Malaga 'gains' a new Michelin Star in the most unexpected way: the restaurant La Finca by Fernando Arjona is now 'located' in Archidona

There hasn't been a new Michelin Guide event, but Málaga has recently added a new restaurant to its list. La Finca, by Málaga chef Fernando Arjona, who holds a Michelin Star, now resides in the province of Málaga... without moving from its location. The story is interesting. The prestigious and renowned hotel Finca La Bobadilla, previously in the jurisdiction of Loja, was acquired at the beginning of the year by the chain Único Hotels, which, in a marketing move, changed the hotel's address from Granada to Málaga: it is now located in Archidona.

La Finca La Bobadilla is located on the border of Málaga and Granada, right where Archidona and Loja connect. Until recently, the hotel, which also holds a Michelin Key, was situated in the jurisdiction of Granada, in Loja, but its address has been changed and updated across all its networks and portals to the new one: Carretera Salinas, A-333, Km. 65, 5, 29315, Archidona, Málaga.

In statements to Granada Hoy, the hotel chain Único Hotels indicated that this is the new "strategy" for La Finca La Bobadilla, aimed at increasing its international visibility with the "magnet" that is the province of Málaga, a major attraction. The group justifies the postal address change by stating that the farm's gate is located within the jurisdiction of the province of Málaga, in Archidona.

The relocation of La Finca La Bobadilla also leads to the relocation of La Finca within its premises. The restaurant is led by Málaga chef Fernando Arjona, holder of a Michelin Star since 2022 and a Sol Repsol since 2024, recognitions for the excellence of his cuisine. Arjona is, indeed, a native of Archidona. He trained, among other places, at Cabaña Buenavista in El Palmar, a restaurant with two Michelin Stars and three Repsol Suns led by the celebrated Pablo González.

Regarding La Finca, the Michelin Guide notes that it is a restaurant with a "traditionally based offering, not without modern touches, that revisits local flavors using Malaga and Granada recipes." Arjona offers there one of the most affordable tasting menus in Spain, under one hundred euros (€95), consisting of five courses and a dessert featuring his noisette eggplant and smoked sardine toast, Málaga-style gazpachuelo with a touch of orange blossom, and Motril shrimp or his roasted red mullet with Málaga stew of cabbage, pumpkin, and chard.

Furthermore, La Finca also offers an à la carte dining option, always more than advisable to follow the recommendations of José Briones, its head waiter. Its Riofrío caviar is one of its great attractions, as well as its ajoblanco or a fried calamari with bergamot, kaffir lime, and trout roe that tantalizes the palate before beginning. Among its starters, much of Andalusia, with Cordoban salmorejo, Málaga-style gazpachuelo, or oxtail stew with white shrimp in Jerez and Loja honey. Creamy veal rice, Riofrío trout, snapper, or suckling goat shoulder make up its main courses, well supported by a very well-selected wine cellar.

The rest of Málaga's Michelin Stars

With the new addition of La Finca (*), Málaga now boasts 12 Michelin Stars, spread across ten restaurants that elevate Málaga's cuisine and local products to levels of excellence. Notably, two of these hold two Michelin Stars each, Skina, by Marcos Granda, in Marbella, and Bardal, by Benito Gómez, in Ronda.

The rest of the restaurants with Michelin Stars in the province complete this prestigious culinary map: Restaurante José Carlos García, located at Muelle Uno in Málaga; Sollo Restaurante, in Fuengirola, under the direction of the innovative Diego Gallegos; Messina, in Marbella, led by Argentine chef Mauricio Giovanini; Kaleja, in Málaga capital, managed by Dani Carnero; Back, in Marbella with chef David Olivas at the helm; and Blossom, by Argentine chef Emi Schobert in Málaga capital, the most recent to join the 'starred' celebration.