The beach bar located at one of the most famous beaches in Málaga, featured in 'Verano Azul' and known for preparing one of the best wood-fired rice dishes.

In the coastal town of Nerja, on the Burriana beach, you will find one of the most emblematic beach bars on the Costa del Sol: Chiringuito Ayo. Founded in 1969 by Francisco Ortega Olalla, popularly known as Ayo, this beach restaurant has maintained its original essence, with a close and familiar atmosphere that has captivated visitors from all continents, especially after its role in Verano Azul, a series that marked a generation.

The place started as a small picnic area with bougainvillea, a reed roof, and sand underfoot, offering a space where simplicity and authenticity were the hallmark. Over the years, Ayo moved to its current location on Antonio Mercero seaside promenade –at Paseo Burriana, 15–, without losing the spirit with which it started. Its more than half a century of existence has earned it numerous accolades: today it is one of the Soletes by Guía Repsol, which praises it as follows: "Ayo is pure Verano Azul, fish on the most popular beach in Nerja, and endless rice. Simplicity, humility, and homemade food for a place with charm."

Wood-fired paella: the hallmark

The paella at Ayo, cooked over wood, is undoubtedly the hallmark of the beach bar, one of the most recognized dishes in Málaga. This technique emerged spontaneously, as initially, there wasn't enough space in the kitchen to prepare such large paellas. Ayo decided to cook outdoors, and the culinary show, with the fire and smoke from the wood, soon became an additional attraction for those passing by the beach.

"Since I started with the beach bar and appeared in Verano Azul, I have always made the paella the same way. The five continents in the world have tasted my paella," said Ayo some time ago.

The beach bar's menu also includes, of course, sardine skewers, assorted fried fish—such as anchovies, pink cusk-eel, or squid—avocado salads, and omelets of different flavors, all accompanied by Andalusian wines, sangria, or the coldest beer around.

The filming of ‘Verano Azul’: history and television

A key moment in the history of Chiringuito Ayo came in 1981, when director Antonio Mercero chose it as a setting for the series Verano Azul, a classic of Spanish television. The director was looking for a beach bar open all year round and found in Ayo the ideal place.

In the series, characters like Chanquete, Tito, Piraña, Bea, Javi, or Pancho shared scenes among paellas, conversations, and games, making the beach bar part of the country's television memory. Today, inside, you can see photographs and mementos from the filming, evoking the nostalgia of those summers.

Half a century of tradition and gastronomic culture

With more than five decades at the helm, Ayo has become a symbol of Nerja. Despite his advanced age and having overcome a health issue in recent years, it is still common to see him among the stoves, preparing his famous paellas with the same passion as in the beginning.

The success of the beach bar lies not only in its cuisine but also in the atmosphere that surrounds it: a beach with golden sand like Burriana beach, the smell of the sea, the sound of the waves, and a relaxed environment that connects with the Mediterranean essence.

Location of Chiringuito Ayo

Chiringuito Ayo is located at Paseo de Burriana, 15, in Nerja, one of the most visited towns in Málaga. Its history, closely linked to the series Verano Azul, has made it a reference destination for those looking to experience the authentic beach culture of the Costa del Sol.