Experts Speak: These are the Best Restaurants and Bars in Málaga for Tapas in Teatinos

The prestigious Guía Repsol has visited the neighborhood of Teatinos in Málaga, a place where, gastronomically speaking, tapas options have flourished, offering both affordable and remarkable variety. They take a short tour through seven restaurants and bars, recommending not only these places but also some of their most typical and popular tapas.

The first stop they make is at Bocallena, a place where they recommend to "sit down and enjoy good food," a restaurant that has earned a Solete after being recommended by chef José Carlos García. Among the dishes they recommend including in the order are Russian salad, mini low-temperature rib burger, oxtail cannelloni, fried octopus taco, pastor tacos, anchovy toast, croquettes and fritters, and steak tartare.

From there, they move to La Piarda, where "their tapas seem to take a trip around the world," a place that is "as fun as its name: a true gastronomic mischief." Recommendations here include shrimp gyoza with mayonnaise, cochinita pibil croissant, African montadito, gaucho chicken and cheese pita, Korean-style wings, and donettes with barbecue sauce.

"One of the pioneers of tapas in Teatinos with more than a decade of history," they say about El Refugio, a classic in Teatinos that has always been very successful for its prices and variety, as well as those characteristic clay glasses: "Up to 22 different tapas to accompany the beer, which costs only 3.5 euros." "The crestas, that spicy bite so typical of Málaga, have their corner here," they say about the recommendations, which also include Russian salad, serranito, bomba, and crestas. They do not mention El Nido, the favorite of this writer.

Another of their stops is El Ojo Patio, where "the central olive tree adds a touch of natural glamour to this open and family-friendly space." "Here tapas are served only from Monday to Friday, a perfect excuse to sneak away during the week," they say before mentioning some dishes like bao with secreto pork, Tex Mex bombitas, mollete de pringá, broken eggs, Russian salad, payoyo cheese, chicken lagrimitas, eggplant timbale with duck mousse, torrijas with nougat ice cream, or gluten-free brownie.

Another veteran in the area is Lambik, which we have already discussed for the price of its beers, the beer at 50 cents depending on the day and time. "A daily menu for 9.90 euros that is hard to beat," they also explain, recommending "classics like Russian salad mixed with pulled pork brioche or a japotaco." They also mention other options like Russian salad, patatas bravas, camperito, cochinita pibil taco, pil pil mollete, carrillada bao, and goat cheese toast.

"The right spice in their bravas makes them addictive," says Guía Repsol about El Gallo Negro, which they note that "the tapa always comes with the drink, as it should be." The recommendations they leave are their patatas bravas, lasagna, meatballs, gouda rings, mustard loin, or garlic bread.

The last of their stops is La Piká, which they describe as "a simple little bar where tapas can be enjoyed in all possible ways," making it clear that "the Malaga goat camperito is a declaration of love for the local product." They also mention their croquettes (chicken, ham, oxtail, seafood, shrimp), crispy prawns, or montes toast.

The seven restaurants and bars recommended by Guía Repsol

• Bocallena (Avenida Parménides, 10)
• La Piarda (Calle Andrómeda, 15)
• El Refugio (Calle Jano, 8.)
• El ojo patio (Avenida Plutarco, 14)
• Lambik (Avenida Plutarco, 57)
• El Gallo Negro (Avenida Plutarco, 75)
• La Piká (Navarro Ledesma, 30)