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Welcome to our guide on the Best Restaurants in Nerja... Nerja is one of the busiest of the towns along this part of the Spanish coastline and because of that, it has a GREAT selection of really excellent, top quality restaurants. There are over 320 restaurants just in the village of Nerja alone.
You can choose from the high-end Michelin recommended hot spots, a huge selection of international cuisine or the down and dirty, back to the basics, but amazingly delicious, beachside chiringuitos... whatever you are craving you are sure to find it in Nera!
Living just down the coast from this charming little village, we make it a habit to eat there often... and these are our TOP 20 favorite places...
- The photo above shows the gorgeous terrace overlooking the Mediterranean at Restaurante No. 34 at the Hotel Carabeo in the Nerja old town...
Also: Check out our restaurant selections in these near-by Costa Tropical towns...
These four Nerja restaurants might be on the pricey side but they are WELL worth the money. If you are on holiday and want a meal to remember, try one of these favorites below...
1. NERJA RESTAURANTS - OLIVA
OLIVA - €€€€ - MICHELIN 2020
INTERNATIONAL - MEDITERRANEAN - SPANISH CUISINE
This is one of our all-time favorite restaurants in Nerja. It's been open for years and it's always been of the highest quality. It's our go-to restaurant for date nights or special events.
Oliva is an upscale restaurant with a modern and creative twist on traditional Andalusian cuisine. They are constantly experimenting with new tastes, textures, techniques, presentations and fresh products. They also have a great wine list that includes wines from all over Spain for you to try.
You can find Oliva right in the heart of the Nerja Old Town.
We Recommend: The Selection of Spanish cheeses, the Iberian Pork Shoulder and you HAVE to try their Sangria... it's literally the best we've ever had!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
2. NERJA RESTAURANTS - PATANEGRA 57
Patanegra 57 €€€€
INTERNATIONAL - MEDITERRANEAN - EUROPEAN CUISINE Patanegra is another of the upscale restaurants in the Nerja old town.
Its Chef, Sergio Paloma, a lover of Mediterranean and international cuisine, studied at the prestigious School of Hospitality "The Consul" and has worked as a chef at many prestigious restaurants. He has also received numerous awards throughout his career.
Patanegra 57 offers dishes inspired by Mediterranean cuisine with exquisite presentation. It's open for both lunch and dinner.
The restaurant itself is small and cozy with a quaint garden in the back with a wall of plants and flowers. It's the perfect place to try if you really want to treat yourself to something special.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
3. NERJA RESTAURANTS - BAKUS
Bakus €€€€
MEDITERRANEAN - EUROPEAN - SPANISH CUISINE
Bakus is located very near to the
Nerja Parador with excellent views of the beaches and the Costa Tropical mountains and cliffs. It's a favorite among locals and never disappoints.
The restaurant itself has a very cozy, warm feel and there is an outdoor seating area in front of a beautiful terrace overlooking Playa Burriana.
Bakus is popular for both lunch and dinner so a reservation is recommended. Their menu is extensive and focuses on Spanish / Mediterranean cuisine prepared and presented at the highest level. You cannot go wrong with a meal at Bakus!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
4. NERJA RESTAURANTS - #34
Restaurante 34 €€€€
MEDITERRANEAN - EUROPEAN - SPANISH CUISINE
Restaurante 34 is perfectly located in the Nerja Old Town inside the Hotel Carabeo. It has one of the nicest terraces in town with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea in all directions.
This Mediterranean style restaurant focuses on creating a wide selection of exciting new dishes and whenever possible using the organic fruits, vegetables and olive oil that come from their own farm.
Reservations are recommended as this is a popular choice in Nerja. Outdoor seating is also available on their beautiful terrace.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
5. NERJA RESTAURANTS - UNICO
Unico €€-€€€
INTERNATIONAL - MEDITERRANEAN - EUROPEAN CUISINE
Unico is located right in the heart of the Nerja shopping district near to all the tapas bars and nightlife. It's a small but upscale restaurant that serves seasonal Mediterranean cuisine at an affordable price.
