10 Best Places To Eat In Nerja On The Costa Del Sol, Spain

best places to eat in nerja
Anne
Anne 
Updated
| 5 min read

Nerja is a charming seaside resort town on Spain’s southern Costa del Sol. This typical Andalusian white village has many attractions, including its gorgeous, cliff-backed sandy beaches and the iconic Balcón de Europa, with stunning views from a promontory over the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountains. Another fascinating feature is the Nerja Caves – with their unusual stalagmites and stalagtites – often used to host great summertime concerts. There are also fascinating paintings from the Paleolithic era on view on guided tours.

However, another aspect of this lovely town is the large range of restaurants, tapas bars and cafés – all offering delectable dishes – including the traditional cuisine of Andalusia and Spain and other, more international, fare. To narrow down the choice a little, below are 10 recommended restaurants to sample during your Costa del Sol holiday.

1. Restaurante Oliva

Y otro plato para el proyecto de Restaurantes Contra el Hambre: Ceviche de corvina con batata y aguacate. Todos los...

Posted by Restaurante Oliva on Thursday, 13 October 2016

Located a short walk from the Balcón de Europa and open for lunch and dinner, Restaurante Oliva offers creative Mediterranean cuisine, combined with international influences. Enjoy dishes from the a la carte menu or taster menu, a good bottle of Spanish wine, while seated in a typical Andalusian courtyard. Among the dishes, starters include the “Torta del Casar” cheese coolant, while main dishes offer a range of meat and fish dishes, including Iberian pork, duck and freshly-caught cod. Desserts are an absolute delight, with dishes including Mascarpone mousse, chocolate cous cous or chai tea créme brûlée. The costs of certain dishes will be donated to “Action Against Hunger” - ask your waiter if you would like to help.

Restaurante Oliva

Address: C/ Pintada, 7, Loc-5, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Opening Hours: 1pm - 4pm, 7pm - 11pm every day of the week

Contact: +34 952522988

Website: Restaurante Oliva

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2. MO Gastrotapas

Posted by Mo GastroTapas Nerja on Monday, 30 May 2016

More than a tapas bar, this is an experience in dining. First opened in 1973 by a German family and named ¨Stadt Hamburg¨ Restaurant, this dining place has gone through changes until its current status as MO Gastrotapas. Now a high-end tapas restaurant, MO Gastrotapas offers tasty small dishes in the typical Spanish tradition, made with fish, seafood and vegetables, along with some excellent wines and desserts. The restaurant is vegetarian-friendly and offers gluten-free dishes. Once a month on a Sunday, enjoy a spectacular brunch, starting with sparkling Spanish Cava on arrival, then take the opportunity to fill your plate from what they term an “unlimited buffet” of culinary delights. See their website for more details. The restaurant is located in the heart of the Pueblo Andaluz, a little outside the main centre of Nerja.

MO Gastrotapas

Address: Calle Andalucía,27, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Opening Hours: 1pm - 4pm and 7pm - 11pm. Closed on Mondays

Contact: +34 952520032

Website: MO Gastrotapas

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3. El Colono Flamenco Restaurant

Parece que Carmen tiene una sorpresa...)))

Posted by El Colono Flamenco Restaurant on Monday, 27 October 2014

Set in a traditional, 200-year-old Andalusian building in the heart of old town Nerja, this beautiful restaurant offers more than just good food. El Colono is also famous for its spectacular flamenco shows, performed on the stage in the restaurant each Wednesday by the famous “Las Malaguenas” dancers and accompanied by Spanish guitar. If you dare, get up on stage yourself to give the traditional Andalusian dance steps a try. The menu consists of a range of tasty starters, followed by fresh seafood and fish dishes, as well as traditional Spanish dishes made from pork and chicken, paella and a selection of desserts. Naturally the best Spanish wines are also on offer.

El Colono Flamenco Restaurant

Address: Calle Granada 6, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Contact: +34 952521826

Website: El Colono Flamenco Restaurant

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4. Au Petit París

Posted by Rachel Blackburn on Monday, 24 October 2016

Au Petit París offers French cuisine in the heart of Nerja. Their menu includes traditional French dishes, interspersed with reinterpreted recipes, all of their own. Alain, the French chef, has been published in several gastronomy guides, while Francoise, his wife, welcomes you into their restaurant. Au Petit París offers a great range of starters, followed by a choice of delicious fish and meat dishes. The list of desserts is, to put it mildly, incredible. Your meal is accompanied with a bottle of excellent French or Spanish wine. An outdoor terrace is available from May until the end of October each year.

