You Ultimate Guide To Nerja's Dining Scene
Nerja & Surroundings Dining Guide Our guide to fine dining, local food, tapas, budget & vegetarian options
If you’ve already found Nerja, you’ll already know it’s a gem of a pueblo on the eastern Costa del Sol, known for its dramatic cliffs, charming old town, the famous Balcón de Europa, it’s restaurants, tapas bars and accommodating people. A mix of relaxed beach life, a certain amount of Andalucian ‘mañana and a climate justifiably touted as the best in Europe is all baked in.
When I was asked to do a deep dive into the area’s restaurants and bars, the issue was ‘where to start’. The list below is a quick cantor around the east costa del sol, starting in Nerja, then pushing out up to the one of Spain’s most beautiful white washed villages ‘Bonito’ Frigiliana. We then dip down back to the coast and go east just into Granada province to the horseshoe bay that is La Herradura. Next to Nerja, we drop in at Torrox Costa and Rincon de La Victoria while there’s a fleeting mention for ‘Malaga centro, the capital of the Costa Del Sol. A then, up beyond the Sierra Nevada mountains, we stretch out to the unmissable city of Granada an hour away.
Incidentally, the €€€ symbols provide an indication of the budget you’ll need, how long it’ll take to get there and how far away these places are from our home just west of Punta Lara (Nerja).
Let’s get started!
~ Nerja ~
Restaurante Oliva – Creative Andalusian tasting menus, seasonal local produce.
Phone: +34 952 522 988 Phone: +34 952 522 988
Budget: €€€
Kid-friendly: Yes (quiet kids)
Veg/Vegan Options: Some but limited
From Punta Lara: ~3.0 km | ~10 min
Chiringuito de Ayo – iconic wood-fired paella on Burriana Beach.
Phone: +34 952 522 289 Phone: +34 952 522 289
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Yes (veg paella/salads)
From Punta Lara: ~4.5 km | ~13 min
El Pulguilla – a classic seafood tapas bar with lively back patio dining room.
Phone: +34 952 521 384
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Limited
From Punta Lara: ~3.5 km | ~12 min
Pinocchio – long-running family trattoria; crowd-pleasing classics.
Phone: +34 952 527 248
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~3.6 km | ~12 min
Lan Sang (Thai/Lao) – this flavoursome “Thai restaurant on Calle Málaga”; is compact menu with good vegetarian options; they have a committed following. Book ahead.
Phone: +34 952 528 053
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Yes
From Punta Lara: ~3.2 km | ~11 min
~ Frigiliana ~
This stunning whitewashed hill town just inland from Nerja, known for its Moorish-Mudéjar architecture, flower-filled streets, and slow-food dining with spectacular views.
The Garden Restaurant – terrace views; seasonal Mediterranean with some organic produce. Romantic views, take a sweater or jacket for those cooler winter evenings on the terrace. Book ahead.
Phone: +34 637 521 023
Budget: €€€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~8.5 km | ~20 min
Bar-Restaurante Virtudes – village bar for tapas/home cooking, big terrace.
Phone: +34 952 534 758
Phone: +34 952 534 890
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~8.8 km | ~20 min
La Taberna del Sacristán – pretty stone plaza by the church; sip the local wine while the clock chimes as you pass the hours away.
Phone: +34 952 534 890
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~8.6 km | ~20 min
~ La Herradura ~
This is Granada province and La Herradura is a laid-back coastal village nestled in a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay, popular with divers, paddle boarders, and beach lovers looking for a more local and tranquil vibe.
Bola Marina – lively local spot; fresh fish, tapas, rice dishes.
Phone: +34 958 640 480
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Limited
From Punta Lara: ~12 km | ~16–18 min
Bar El Salón – proper Spanish bar on the main street; seafood & raciones.
Phone: +34 958 827 523
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Limited
From Punta Lara: ~12 km | ~16–18 min
~ Beachside Chiringuitos in La Herradura (Paseo de Andrés Segovia) ~
El Bambú – breezy, music-friendly beachfront; grilled fish & rice.
