The small coastal town of Nerja Spain is one of the most popular vacation destinations along the Costa del Sol! While there are many draws to this charming area, make sure to spend some time bouncing between all the delicious tapa restaurants in Nerja. From seafood and local specialties to a mix of international tapas, we cover all our favorite restaurants in Nerja Spain and what to order!
Nerja Inspiration
- Planning a Trip to Spain: 10 Step Easy to Follow Vacation Guide
- 15 Best Things to do in Nerja Spain: Beaches, Tapas, & More
- Nerja Beach Guide: 7 Best Beaches to Sun, Swim, & Explore in Spain
- Playa Burriana in Nerja: Enjoying Endless Paella on the Costa del Sol
- Caves in Nerja?? The Underground World of a Popular Spanish Beach Town
5 Nerja Tapas Tips
Hours: The best time to tapa hop is in the afternoon between 1 and 4pm or after 7:30pm! While there are several Nerja restaurants that stay open all day, the majority of spots close in the late afternoon for siesta.
Cost: At all the restaurants in Nerja Spain that we list you can order a drink and will be served a free tapa included. Drinks typically range from €1.50 to €2.50 Euros depending on if you get beer, wine, water, or soda.
Size: When ordering beer it’s best to order the smallest size called “cana.” This is what you should be served if you don’t specify anything larger and just say you want a cervesa. It’s one tapa per drink so ordering a large beer will just take away more Nerja tapas from you!
More Drinks: Not a beer fan? It’s also common to order wine or a Tinto de Verano. This red wine lemon soda mix is perfect for a hot summer day! Also, try the radler or “clara” which is beer mixed with the same lemon soda.
Ordering: Tapas can be different at each place you visit in Southern Spain. In some areas you are just served a random tapa. However, at the Nerja restaurants feature you are able to pick your own.
Extra Order: In this post we specifically focus on tapas, but know that these restaurants serve so much more! If we were really hungry we would order a 1/2 portion on the side. Our favorite is the pulpo frito which is also known as fried octopus.
One or Two: We recommend hitting multiple tapas restaurants in Nerja. If you have the time this is the best way to try multiple different styles and flavors. Stick to a max of one or two at each spot!
4 Amazing Tapas Restaurants in Nerja Spain
1. Bar Redondo Bar De Tapas
Location: C. de la Gloria, 10, 29780 Nerja, Málaga
Favorite Tapas: Chorizo en Fuego and Albóndigas
Nerja is one of our favorite towns in Southern Spain and its abundance of amazing food had a lot to do with that! While you could spend a week or even more enjoying this coastal town, many travelers stop in for one night as part of a larger trip!
Bar Redondo is the perfect place to start any night out in Nerja. It is known as one of the best restaurants in town and has by far the largest selection of tapas to choose from.
Grab a seat at one of the wine barrels that line the small street or up at the bar to be in the middle of the action. Still, before ordering make sure to do a circle around the bar to see all the different tapas. This is where you’ll see how the “round bar” gets its name!
Nerja Tapas Tip: The restaurant directly across is the same bar and offers the same menu so you can sit there if the bar is full!
2. La Tasquita del Sevillano
Location: C. de la Gloria, 15, 29780 Nerja, Málaga
Favorite Tapas: Artichoke with Jamon,
Located in the same small ally as Bar Redondo is La Tasquita del Sevillano. You actually might get confused by what tables belong to which restaurant they are so close to each other.
The tapa list isn’t as extensive, yet they are equally delicious! Try to grab a table at the corner of the building so you can have a view of all the small side streets of Nerja. You can also sit inside which brings a very unique and authentic Spanish style.
3. Bar El Pulguilla
Location: C. Almte. Ferrándiz, 26, 29780 Nerja, Málaga
Favorite Tapas: Hake, Calamaritos, Sardinas
Just down the street from the first two Nerja tapas spots is Bar El Pulguilla. This restaurant is known for its delicious seafood. All the tapas here are made to order on a large grill behind the counter that is constantly filled.
You can grab one of the street tables or head into the large restaurant that is constantly packed from open to close. Check the walls for the menus that hang with a list of some of the best tapas in Nerja.
