Perhaps one of the most authentic places to try Malaga wine, this 1840 bodega has one wall stacked with giant barrels and the other plastered in memorabilia. There are no tables, so prop yourself up at the bar and order your chosen tipple. Limited tapas (mainly seafood) are also available.

Vegetarians generally aren't well catered to in Malaga, but getting away from the ham and seafood is easy at this cozy place, where there's a great selection of different dishes everyday. The good value 3-course menu offers several options for each course, and portions are generous, so be prepared to eat your fill! At least one dish per course is also suitable for vegans.

The ultimate comfort food stop and the best place in Malaga for chocolate and churros. The place is cheap and cheerful, the service always comes with a smile (plus a good dose of Malaga humor), the churros are crispy to perfection, and the chocolate thick enough to eat with a spoon. Toast and sandwiches are also available if you fancy something savory.

La Consula means a bus trip or taxi ride outside Malaga, but the food served at one of Spain's most famous hotel schools is more than worth it. This is a weekday lunch venue only and you'll need to book, but make this one of your holiday treats, and be prepared for a truly gourmet experience. The menu changes with the seasons, but delicious food is guaranteed here at possibly the best place to eat in this part of the country. The wine list is also impressive.

With 9 beers on tap and over 600 in bottles, few craft beer venues can compete with this one. New beers arrive weekly, so keep an eye out for the latest in gourmet ales from around the world. You can also try before you buy, and if you don't manage to taste as many as you'd like to, there's a takeaway service (prices discounted slightly). Good tapas help soak up the hops and yeast.

It's slightly off the beaten track and the outside doesn't look that promising, but waiting for you inside is some of the best Spanish food in Malaga. The emphasis is firmly on fresh produce here, with all fish and meat dishes worth trying. There's also a good value menu for two that includes a decent house wine.

Well worth the short walk to the outer ring of the old quarter is this lively restaurant where Mediterranean cuisine meets Asian in some seriously creative tapas. My favorite is probably the octopus with smoked mashed potato and lime, but several others could come in as a very close second. And tapas also come in bigger sizes here, so more of you can share.

Two beautifully restored houses are home to Malaga's best selection of wines (over 500 are on the list) paired with gourmet tapas. Sit at one of the bar tables for an informal glass of something, or make it a more formal occasion and book a table in the central patio with its stunning stained glass windows. Let the waiters advise you on the best wine for each tapa, and don't leave without visiting the museum and original wine vats.

Perhaps not the best place in Malaga for fried fish, but definitely worth a visit for the experience and the lively buzz found at one of Malaga's most popular venues. Pop along to the seafront in El Palo for a weekend lunch, and join lots of Spanish families for plate after plate of fried anchovies, squid, dogfish, sardines ... There's no menu here, instead the waiters tour the beachfront dining room laden with their wares, you pick what you want for lunch, and the waiter simply chalks up your tab as you eat.

This small venue is off the tourist trail, but well worth the short walk from Plaza de la Merced. It's justly famous for its tapas — the stuffed red peppers are particularly good — and the larger plates served here are perfect for sharing.