The Best tapas in Marbella
The best tapas in Marbella
Marbella may be famous for its 325 average days of sunshine each year, its beaches and its glitzy nightlife, but don’t forget about the wide choice of excellent tapas bars in town.
Simple but delicious local ingredients including extra virgin olive oil, fresh fish and seafood, cured ham and olives make Marbella one of the best places in Spain to indulge in ‘tapas heaven.’
Plaza de Los Naranjos in the Old Town is one of the best places to start, then work your way down to the coast. Enjoy a glass of cold fino, some juicy olives and Serrano ham to send the taste-buds into overdrive. Ham and cheese croquettes, gazpacho and chorizo are all favourites in the warm, summer days of dining al fresco.
By sampling the different tapas, visitors can experience the true flavours of Andalucia.Andalucian cuisine is distinctive from other regions in Spain from its emphasis on fresh fish, including sea bass, prawns, and mussels. Andalucia’s most famous culinary export is gazpacho – the refreshing, tangy soup that’s served cold as a starter. Traditional gazpacho will be made with fresh tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Many restaurants have developed their own interpretations of the dish, adapting the taste to include creamy avocado or even a seafood base.
In the gourmet restaurants of Marbella, tapas have evolved from a Spanish tradition to an art-form, and it’d be foolish not to spend at least one evening trying a selection of local delicacies. Pinchitos Morunos are delicately spiced skewers of pork, best served with a rich red wine.
Prawns found in the Mediterranean around Marbella are prized throughout Spanish cuisine. Langostino de Sanlucar and Deepwater Rose Shrimp are found in the shallow waters near Marbella, and are well-renowned for their succulent flavours. Both are best enjoyed grilled with garlic and olive oil or simply boiled and eaten fresh.
Bar-hop along the streets behind the main sea front promenade for quirky tapas bars offering a diverse range of delicious tapas.
One of the best places in Marbella to taste authentic tapas is at La Taberna del Pinxto (Avenida Miguel Cano, 7). Waiting staff circulate between tables with plates piled full of different tapas dishes, from simple jamon serrano to asparagus tips with salmon. Guests can pick all they wish from the never-ending selection and, at the end of a visit, the coloured-cocktail sticks left on your plate are totted up to calculate the bill.
In Marbella, colourful tapas bars like these sit shoulder-to-shoulder with chic, international restaurants, serving excellent local dishes, including stews and casseroles in the winter, and cool bites in summer. Lunch should never be rushed in Marbella, and visiting several different tapas bars and trying different dishes is highly recommended.
Walk through the cobbled streets from the Old Town down to the Avenida Ricardo Soriano and sample the tasty Patatas Bravas and Boquerones al Vinagre in one of the many busy Spanish eateries along the way. Whether you want to try the authentic Spanish tortilla, nibble on octopus tentacles or enjoy a seafood salad tapa with citrus vinaigrette, you will find plenty to sample in Marbella. Carne Mechada is also delicious, and usually consists of roast pork, cooked in its juices and sliced thinly, served on thin rounds of crusty bread.
Properties for sale in Marbella
If you are looking for properties for sale in Marbella, choose from a range of villas, townhouses and apartments on the Golden Mile, in the Old Town and in Puerto Banus.