The best espetos in Málaga in 2026 are in Torremolinos: this is the winning beach restaurant

Few images are more closely associated with summer in Málaga than a boat filled with glowing coals, several bamboo skewers leaning towards the fire and rows of sardines cooking beside the Mediterranean. And this summer, that tradition has a new name: Sergio Cerdán Cervantes, known as ‘Lili’, has been crowned the Costa del Sol’s best espetero of 2026.

The professional from La Tómbola in Torremolinos took first place in the 12th edition of the Costa del Sol Espeto Competition, held on 1 August in Torremolinos. The event brings together specialists from coastal towns across Málaga province to test a technique that may look simple, but where years of experience over the coals make all the difference.

Second place went to Miguel Ángel de los Ríos, from Marina Playa, in Torre de Benagalbón, Rincón de la Victoria, while Miguel León Navarrete, from La Mar Bonita, in Torremolinos, completed the top three.

The result makes all three venues particularly interesting stops for anyone looking for where to eat some of the best espetos in Málaga and on the Costa del Sol this summer.

La Tómbola has the Costa del Sol’s best espetero of 2026

The main protagonist of this year’s competition was Sergio Cerdán Cervantes, ‘Lili’, representing La Tómbola.

His victory places the Torremolinos establishment firmly on Málaga’s gastronomic map and recognises a profession in which there is far more skill involved than simply placing sardines next to a fire.

The competition has a common set of rules designed to ensure that every participant competes under similar conditions. Each espetero must prepare three skewers, each containing seven to eight sardines, before presenting one of them to the jury. Competitors must also cook another fish of their choice.

The sardines, salt, lemon and charcoal are provided by the organisers, while traditional bamboo canes are still used to skewer the fish, maintaining one of the defining characteristics of the Málaga technique.

Cerdán’s victory also comes with €1,000 and a trophy, alongside the prestige of winning one of the Costa del Sol’s leading competitions dedicated to the art of espetos.

What does a winning espeto need?

For someone sitting at a beach restaurant looking out over the sea, the final result may appear to be simply a matter of flavour. The judges, however, analyse far more than that.

Among the elements taken into account are cooking time, how evenly the sardines are cooked, flavour, texture and presentation.

One of the key challenges is ensuring that every sardine is cooked evenly from head to tail while also achieving the right amount of salt.

The fire itself requires considerable instinct and experience. Espeteros must control the distance between the fish and the coals, take the wind into account, position the cane correctly and know exactly when it needs to be turned.

It is precisely this balance that helped Sergio Cerdán and La Tómbola secure first place in 2026.

Marina Playa takes second place

The second step of the podium goes to the eastern Costa del Sol.

Miguel Ángel de los Ríos, from Marina Playa, finished second in the competition.

The beach restaurant is located in Torre de Benagalbón, Rincón de la Victoria, an area where the culture of espetos remains inseparable from summer days by the sea.

Much of the restaurant’s menu revolves around Mediterranean produce and traditional Málaga cuisine, with fish, seafood and fried dishes among its main specialities.

For De los Ríos, the Costa del Sol Espeto Competition is also familiar territory. Marina Playa has achieved strong results in previous editions, reinforcing its reputation as one of the province’s notable destinations for this traditional dish.

The runner-up receives €500 and a trophy.

La Mar Bonita completes the podium in Torremolinos

Third place returns to Torremolinos with Miguel León Navarrete, from La Mar Bonita.

His appearance among the top three is no surprise. León has also received recognition in previous editions and finished second in 2024, showing remarkable consistency in a competition where every detail counts.

La Mar Bonita therefore joins La Tómbola in placing two of the top three establishments in Torremolinos, one of the Costa del Sol towns most closely associated with beach restaurants and the tradition of sardines cooked over open coals.

Third place comes with €300 and a trophy.

The art of espetos began in Málaga in the 19th century

Beyond deciding who prepares them best each summer, the competition also helps preserve one of Málaga province’s most recognisable culinary traditions.

The modern history of the espeto dates back to the 19th century.

One of its key moments came in 1883, when Miguel Martínez Soler, known as ‘Migué el de las sardinas’, opened La Gran Parada and began cooking sardines skewered on bamboo canes beside the fire.

The story also produced one of Málaga’s best-known gastronomic anecdotes.

During a visit by King Alfonso XII in 1885, the monarch is said to have tried to eat the sardines with cutlery until Miguel Martínez himself explained that the proper way to enjoy them was with his hands.

More than a century later, the basic formula remains remarkably unchanged: sardines, bamboo cane, salt and fire.

The three best espeteros on the Costa del Sol in 2026

🥇 1st – Sergio Cerdán Cervantes ‘Lili’ – La Tómbola, Torremolinos – €1,000 + trophy.

🥈 2nd – Miguel Ángel de los Ríos – Marina Playa, Torre de Benagalbón (Rincón de la Victoria) – €500 + trophy.

🥉 3rd – Miguel León Navarrete – La Mar Bonita, Torremolinos – €300 + trophy.

The result once again highlights the important role that beach restaurants play in the culinary identity of the Costa del Sol.

It also serves as a reminder that behind one of Málaga’s apparently simplest dishes lies a technique that can take years to master, requiring precise control of the heat, the position of the cane and the exact moment when the sardines are ready.

This summer, anyone wanting to try an espeto prepared by the professional who has received the highest recognition of 2026 now has a destination to add to their list: La Tómbola in Torremolinos.

The rules, prizes and full details of the 12th edition can be found on the official Costa del Sol Espeto Competition website.