Prices of the Málaga Fair 2025: from a tapa with a beer at 2.90 to a campero sandwich for 19.50 euros

The controversy over the 20 euro campero at last year's Malaga Fair already highlighted a problem with prices and inflation. This year, the trend continues. A walk through the Real and the Center makes one thing clear: there are options for almost every budget, but eating and drinking cheaply is not going to happen. The Center, in some cases, offers popular deals like a small beer for 2.5 euros at Casa Hermandad de El Rico or beer with a tapa for 2.90 euros at La Cueva de 1900, on Martínez street. Meanwhile, the fairground booths offer set menus ranging from 22 to 45 euros. Many take advantage of some that include open bar or several drinks.

Chico García, coordinator of the volunteer team at the Casa Hermandad El Rico during the Fair and member of the brotherhood's governing board, acknowledges that they offer "popular prices." "We have small beers for 2.5 euros and drinks at six, seven euros. A bottle of good wine, for 12 euros. The bottle of Cartojal for 9, 10", he recites almost from memory. The brotherhood house has designed a menu of 14 products, extensive and reasonably priced. "A plate of lean meat with tomato for six euros. The Spanish omelette for five. A small plate of Iberian ham for 14 euros. We try to maintain prices and that, within the rise we are experiencing, they are within a low range," he explains while noting that "everything is very expensive".

Javier, the second in charge at La Cueva de 1900 on Martínez street, says that "the first days always bring a lot of people, but the Center's Fair is going downhill each year." Even so, they do not raise prices. "We charge for a small beer with a free tapa at 2.90 euros. The servings range between 12 and 13.50 euros," he summarizes. The Iberian assortment is undoubtedly "the favorite chosen at the Fair" to share with friends and family. Not to forget their cold cuts, cheese, and meat dishes on the menu. And when it comes to cold cuts, it's impossible not to mention Zoilo Ultramarinos, a classic at the Fair with prices ranging from 30 euros for the special plate (ham, cheese, chorizo, salami, potatoes, and olives) to their ham sandwiches for 3.80 euros.

El Real: camperos for 19.50 euros and fried foods for 50

Malaga native Julia Alcoba is going to El Real this Sunday to eat with her friends. They are a group of five people. "I have been checking the prices of almost all the booths to find an affordable menu. Many are overpriced", she complains. Alcoba has reserved at the El Colorao booth because they offer a 22 euro menu which includes Russian salad, spicy potatoes, tomato salad, and rice to share with two drinks each. "We were very surprised by the prices. There are menus of 45 or 50 euros without drinks", she criticizes. Later, when it's time for the afternoon drinks and the desire to drink increases, the young woman knows what can happen: "They might overcharge us." "Five euros for a small beer seems excessive and we are not going to pay 15 for a drink", she asserts while recalling that this past Saturday in the Center was "horrible" because they charged her 18 euros for a pitcher of rebujito.

Julia Alcoba with her friends. / I. V.

The contrast in prices between different products is something that can be seen at the Los Mimbrales booth. From a third of a beer at 3.5 euros to 45 for an assortment of cold cuts, 26 for a plate of Iberian acorn-fed ham, 18 for a plate of homemade croquettes, and 16 for marinated dogfish. The León Villar family entered the booth because it was the first one they saw. "It was a success. We ordered stewed greens, the dish of the day. They were exquisite. Also skewers and stew", Mavi León shares. The woman from Antequera also highlights the variety on the wine menu and the option to order gluten-free beer for celiacs.

The León Villar family at the Real Los Mimbrales booth. / Carlos Guerrero

Last year there was an uproar at the Fair because there were fish fries for 50 euros and camperos for 20 euros. La Canasta booth offers them at 19.50 in their gourmet version. They come with roast beef, confit chicken, and hamburger. "Is it expensive or cheap? It depends on what the campero is like. We cannot compare a normal campero with one like this. They are very exceptional. It wasn't a normal campero like last year's controversy", defends Javier Frutos, the president of the Málaga Hostelers Association (Mahos). "I think that at the Fair it depends on where you go. Both in the Real and in the Center there is a variety of prices. We have no reference, nor price bracket. If we believe that the quality-price balance is met and there is variety to choose from", he insists.

For Frutos, "it is not the same to have a restaurant open all year round as one with a structure that is set up for ten days". "That will condition the prices. In the Center we live all year round. At the Fair, there is a variety to eat more expensive or cheaper. In the end, it's about the law of supply and demand. Each businessman is free to set the price of the beer they want. We do not know where the limit is", he opines. "The trend in recent months, specifically June, is that we have stayed four tenths below the CPI. The rise in hospitality prices is practically aligned with the CPI", he insists.

Among the most economical options at the fairground, we find the food stalls. Nearly 200 are dedicated to selling food products such as hamburgers, pizzas, sandwiches, fritters, waffles, baked potatoes, nougat, cotton candy, corn on the cob, chocolate shops, among others. Not to forget clubs like Martiricos with servings of eggplants with honey at eight euros and paella at six or the Peña recreativa Portada Alta with mojitos and cuba libre at seven euros. If one wants to enjoy the afternoon or nighttime entertainment at the Real, they will spend on average about 10 euros per drink. The small beers do not drop below 3.5 euros and the pitchers of sangria can reach up to 22 euros. Everyone will spend what they want... or what they can...