11 May Casa Lola Malaga Review – The Best Tapas I Ate in Andalusia
Malaga.
The final stop of my 15-day road trip through Andalusia.
By the time I reached Malaga, I had already eaten my way through Seville, Cadiz, Jerez, Cordoba, Granada and Ronda. I had enjoyed some fantastic meals along the way and thought I had a pretty good idea of what Andalucia had to offer.
Then I found Casa Lola.
I ended up eating there twice before leaving the city and, even years later, I still remember it as one of the best food experiences of that entire solo trip through southern Spain.
If you’re planning a longer journey through this region, don’t miss my complete Spain Travel Guide, where I’ve gathered all my itineraries, restaurant recommendations and travel tips from multiple visits.
Casa Lola in Malaga
Casa Lola is located right in the heart of Malaga’s historic centre, just a stone’s throw from Malaga Cathedral and the Picasso Museum.
I discovered it while wandering through the old streets of the city, camera in hand, looking for places to photograph before dinner. The terrace was packed with both locals and tourists, which immediately caught my attention.
I managed to find a table outside during my first visit and returned a second time before leaving Malaga, this time eating inside at the bar.
Now, I won’t lie to you.
This place is busy. Every single time I walked past it, there were people waiting for a table. Even during my second visit the atmosphere was exactly the same, lively, noisy and full of energy.
If you enjoy discovering local food while travelling, you can also have a look at some food experiences available in Malaga.
The food
The staff was excellent.
I wasn’t completely decided on what to order, so I asked for a few recommendations. Both times they patiently explained the menu, suggested several tapas and helped me choose dishes that turned out to be fantastic.
Considering how busy the restaurant was, I honestly didn’t expect such friendly service.
As you can probably tell from the photos, I ordered quite a lot of tapas across my two visits and I genuinely can’t remember a single one that disappointed me.
I especially remember dishes such as Lola Recipe and Lola Secret, both recommended by the staff. If you decide to visit Casa Lola, don’t hesitate to ask for their suggestions instead of ordering blindly from the menu.
On both occasions I paid well under €20, which felt like excellent value considering both the quality and the amount of food I received.
If you read my food article from Valencia, you probably noticed that I compared the meals I had there with the food I experienced throughout Andalucia.
When it comes to Casa Lola, however, I honestly think it belongs in a different league. The balance between quality, flavour and price was simply outstanding and, for me, it easily surpassed anything I had tried in Valencia during that trip.
Final thoughts
I deliberately kept this review fairly short because I don’t think great food always needs a long explanation.
Sometimes you simply walk into a restaurant, enjoy every single dish that arrives at your table and leave knowing you’ll probably return one day.
I usually avoid restaurants located right in the historic centre of a city because they often focus more on tourists than on food. Casa Lola turned out to be one of those rare exceptions where I’m genuinely happy I ignored my own rule.
Even years later, when I think back to that solo road trip through Andalucia, Casa Lola is still one of the restaurants that immediately comes to mind.
If I ever return to Malaga, I know exactly where I’ll have my first tapas.
Planning a trip to southern Spain?
If you’re visiting Andalucia, you may also find these guides useful:
- Spain Travel Guide
- Andalusia Road Trip – 22 Days Through Southern Spain
- Where to Stay in Andalucia
- Best Cities to Visit in Andalucia
- Where to Eat in Seville
- Eating Tapas in Granada
- Eating Tapas in Cadiz, Jerez and Cordoba
- Eating Tapas in Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
PS: Unlike most of my restaurant reviews, I honestly can’t remember which dish appears in each individual photo anymore. The list below includes everything I ordered across my two visits, and I’d happily recommend trying any of them.
- Filled small bun
- Lola Recipe
- Lola Secret
- Pequiba
- Casa Lola Sandwich
- Mechaita Meat
- Calle de Ronda
- Abre los Ojos
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