As well as visiting the monuments and museums, doing some shopping and exploring Malaga on your rental bike, you’ll be looking to sample the local gastronomy.
The good news is that Malaga has a vibrant foodie scene with local produce taking centre stage. Think fresh fruit and vegetables, homemade cheeses and cold cuts, creative tapas… and to wash it all down, excellent local vino.
To make sure you try the best wine in Malaga, check out these six venues, perfect for a restoring glass or two after a day out on your bike.
El Pimpi
Something of an institution in Malaga, El Pimpi offers an authentic bodega atmosphere, good service and plenty of wine.
Housed in an 18th mansion, the venue is a labyrinth of quaint patios and rooms, filled with flowers, bullfighting and flamenco memorabilia and giant barrels signed by celebrities.
Look out for Paloma Picasso, Carmen Thyssen and Antonio Banderas’ autographs and then take your table inside or out on the terrace decorated in the signature red and white polka dots and overlooking the Alcazaba and Roman Theatre.
When best to go to El Pimpi
Settle down at your table outside on the terrace at sundown and watch the Alcazaba turn yellow-orange in the evening light. But don’t forget to tour the inside before you sit down.
Find this great spot for wine in Malaga: on Calle Granada 62 or off Calle Alcazabilla.
La Antigua Casa de Guardia
This authentic venue lives up to its name and ranks among the oldest establishments in the city. Founded in 1840, little has changed inside since although vermouth has joined the Malaga sweet wines on offer.
The vino here is served on tap from giant barrels and your tab chalked up on the counter. There’s no seating and food is limited to cold tapas – prawns, mussels and cheese, for example – that pair perfectly with the wine on offer.
When best to go
Make this a lunchtime treat after a visit to Atarazanas Market, round the corner.
Find this great spot for wine in Malaga: on the north side of the Alameda Principal at number 18.
La Odisea
This venue for wine in Malaga sits (literally) in the Alcazaba hillside and its back rooms include a cave. The 18th-century house offers lots of nooks and crannies for enjoying a glass or two or local wines and you can buy your favourites here too.
The small outside terrace looks out over the Paseo del Parque and makes a good spot to enjoy a drink in the winter sunshine.
If wine isn’t your thing, La Odisea also serves homemade vermouth and gins from Malaga plus a selection of tapas.
When best to go
The terrace gets the best of the sunshine so make for here at lunchtime in the cooler months. Or book a table in the inside patio in the summer for a refreshing spot to enjoy your wine in Malaga.
Find this great spot for wine in Malaga: on Subida de la Corracha, at the end of the Paseo del Parque. Ask our staff to pinpoint the location on a map when you come in to pick up your Malaga rental bike.
Anyway Wine Bar
A relatively new kid on the Malaga wine block, Anyway Wine Bar has quickly established a good reputation for fine wining and dining. Located in La Malagueta, this is the place to come to enjoy plates of cheese and Iberian cold cuts. Get the staff to advise you on which wines to pair with which.
When best to go
This venue makes a good port of call after you’ve explored the east of Malaga.
Find this great spot for wine in Malaga: on Paseo de Reding 15, opposite the bullring in La Malagueta.
Los Patios de Beatas
If you’re looking for a wide selection of wine in Malaga, this is your venue. The wine list at Los Patios de Beatas stretches to over 600 labels so you literally are spoilt for choice.
And if you like to try a range of wines without buying a bottle, there are over 50 available by the glass.
The interiors are also worth a tour – the 18th and 19th-century houses include several patios, archaeological remains, typical columns and a stunning stained-glass window. On the menu, you’ll find creative tapas and dishes.
When best to go
Slightly pricier and more formal than other venues for wine in Malaga, book a table here for a special occasion when you’re on holiday.
Find this great spot for wine in Malaga: on Calle Beatas 43, near Calle Granada.
Vino Mio
Another clue lies in the name and this Dutch-run restaurant next to the Cervantes Theatre has an impressive wine list. But we’re recommending this venue for their High Wine tastings.
It’s wine o’clock between 1 and 8 pm at Vino Mio and you get to try three different wines with pairing tapas and learn about the origin of the wines and their production. How’s that for a late-afternoon plan?
When best to go
We think a nice glass of wine is the perfect reward after a long bike ride in Malaga or maybe after a day at one of the secret beaches in Malaga.
Find this great spot for wine in Malaga: on Plaza Jerónimo Cuervo, the square outside the Cervantes Theatre.
The perfect combination
While we wouldn’t suggest that you get on your bike after a glass of wine in Malaga, we do think a good vino is a great way of ending a day or morning in the saddle.
But if wine isn’t your thing or you’re looking for craft beers, the best ice cream or tapas in Malaga, our staff know just where to go. Just ask us for recommendations and directions when you come in to pick up your wheels.
Or contact us to find out more or call us on +34 606 978 513.