Nerja Tapas Tip: This is a good place to try our favorite side order of fried octopus!
4. Restaurante La Puntilla
Location: C. Bolivia, 1, 29780 Nerja, Málaga
Favorite Tapas: Besugo, Camarón Pilpi, Calamaritos
La Puntilla is a local seafood and tapa restaurant that is hidden in the backstreets of Nerja. You probably wouldn’t pass it if you were strolling around town, but it’s certainly worth going out of your way for.
On one side of the small alleyway is the actual restaurant. If you look across to the other side there is a small bar serving up some amazing seafood tapas. Be warned that this place fills up fast. It’s smart to get there early to avoid the wait!
Either way, the seafood tapas here are so delicious and bursting with flavor. Definitely try the Galician-style octopus if you have the chance.
More Fun Restaurants in Nerja Spain
If you have more than one night in Nerja there are plenty of other great tapa restaurants that we recommend. Honestly, we couldn’t believe how many great places to eat there are in this popular beach town. What a fun and tasty surprise this was!
Posada de Iberica: This small restaurant is one that is off the typical tapa route. It’s closed for lunch and doesn’t open till 7:30pm at night. The place is small but has a very cozy and traditional feel to it.
Bar El Colorao: Local spot close to the bus stop in Nerja. Take a seat inside with the regulars or find your way across the street to the beautiful courtyard.
Bar Los Pescaitos: Another one of the best tapas restaurants in Nerja Spain if you’re looking for seafood!
Tapas la Rienda: Fun and modern look with plenty of outdoor seating. Great place to watch a sporting event or meet up with friends.
El Sevillano: Close by to Tapas la Rienda, this was one of our favorite restaurants in Nerja! Wide range of both seafood and delicious meat tapas.
La Marina Marisqueria: Last but not least, La Marina Marisqueria is definitely one of the best restaurants in Nerja Spain. It’s always bustling from day to night and has plenty of fresh fish tapas to enjoy.
Have any questions on the best tapas in Nerja or want to share your own favorite restaurants in Nerja Spain? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Where To Stay In Nerja Spain
Ultra Luxury – Hotel Balcon de Europa – Enjoy a stay at the most prestigious and central hotel in all of Nerja! Sitting right on the famous Balcon de Europa, you’ll be blessed with beautiful sea views and close to all the best beaches.
Fun Vacation – MB Boutique Hotel – Located just steps from Torrecilla Beach, this incredible property is just what you need for a relaxing vacation. Enjoy the comforts of Southern Spain from your balcony with all the luxury amenities you love.
Boutique Hotel – La Puerta de Nerja Hostal – This gorgeous hotel in the heart of Nerja will be the perfect place to explore town from. You can even take in the views from the rooftop jacuzzi!
Hostel Stay – Charming Nerja Hostel – Charming Nerja Hostel is within walking distance to the Balcon Europa and has wonderful private rooms and dorms available.
For more places to stay in Nerja Spain you can explore the latest prices here!
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Explore Spain
Best of Spain: 40 Foods & Drinks – Visiting in Winter – Costa Del Sol – 13 Best Drinks – 22 Fun Facts – Plate of the Day – 11 Cities in Southern Spain – Vueling Airlines Tips
Granada: Best Tapas – 15 Fun Things to Do – Alhambra de Granada
Small Towns: Mijas – Frigiliana – Rupit – Cadiz – Ronda
Gran Canaria: 13 Food & Drinks – Agaete Natural Pools – Route of the Tapas – Volcano Hike
Fuerteventura: Travel Guide – 12 Best Beaches – Renting a Car – Aguas Verdes Natural Pool – Krabbenfelsen Natural Pool – Popcorn Beach
Tenerife: 7 Best Beaches – Playa Amarilla – Mount Teide Volcano Drive – Boat Tour
Spain Travel Planning
Flights: We always find the best flights using Skyscanner. Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly between cities in Spain than driving or taking the train!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Spain road trip!
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around Spain. You can book a tour of the Madrid Royal Palace, skip the line and explore the Alhambra de Granada, or even jump on a Tenerife Dolphin cruise!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection! We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