This is a great restaurant to try if you don't want to go too hard on the wallet but are looking for a great high-quality meal. The menu and quality of food are up there with some of the higher-end options above.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
6. NERJA RESTAURANTS - AVALON
Avalon €€-€€€
INTERNATIONAL - MEDITERRANEAN - EUROPEAN CUISINE
This restaurant is located just on the outskirts of town inside the Hostal Avalon. It is absolutely superb with amazing food, a nice terrace overlooking the town of Nerja and the coastline from a distance, and it has a cozy indoor area with a fireplace for when it's chilly.
The chefs at Avalon have traveled extensively throughout North Africa and South East Asia and infuse their dishes based on typical Mediterranean cuisine with the flavors and spices from their travels.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
7. NERJA RESTAURANTS - RAW LOUNGE
Raw Lounge & Tapas €€-€€€
TAPAS BAR / MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
You will find this unassuming tapas bar just along the beachfront on Playa Burriana. It's known by many as having the best tapas in the area and for a relatively good price.
It's a popular spot for ex-pats in the evenings and gets quite busy so you may want to call ahead. The goat cheese and walnut salad is fantastic as well as the prawns! If you are hanging out on Burriana beach and want a drink with something lite, Raw Lounge is the place to go!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
8. NERJA RESTAURANTS - MO GASTRO TAPAS
Mo Gastro Tapas €€-€€€
TAPAS BAR / MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
Certificate of Excellence 2016 - 2017 Winner
Mo Gastro is an experience, it is a dedicated tapas bar with a flare! You can either choose a meal portion or select various tapas to share with the table. If you're not sure what you want or what is best, they will decide for you and continue bringing things out until you tell them to stop.
You can find Mo's on the outskirts of town heading towards Maro. You will see their sign on the right side of the main road before you reach the Super Sol. The actual restaurant is further into the neighborhood on a side street. It's a quaint and cozy place with a modern twist.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
In town for a visit and need something good first thing in the morning... we've got you covered. You can't go wrong with
either of these choices...
9. NERJA RESTAURANTS - GOODSTUFF CAFE
GOODSTUFF CAFE €€-€€€
DESSERT - CAFE - EUROPEAN
Another Nerja favorite by the locals is the Goodstuff Cafe. It specializes in fresh bakery items, salads and sandwiches with a lot of flavor!
This is the perfect place for a tasty breakfast. They have amazing coffee and teas and a wonderful assortment of cakes, muffins, croissants and other sweet pastries. They also have savory options like salmon and cream cheese bagels, quiches and spinach pies.
For lunch they fantastic fresh salads, couscous, quinoa and highly creative wraps and sandwiches.
If you are up for something fresh, light, homemade and healthy.... try the Goodstuff Cafe!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
10. NERJA RESTAURANTS - TITO'S CAFE
Tito's Cafe €€-€€€
ENGLISH BREAKFAST If you are craving a hardy English breakfast, then Tito's is the place to go. They serve a
breakfast with 2 x bacon, sausage, hash brown, egg, beans, tomato and mushrooms with a round of toast and it comes with coffee!
They are located just a short walk from the Plaza Cangrejos near the sea on Calle Mediterraneo.
Tito's also serves lunches and dinners that are equally as good...
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
For some reason, Nerja is packed with some really good Italian restaurants... Most do a combination of good Italian and Spanish, here are our favorites.
11. NERJA RESTAURANTS - ANTICA ROMA
Antica Roma €€-€€€
ITALIAN - PIZZA - MEDITERRANEAN
Antica Roma is our go-to spot for a great pizza, salad and the best views of the Nerja Balcon. It's located in the old town shopping district but doesn't look like much from the front. When you go inside it opens up in the back revealing a large terrace overlooking the sea.
The restaurant is run by an actual Italian man who knows what he's doing, and the menu shows it. They have a large variety of pizzas, pasta, salads, bruschetta and Spanish tapas.
The Pizza Rustica is our favorite, a simple thin pizza with Spanish ham, arugula and parmesan cheese. It goes great with the avocado and salmon salad and a cold cerveza!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
12. NERJA RESTAURANTS - LA BOTTEGA
La Bottega €€-€€€
ITALIAN - SPANISH - MEDITERRANEAN
La Bottega is another popular Italian restaurant located in the Plaza de Cangrejos. They have an Italian chef who focuses on fresh fish and pasta with an Italian twist.