Phone: +34 958 827 612
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Limited
From Punta Lara: ~13 km | ~18–20 min
El Chambao de Joaquín – old-school *chambao*; pick your fish from the ice, settle back with your feet on the sand as you watch the moon disappear behind the western promontory known as ‘Cero Gordo’.
Phone: +34 958 827 469
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Limited
From Punta Lara: ~13 km | ~18–20 min
Playa de Cantarriján – La Barraca – small sandy naturist-friendly cove; two seasonal chiringuitos.
Phone: +34 601 615 053
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes*
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~16 km | ~22–25 min
~ Torrox Costa ~
Just west from Nerja is Torrox Costa, not naturally pretty but it does have a generous soul, and an unvarnished informal rustic Andaluz flavour. This stretch of the costa is family-friendly with a broad long paseo / promenade that benefits from the year-round mild climate. Laid-back local dining focuses on what Pedro, Jose & Mario have caught that day so look out for the fresh seafood with generous portions.
Restaurante La Farola – long-running seafood & grill near the lighthouse.
Phone: +34 952 532 379
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Limited
From Punta Lara: ~8 km | ~12 min
Merendero Costa del Sol – great-value beachfront eatery known for massive fresh salads, grilled local fish, and casual family atmosphere.
Phone: +34 952 532 093
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~8.2 km | ~12 min
~ Beachside dining on Paseo Marítimo Virgen del Carmen ~
Restaurante Casa Kiko – locals’ favourite for espetos (grilled sardines), seafood platters.
Phone: +34 699 477 233
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~49 km | ~40 min
Chiringuito La Inopia – modern-rustic beachfront dining with cocktails and seafood.
Phone: +34 951 408 904
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~49 km | ~40 min
Restaurante El Deo – classic family-run place, loved for generous portions and Sunday buzz.
Phone: +34 682 172 712
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~49 km | ~40 min
~ Málaga centro (fine dining first, then great bars & budget gems) ~
Málaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Europe—sun-drenched, teeming with culture, art museums, innovative restaurants and a contemporary energetic vibe.
José Carlos García (Michelin star) — signature cuisine at Muelle Uno with harbour views.
Phone: +34 952 003 588
Budget: €€€
Kid-friendly: Not ideal
Veg/Vegan Options: By request
From Punta Lara: ~58 km | ~50 min
Kaleja – hidden gem in the Jewish quarter, creative tasting menus.
Phone: +34 952 215 272
Budget: €€€
Kid-friendly: No
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~58 km | ~50 min
La Tranca – small, standing-room-only, energetic tapas bar with vermouth and flamenco vibe.
Phone: +34 952 216 718
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: No
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
~ Granada centro (fine dining first, then tapas/budget; incl. Arabic) ~
Granada, set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, blends Andalusian soul and Moorish heritage with tapas culture, historic architecture and stunning views from the Alhambra to the Albaicín.
Damasqueros – elegant modern Andalusian cuisine with local wines.
Phone: +34 958 215 944 Phone: +34 952 528 053
Budget: €€€
Kid-friendly: No
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
From Punta Lara: ~90 min
El Trillo – Albaicín gem with garden views of Alhambra; traditional + modern dishes.
Phone: +34 958 225 754 Phone: +34 858 815 640
Budget: €€
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Some
Tagine Elvira – Moroccan-run with great value couscous and tagines.
Phone: +34 858 805 257
Budget: €
Kid-friendly: Yes
Veg/Vegan Options: Yes
~ Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Options ~
Lan Sang (Nerja) – Thai-Lao with several vegetarian and vegan options.
Phone: +34 952 528 053
The Garden (Frigiliana) – seasonal Mediterranean, many vegetarian dishes.
Phone: +34 637 521 023
El Piano (Granada) – entirely vegan and gluten-free.
Phone: +34 858 815 640
Recyclo Bike Café (Málaga) – artsy brunch and plant-based-friendly café.
Phone: +34 951 353 716
Astrid Tapería Orgánica (Málaga) – organic wines, vegetarian tapas and bowls.
Phone: +34 952 220 350