waha offers a wonderful selection of Middle Eastern-inspired pastries and traditional Moroccan tea service. In an intimate, dimly lit setting that evokes the spirit of the Arabian Nights, you can also relax with a shisha if you feel like it.

Address: C. Calderería Nueva, 13, Albaicín, 18010 Granada, Spain

Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL

11. Bar Aixa – Breakfast with a View

With its unbeatable view of the Alhambra, Andalusia’s most visited attraction, the Mirador de San Nicolás is a must on any Granada visit. If you want to see the palace bathed in the soft light of early morning, we recommend stopping at Bar Aixa for breakfast first, and trying another Andalusian classic: pan con tomate.

With ingredients as simple as bread, grated fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and Iberian jamón, it’s hard not to fall in love, and easy to understand why it’s a staple of the Spanish morning. Alongside great coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, and croissants, Bar Aixa has been a Granada institution since it opened in 1968.

Address: Pl. Larga, 5, Albaicín, 18010 Granada, Spain

Crédit photo: The Storytellers MTL

A perfect destination for foodies, Andalusia is full of exceptional restaurants where gastronomy is celebrated with real passion. Whether you’re a seafood lover, an Iberian jamón devotee, or a die-hard paella fan, southern Spain is waiting to introduce you to the very best of its cuisine.

Bon appétit and happy travels!

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