MALAGA TAPAS TOURS
Andalucia is justifiably famous for its excellent gastronomic scene. Using first-class ingredients grown throughout the region's lands and caught along its extensive coastline, cutting-edge dishes are prepared and presented with the flair and innovation for which Spain's chefs are so famous - although the simple, traditional tapas of cheese, prawns and of course jamon are just as recommendable.
But when you come to visit Malaga, how do you know which of the many, many tapas bars in the city to go to? If you want to choose produce yourself to cook in your holiday apartment, how do you find the best market stalls? Which guidebooks, apps, or blogs should you scour for recommendations?
Why go on a tapas tour?
If you'd prefer to let friendly local city experts take the lead, and accompany you to the best spots, suggesting the unmissable tapas and must-try wines - so you can sit back and enjoy the Andalucian tapeo, without worrying about following maps, navigating windy streets to out-of-the-way restaurants and getting lost in the process, then a tapas tour is for you. These people know the places, the owners and the food. They know exactly what to order.
How does a tapas tour work?
Normally your tapas host (always an English speaker) will collect you from your hotel or apartment, or if you're staying outside the city centre, you will meet at a central, easy-to-find location. He or she will take you to two or three bars, ordering a selection of small dishes at each stop, explaining the dishes and their history and cultural importance, as well as suggesting wines to match - in the case of Malaga, sweet muscatel wine would be on the menu, as well as grilled sardines, two unmissable specialities of the city's cuisine. You may also meet chefs, restaurant owners, stallholders and shopkeepers, and get to see them preparing the day's dishes or produce.
How long does a tapas tour last? Do we just visit tapas bars?
The tour will typically last between two and four hours, with small groups of up to 10 people. Some tours also include visits to Malaga's gourmet market, Mercado de la Merced, with stalls offering food that's either ready to eat, or can be freshly cooked. The fresh food market, Atarazanas, housed in a beautiful former shipyard, also has superb fresh fish and seafood stalls; you can enjoy tastings in both, such as hand-carved jamon iberico. Other companies offer specific market tours, as well as tours themed around tapas and art, or tapas and flamenco.
This is a most enjoyable way to spend an evening, with a chatty host who will offer an invaluable insider's insight into the city, its residents, its history and what's hot on today's menu. You will learn more than you ever expected, and taste some delicious tapas - maybe even a dish or ingredient you've never tried before - in some of the city's best bars and restaurants. Many tours offer a list of recommended restaurants to take away with you, and sometimes a glossy of Spanish food terms too.
Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour
Visit three of Malaga's tapas institutions on a 3-hour food tour and sample up to 15 plates of tapas alongside glasses of wine and beer with a local guide. Every Day
13.00 hrs 20.00 hrs - 55€
Malaga Tapas Tour with Flamenco Show
Enjoy a relaxed tapas tour experience unusual and traditional bars, all located in the historic center of Malaga. Finish your night with a spectacular typical flamenco performance. 3hrs Every Thursday & Friday
19.30 hrs - 55€
Spanish Wine and Tapas Tasting Walking Tour in Malaga
Enjoy this private tour and get excited about the most excellent wines of Spain. During this 2-hour walk through the Andalusian gastronomy, you can enjoy three of the best Iberian peninsular wines in Malaga, paired with several of the specialties of the different restaurants that you will visit. You are also guaranteed to skip any queues as you enjoy the tapas and wine tasting along your way.
Malaga Sherry Tasting & Ham Tour
Join me on this exciting experience and indulge yourself with the best tapas, ham and Sherry tasting that my city has to offer! We will begin this journey visiting Malaga's historical and cultural landmarks. I would be thrilled to share with you fascinating stories about our local culture and the unique styles of architecture you will see along the way. Together, we will taste delicious cuisine of Malaga with stops at a city's deli, a traditional family-run tapas bar and an outstanding cured ham shop that is currently home to the Malaga's most talented ham carvers. I will explain you how to order tapas like a local and pair it with Sherry wines.
Half-Day Atarazanas Market and Tapas Walking Tour
See the best of Malaga's gastronomy and culture during this 3.5-hour tapas walking tour. Avoid the crowds as a local guide escorts you through several popular food markets, including the famous Atarazanas market. Along the way, sample up to seven traditional tapas dishes and four beverages, and learn about the region’s celebrated food culture. This small-group tour is limited to 15 people for a more intimate experience.
Sardines Espetos Cooking Workshop
Enjoy a guided visit to Pedregalejo - El Palo fishing neighborhood, including historical and anthropological explanations. You will be shown the last remaining traditional shipyard in Málaga and its private museum. Then you'll move towards your Cooking Master Class & Workshop: Espetos, the traditional sardines barbecue in Málaga. Tour ends with a tasting of the just cooked "Espetos" and malaguenean salad. Bread and one drink included.