Budget Restaurants in Málaga

By Lorraine Caputo

Restaurants in Málaga fall into two general categories: fast food and comida criolla (home-cooking). The only international cuisine choices are attempts at pizza. Come evenings, it is difficult to get a comida corriente; most dining establishments serve it only for lunch ($1.85-3.20). Vegetarians, you’ll find eating a bit trying here, but you can pick up fixings at mom-and-pop supermarkets (Venus is right on the plaza), the innumerable bakeries and at one of the shops featuring local dairy products. The daily mercado municipal swells on market days, Wednesday and Saturday (Calle 14 and Carrera 7).

Málaga has a quaint Zona Rosa located just off the main plaza, along Carrera 8. Here you will find bars and discos—and yes, even karaoke. However, most are open only on the weekends. Oh, by the way, all those cafeterias and fuentes de soda you see around town aren’t quite exactly coffee and soft drink joints. They are where most locals go to nurse a beer (or something stronger) while catching up on the news.