Tourist trap restaurant, scams and bad food. Help before booking to eat.

I’m looking forward to eating in traditional restaurants. Try the delicious fish or meat tapas. I like food, I am a food lover and I have a blog to recommend the best places in the world. I have heard that there are restaurants that are tourist traps. I want to avoid this. And I would like to know the genuine places, traditional bars. I appreciate advice from residents, expats and locals. I can get around, Nerja, Torrox, Frigiliana etc… Malaga is also a good option, I like to discover new places. I have a rental car. Where can I eat the best meals on the Costa del Sol? Thank you! All the best. Lyn

Hello Lyn, Nerja is a place with good restaurants. Tourist traps normally don’t work in Nerja. Because tourists fall once and do not recommend it to other people. These establishments end up closing due to lack of customers.

In Nerja there are many good restaurants. If you walk around the area you can easily find them. Just ask the people you meet on the street. With only 5 questions from several people on the street. They will give you repeated answers. If an answer is given by several people. Sure it’s good.

In Nerja town you will find many traditional places to eat, just do a search in our group or on the main food portals and see the best options. Here is a short list of traditional places: El Chispa, El Puntilla, El Pulguilla, Los Bilbainos, Ayo, Montemar etc etc.

Best restaurants in Nerja according to TripAdvisor

If you do a little search on TripAdvisor, you can find very good restaurants. But be careful, most of the classic and traditional restaurants are not at the top of this top ten. It is good to consult these lists to compare but it is also good to check the lists of Google reviews, Nerja MICHELIN Guide, and the Nerja Lovers group (where friends from Nerja are always recommending).

You can see the updated list here: Best restaurants in Nerja Tripadvisor

Best restaurants in Nerja according to Nerja Lovers

In the Nerja lovers Group on Facebook you can find classic restaurants, every time someone asks a question, they receive hundreds of answers. You can compare restaurants and make your own list of recommendations.

There are questions of all kinds. Examples:

• What is the best paella in Nerja?
• Where to eat the best fish?
• The best pilpil shrimp?
• Best romantic restaurant?
• Restaurants for business dinners
• Restaurants for events and weddings
• McDonalds or the best hamburgers
• The best tapas in Nerja

Everything you can imagine, everything has been asked in the Group, and you can all use their search engine and see all the answers, photos and recommendations.

You can see all the comments here: Best restaurants according to locals

Typical dishes to eat in Nerja

1. Seafood Paella: Typical dish from the Spanish coast that has rice, fresh seafood such as mussels, octopus and prawns, and vegetables. It is a traditional Nerja dish that can be enjoyed in many restaurants in the town.
2. Galician Octopus: Octopus cooked in its own water, with cooked potatoes, salt, paprika and olive oil. This dish is a Galician delicacy that can be found in various restaurants in Nerja.
3. Fried anchovies: Fresh anchovies, cleaned and fried in hot olive oil. They are a classic of Andalusian gastronomy and can be ordered in almost any restaurant in Nerja.
4. Russian Salad: Cold salad composed of boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, hard-boiled egg, carrot, peas, tuna and olives. It is a very popular dish in Spain that can be enjoyed in many restaurants in Nerja.
5. Andalusian gazpacho: Cold soup of tomato, pepper, cucumber, onion, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and bread. It is a refreshing and typical Andalusian dish that can be found in most restaurants in Nerja.
6. Dogfish in Adobo: Pieces of dogfish marinated in adobo (garlic, paprika, vinegar and spices) and fried. This dish is very popular in the Malaga area and can be tasted in several restaurants in Nerja.
7. Potato Omelet: Spanish omelet made with eggs, potatoes, onion and olive oil. It is a classic and very popular dish in Spain that can be found in practically all restaurants in Nerja.
8. Pescaíto Frito: Variety of fresh fish (anchovies, squid, squid, etc.) battered and fried. It is a typical Andalusian dish that can be enjoyed in many restaurants in Nerja, especially near the sea.
9. Salmorejo: Cold cream of tomato, bread, olive oil and garlic, accompanied by hard-boiled egg and chopped Iberian ham. It is similar to gazpacho but creamier, and can be found in several restaurants in Nerja.
10. Meatballs in Almond Sauce: Meatballs in almond, onion, garlic and tomato sauce. This dish is very traditional in Andalusian cuisine and can be ordered in some restaurants in Nerja.
11. Grilled Cuttlefish: Fresh cuttlefish cooked on the grill with a splash of olive oil and garlic. It is a simple but delicious dish that can be found in several restaurants in Nerja.
12. Grilled Octopus: Octopus cooked on the grill with coarse salt and olive oil. It is a different and delicious way to enjoy the octopus that can be found in some restaurants in Nerja.
13. Stuffed Squids: Small squid stuffed with their own meat, shrimp, garlic, parsley and breadcrumbs, cooked in their ink. This dish is a delicacy that can be found in several restaurants in Nerja.
14. Calamares a la Romana: Fresh squid cut into rings, coated in flour and fried. It is a classic dish of Spanish gastronomy that can be enjoyed in many restaurants in Nerja.
15. Fritura Malagueña: Variety of fish and seafood fried in a mixture of flour and egg, accompanied by lemon. It is a delicious and typical dish from the Malaga coast that can be found in several restaurants in Nerja.
16. Espetada Sardines: Fresh sardines skewered on a pole and cooked on the grill with coarse salt. It is a traditional dish of Malaga gastronomy that can be enjoyed in many beach bars in Nerja.
17. Seafood Soup Rice: Creamy rice cooked in seafood broth with mussels, prawns, squid and shrimp. It is a tasty and comforting dish that can be ordered in several restaurants in Nerja.
18. Prawn Scrambled: Scrambled eggs with fresh shrimp, garlic, parsley and olive oil. It is a simple but delicious dish that can be enjoyed in several restaurants in Nerja.
19. Lomo de Cod al Pil Pil: Cod loin cooked in a sauce emulsified with olive oil, garlic and chilli. It is a classic and delicious dish of Basque cuisine that can be found in some restaurants in Nerja.
20. Oxtail: Oxtail stew stewed in red wine, onion, carrot, garlic and spices. It is a traditional and filling dish of Spanish gastronomy that can be tasted in some restaurants in Nerja.

