9 Best Restaurants in Costa del Sol and Costa de Almeria, Spain

One of the eastern Costa del Sol’s foodie treats sits in a pleasant central square with its signature ruby-red feature wall. Chef Sergio González combines the best of local produce with more exotic touches to perfection: the venison comes with chestnuts and Pecorino; and duck, local mango, and shrimp go into the gyozas. Red tuna takes center stage on the seasonal menu, where you’ll also find fresh fish, grilled meats, and a short list of vegan choices. There’s also a good-value tasting menu and an extensive list of tapas that are a gourmet world apart from the rest of the bars in town and on a par with the best in Andalusia.

Mediterranean cuisine based on fresh, local produce takes center stage at this restaurant, which has both a minimalist, intimate dining room and a pleasant terrace that's heated in winter. Highlights on the seasonal menu (it changes four times a year) include local fresh produce including fish. Service is excellent, and there's a good-value tasting menu (€52 for seven courses) and an extensive wine list.

Perched high in the hills above Fuengirola, this is one of the best fish restaurants on the Costa del Sol. Michelin-starred chef Diego Gallegos champions sustainable and healthy cuisine, and his on-site aquaponics facility raises most of the fish and vegetables used here. As a result, 90% of the ingredients are ‘homegrown’ with the remainder sourced locally and Gallegos also has a green Michelin star for sustainability. Freshwater fish such as trout and sturgeon take pride of place on the tasting menu (four aperitifs plus nine dishes), where you’ll also find organic caviar and smoked fish. 

If you've done any traveling on the Costa's main A7 highway, you've doubtless spotted this place, high in the pine-clad hills above the village—the views from the dining room stretch all the way to Africa on a clear day. The dishes, made with the freshest ingredients, have a definite touch of northern Spain, and the restaurant and tapas bar are both popular with a sophisticated Spanish clientele. Highlights include traditional stews such as fabes con almejas (beans with clams), creamy rice with king prawns, and steaks grilled over oak wood embers. There's an extensive wine list.

Between the casco antiguo and the seafront, this innovative restaurant has an unpromising plain exterior, but forge ahead: the interior's chocolate browns and deep reds make for cozy surroundings for a quiet dinner from chef Mauricio Giovanni, who renewed his Michelin star in 2023. The menu has an international slant, with more than a sprinkling of Spanish cuisine in its unusual fusion dishes. Try the three-way cauliflower (creamed, confit, and roasted) or the lobster legs with Tom Kha kai cream. Finish off with cherry pie. Two different tasting menus are also available.

Located on the west side of town, about a 10-minute walk from the center, this modern restaurant specializes in rice dishes; there are 14 on the menu, including the signature baked rice with pork and the squid rice with prawns and chickpeas. Fideuá (similar to paella but made with noodles instead of rice) also features on the menu. There's a good choice of sharing plates of croquettes, cold cuts, and seafood, as well as innovative salads. Sit inside in the elegant dining room or outside on the shady terrace on the plaza. 

In an old house on the pleasant Plaza de la Constitución, this restaurant is run by a Basque family that's been in the Costa del Sol restaurant business since 1968. The cozy indoor dining room, with a log fire for cooler days, is welcoming and intimate, with original and noteworthy artwork interspersed among the arches, hanging plants, and traditional white paintwork. Outdoor dining takes in views of the square from the lovely rooftop terrace, perfectly shaded by grapevines in the summer. Good choices here are Basque specialties such as txangurro and bacalao a la vizcaína (cod in a tomato and pepper sauce), plus roasted meats, particularly the lamb. And don't miss the sensational Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert. There's a long gin list too.

This restaurant has a loyal following among locals and visitors with its stunning location—the terrace has far-reaching views over the village and to the Strait of Gibraltar (don’t miss the eagles soaring the thermals above you)—and delicious food. Local produce takes center stage, and you can try Casares cheese, goat, and lamb as well as locally sourced tropical fruits and fresh fish from the coast. Highlights on the menu include croquetas de pringá con infusion de hierbabuena (meat croquettes infused with mint), paletilla de chivo (leg of kid goat), and ensalada de remolacha asada y queso de oveja (baked beet salad with cheese).

This popular, central spot serves fine regional specialties, such as arroz de marisco (rice with seafood), cazuela de rape en salsa de almendras (monkfish stew with almond sauce), and the delicious kokotxas de bacalao en salsa de ostras (cod cheeks in oyster sauce). The surroundings are rustic-yet-elegant Andalusian: whitewashed walls, dark wood, and exposed brick. If you're open to a splurge, go for the lobster. Book ahead to be sure of a table for dinner.