Au Petit París

Address: Calle Málaga, 4, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Price: from 8.50 EUR (9.50 USD)

Contact: +34 649838227

Website: Au Petit París

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5. La Tahona Holandesa

Posted by La Tahona Holandesa on Sunday, 30 October 2016

This restaurant is owned by a couple from the Netherlands, and is an international restaurant and tapas bar. All meals are cooked with fresh, seasonal and local produce. The small menu offers meat, fish and vegetarian options and is supplemented by delicious daily specials from the Chef. Enjoy a meal in a typical Spanish tavern, or try the restaurant’s tapas outside on the terrace. There is a pleasant range of starters, along with an interesting list of main dishes, including the popular satay sauce. All options are served with fresh vegetables and pan fried potatoes or chips. There is a great selection of desserts and a good coffee menu and lunch and dinner are served. On Saturdays, enjoy an Indonesian buffet and on Sundays, a traditional Sunday roast.

La Tahona Holandesa

Address: Plaza Garcia Caparros, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Price: from 5 EUR (5.50 USD)

Opening Hours: Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Other days from 12pm

Contact: +34 653417466

Website: La Tahona Holandesa

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6. Chiringuito Ayo

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

For those who enjoy eating right at the beach, there is nothing better than a good Spanish “chiringuito” (beach restaurant) and Chiringuito Ayo is an excellent choice. This lovely beachfront restaurant has been open since 1969 and has been serving the best paella in the area since then. Located right on Burriana Beach, the restaurant also offers a range of traditional Spanish fish and seafood dishes, meat dishes, salads and international cuisine to suit all tastes. Chiringuito Ayo is open from morning to evening. Enjoy the use of the sun beds and parasols on the beach and spend the whole day here.

Chiringuito Ayo

Address: Playa Burriana, s/n, 29780 Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Price: from 2.50 EUR (2.70 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm every day

Contact: +34 952522289

Website: Chiringuito Ayo

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7. Jaipur Restaurant

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This lovely Indian restaurant serves the typical cuisine of Northern India, including vegan dishes. Choose from a range of starters, including the popular samosas, bhaji and soups, then dig into the main dishes with tandoori delights, chicken and fish tikka and kebabs or a delicious grill, with all types of nan bread as a side dish. Tuck into various rice dishes or delicious biryanis and other specialties of the house. The menu is so extensive, there is something for everyone. Situated in the town centre, Jaipur Restaurant is convenient to reach on foot.

Jaipur Restaurant

Address: Calle Huertos, 48, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Price: from 4.50 EUR (4.90 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays.

Contact: +34 952522469

Website: Jaipur Restaurant

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8. Ristorante Pizzeria Vitaliano

Posted by Ristorante Vitaliano da Cristina on Friday, 28 August 2015

This excellent Italian restaurant is run by an Italian lady, Cristina, who has been in the catering sector for many years. The menu offers a range of fresh salads, soups and antipasto, as well as risottos, pizzas, meat and fish dishes. Also on offer are some excellent Italian and Spanish wines. Enjoy your meal inside or relax in the fresh air on the restaurant’s terrace, overlooking the sea.

Ristorante Pizzeria Vitaliano

Address: Plaza de los Cangrejos, Calle Chaparil 5, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Opening Hours: 12pm – 4pm and 7pm to midnight.

Contact: +34 952523088

Website: Ristorante Pizzeria Vitaliano

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9. Julies & Valeri's "La Descarguita"

Posted by Julies & Valeri's 'La Descarguita' on Tuesday, 10 February 2015

A traditional tapas bar in the heart of Nerja, offering a warm welcome and friendly Cuban greeting. The wide range of tapas includes meat and vegetarian options, with something to suit everyone. Julies & Valeri’s also offers a coffee bar with a good coffee menu and a range of the best Spanish wines. The restaurant is ideally located in the Plaza Balcon de Europa and is only a couple of blocks from the beach.

Julies & Valeri's "La Descarguita"

Address: Plaza Balcon de Europa, 29780, Nerja (Málaga), Spain

Opening Hours: 7pm - Midnight, every day

Contact: +34 633728316

Facebook: Julies & Valeri’s “La Descarguita”

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10. The Ship Nerja

Posted by The Ship Nerja on Friday, 10 June 2016

This delightful Dutch owned bar offers a small, but delicious, lunch menu with a range of international cuisine, as well as coffees and other refreshing drinks. Of particular note is their delicious apple pie, which comes highly recommended, and their fascinating clock collection is well worth a look. The bar is only a couple of blocks from the beach and is close to the town centre.

The Ship Nerja

Address: Avenida Mediterraneo, 29780 Nerja, (Málaga), Spain

Opening Hours: 12pm - 1am

Contact: +34 952523740

Facebook: The Ship Nerja

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Bon Appétit!

Playa de Calahonda, Nerja
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rober Martinez used under CC0

This is just a small sample of the culinary delights available in Nerja. Have a great holiday and enjoy the food!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anne Sewell was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Africa - Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa - and now resides on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain. She loves writing...Read more

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