Where to Eat in Nerja

1. El Pulguilla Restaurant (Nerja): A traditional Andalusian cuisine restaurant with a cozy and family atmosphere. Located in the center of Nerja, it is known for its delicious sardine skewers and fresh seafood. It can be reached on foot from the Balcón de Europa square.
2. El Mirador Restaurant (Frigiliana): Located at the top of Frigiliana, this restaurant offers impressive views of the surroundings and a menu of typical local dishes, such as garlic soup and goat in sauce. To get there, you can take a bus from Nerja or Torrox.
3. La Marismilla Restaurant (Torrox): Specializing in fresh fish and seafood, La Marismilla is a perfect place to enjoy typical food from the coast of Malaga. It is located on the main road that connects Torrox with Torre del Mar.
4. Ayo Restaurant (Nerja): Known for its paellas and rice dishes, this family restaurant is a classic in Nerja. It is located on Burriana beach, so it can be easily reached on foot from the city center.
5. El Ingenio Restaurant (Frigiliana): Located in a 19th century manor house, El Ingenio offers a varied menu with traditional dishes from the area. It can be reached by walking from the main square of Frigiliana.
6. Restaurante La Fuente (Maro): This rustic and cozy restaurant specializes in Andalusian cuisine dishes, such as salmorejo and fried fish. It is located in the center of Maro, near the well-known Nerja Cave.
7. Bar Marcos Restaurant (Torrox): With a large terrace overlooking the sea, Bar Marcos is an ideal place to taste fresh fish and seafood from the area. It is located on the main avenue of Torrox Costa.
8. El Refugio Restaurant (Nerja): Located in an old country house, El Refugio offers traditional Andalusian dishes, such as gazpacho and oxtail. It can be reached by car or bus from the center of Nerja.
9. El Acebuchal Restaurant (Frigiliana): Located in the picturesque town of El Acebuchal, this restaurant offers a menu of typical local dishes, such as fried fish and migas. To get there, you can take a taxi from Frigiliana.
10. Restaurante Restaurante Los Huertos (Torrox): Specializing in grilled meats and traditional Spanish cuisine, Los Huertos is a cozy place to enjoy a meal outdoors. It is located on the road that connects Torrox with Cómpeta.
11. Pepe Moles Restaurant (Nerja): With a typical Andalusian decoration and a family atmosphere, Pepe Moles offers a varied menu with meat and fish dishes. It is located in the center of Nerja, near Plaza Cantarero.
12. El Naranjo Restaurant (Frigiliana): Located in an old restored country house, El Naranjo offers traditional, homemade cuisine with fresh local ingredients. It can be reached by walking from the center of Frigiliana.
13. Casa Antonio Restaurant (Maro): Specializing in fresh fish and seafood, Casa Antonio is an ideal place to enjoy the seafood cuisine of the Malaga coast. It is located in the center of Maro, near the beach.
14. Restaurant Mesón La Posada (Torrox): With rustic decoration and a cozy atmosphere, La Posada offers typical dishes of Andalusian cuisine, such as salmorejo and baked fish. It is located in the center of Torrox Pueblo.
15. Restaurante Marisquería La Marina (Nerja): Specializing in fresh seafood and fish from the coast, La Marina is a perfect place to enjoy a meal by the sea. It is located on the seafront of Nerja.
16. La Tabernita Restaurant (Frigiliana): Located in the heart of Frigiliana, La Tabernita offers a menu of traditional dishes from the area, such as paella and gazpacho. It can be reached by walking from the main square.
17. Casa Juanillo Restaurant (Maro): With typical Andalusian decoration and a cozy atmosphere, Casa Juanillo offers homemade cuisine with traditional dishes from the area. It is located on the main avenue of Maro.
18. Chiringuito Mauri Restaurant (Nerja): With a large terrace overlooking the sea, Mauri is a beach bar that offers fresh fish and seafood from the area. It is located on the Playazo beach of Nerja.
19. La Taberna del Pescador Restaurant (Nerja): Specializing in fresh fish and seafood, La Taberna del Pescador is an ideal place to enjoy seafood cuisine in a family atmosphere. It is located in the center of Nerja, near the beach.
20. El Molino Restaurant (Frigiliana): Located in an old restored mill, El Molino offers a varied menu with traditional dishes of Andalusian cuisine. It can be reached by car or bus from the center of Frigiliana.