14 Jan Where to eat in Nerja – my honest food experience
After so many reviews from my trip to England I thought I’d better finish my Andalucia series. I only have a few articles left, so today I’ll talk about food in Nerja.
Now, as you know from my experiences in Seville, Ronda, Granada or Cordoba, I am quite fond of Spanish tapas and I really discovered some places that deserve a visit.
Unfortunately, this didn’t happen in Nerja.
Since I didn’t enjoy any of my meals, I will try to keep this shorter than usual. I still have a lot of good things to write about my trip to England and a big article coming for my entire Andalucia journey.
My experience with food in Nerja
I think Nerja is a bit too touristy and, in my opinion, that affects the quality of the food. I’m only referring here to the places where I ate.
For a quick overview, here’s what I tried:
- Breakfast twice at Restaurante Albi
- One meal at El Pulguilla
- One meal at Pizza Little Italy
Even though I only spent one day in Nerja, I managed to test three places after searching online.
I took breakfast twice in the same place, chose one restaurant for lunch and one place for pizza in the evening.
While I had amazing food experiences in Seville and Ronda, Nerja left a bitter taste. I think I enjoyed it less than my experience in Cordoba, and that says a lot.
The reason is simple. Nerja feels more tourist-oriented. Not necessarily more crowded than Cordoba, but the type of tourism is different.
While Cordoba still feels traditional, Nerja seems built more around expectations rather than authenticity.
Breakfast at Restaurante Albi
I’ll start with Albi, the first place where I grabbed breakfast after arriving from Granada.
I kept things simple: churros and chocolate with milk. And I have to say it clearly – the best churros I had during my entire Andalucia trip.
Eat them however you like – dip them or alternate bites with chocolate – they are great.
Both times I sat outside, near the edge of the terrace, with a view towards Balcon de Europa.
It’s honestly a great way to start the day. Good food, warm sun, relaxed atmosphere.
After breakfast you’re just a few steps away from Balcon de Europa or the beach.
I can’t say much about the rest of the menu, but for around 5 euros this breakfast is definitely worth it.
El Pulguilla review
This is a big place. Really big. Large interior, big terrace.
I usually avoid places like this, but the reviews convinced me to give it a try.
First impression: expensive. Second: disappointing.
I didn’t enjoy the vegetables, the shrimp had no taste and the ketchup on the fries didn’t help either.
I ordered a tinto de verano expecting something similar to what I had in Seville, but it was just a colored drink.
Most places I loved in Andalucia had real flavor, even for simple things like tomatoes or potatoes.
Here everything felt bland.
I paid 17.40 euros and honestly, I had much better meals for less money in Seville, Ronda or Granada.
Even with the complimentary shot at the end, it didn’t change my opinion.
Nothing stood out. Not one thing.
So for me, this is a no.
Little Italy Nerja review
I saved the worst for last.
What should have been a quick pizza turned into a 55-minute wait.
A beer came after 15 minutes, the pizza after what felt like forever.
The place was busy, but not that busy.
The pizza? Decent. Nothing more.
And definitely not comparable to real Italian pizza.
At around 5 euros for pizza and beer, you don’t expect miracles, but the waiting time killed the experience.
I looked around and everyone was waiting.
So yes, the place looks busy from the outside, but that’s probably because people are stuck waiting for food.
To put it simply: skip it.
Final thoughts
That pretty much sums up my experience with food in Nerja.
I know this is a limited sample, but this is how it felt.
Compared to Seville, Ronda, Granada or Cadiz, I think Nerja is weaker when it comes to food.
More expensive, less authentic, and overall less memorable.
Still, if you go, at least don’t skip the churros at Albi.
If you’re planning a longer trip through this region, check my complete Spain travel guide here.
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