They also have a large selection of wines, great steaks and burgers!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
13. NERJA RESTAURANTS - LA FUENTE
La Fuente €€ - €€€
ITALIAN - PIZZA - MEDITERRANEAN La Fuente is a popular Italian restaurant right near the Balcon. It's tucked away right behind it in a plaza with about 5-6 other restaurants, but La Fuente stands out as being one of the best.
They have a very varied menu that will appeal to most, especially young children. They serve pizzas, pasta, paella, fried fish dishes, meat dishes and more...
It's a great family restaurant, the prices are reasonable and the service is always good.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
14. NERJA RESTAURANTS - EL REFUGIO
El Refugio €€-€€€
STEAKHOUSE - INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
Certificate of Excellence 2016 - 2019 Winner
El Refugio is just a short walk from the Balcon up past the El Salvador Church. It's a quaint little, family-owned restaurant that specializes in good meats. They have an excellent filet, ribs and leg of lamb among other delicious choices.
They also do the traditional Andalucian cuisine that you want to have in Spain... and they do it well...
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
So, you come all the way to Spain, and you want... Indian? No problem, because of the huge number of British Ex-pats that live in Nerja you will have your choice of good Indian fare...
There are at least 15 Indian restaurants in Nerja, but these are our two favorites...
15. NERJA RESTAURANTS - NAMASTE
Namaste Nepali & Indian Restaurant €€-€€€
INDIAN - NEPALI - VEGETARIAN
Namaste doesn't look like much from the front but don't let its appearance deter you. Once inside you will be greeted by cheery staff that aim to please.
Their food is fresh and creatively spicy! Just the way we like it.
Namaste is located right in the heart of old town Nerja, in the shopping district.
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
16. NERJA RESTAURANTS - JAIPUR
Jaipur €€-€€€
INDIAN - VEGETARIAN
Jaipur is a typical Indian restaurant done right. They have all the signature dishes that most people want, and the quality is great.
Sometimes it's hard to find a good Indian restaurant in Spain because they have to use slightly different ingredients to what they are used to, but Jaipur has it nailed!
The staff is friendly, attentive and the cost is reasonable. Highly recommend!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
17. NERJA RESTAURANTS - YUU TALEY
Yuu Taley €€-€€€
ASIAN - THAI- FUSION
If you are looking for a good Thai restaurant in the area, this is it. Yuu Taley is an upscale restaurant right near the Plaza de Cangrejos. It's small but warm and inviting.
The cuisine is spicy, full of punch and flavor and done with a real creative style.
The Chicken Pad Thai and Green Curry dishes were excellent!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
18. NERJA RESTAURANTS - LAN SANG
Lan Sang €€€
ASIAN - VEGETARIAN Lan Sang is another Thai option. It's located along Playa Burriana. It's just a small out of the way restaurant that is pretty casual, but the food is great.
If you are spending time in the Playa Burriana area and needing a little "spice" this is a great choice!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
Chiringuito: a small restaurant or bar, selling mainly drinks and tapas, and sometimes larger meals, in a more or less provisional or no-frills building, often on a beach...
19. NERJA RESTAURANTS - PLAYA Y SOL
Playa Y Sol €€-€€€
BEACHSIDE CHIRINGUITO
Playa y Sol is great because they have a little bit of everything. Their menu is huge, but I have never gotten anything there that I didn't really like.
They have all your typical Spanish fare, plus a great choice of huge tasty salads, delicious wraps, a great selection of burgers, pizzas and the desserts are amazing!
Playa y Sol sits right on Burriana beach. It's the perfect place to go when you just want to kick back and relax, have a drink and get into some good grub!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
20. NERJA RESTAURANTS - AYO
Chiringuito de Ayo €€-€€€
BEACHSIDE CHIRINGUITO
The last restaurant on our list is a family run business that has been going for years. Senor Ayo is a Nerja fixture and his packed restaurant is proof that people love what he's selling.
Ayo is a typical Spanish Chiringuito that sits beachside on Playa Burriana. They serve all your typical fried and grilled fresh seafood, grilled meats and paella. His signature dish is his massive "all you can eat" paella that people go crazy for.
Remember to make a reservation here during the summer because it will be full every day!
Find Location and Reviews on TripAdvisor.Com
