Benalmadena is a popular holiday destination in southern Spain renowned for its wonderful weather, fantastic beaches, warm hospitality and a number of unique landmarks and attractions. Benalmadena is a melting pot of cultures and this is apparent in its exciting culinary scene. From a charming little eatery serving amazing authentic tapas to a swanky seafood restaurant with a prime location on the beach, you won't be short of great places to eat in Benalmadena.
Local cuisine
Known for serving authentic Spanish cuisine for many decades now, Tapeo Granaino is a very popular local eatery that has stood the test of time. The restaurant specialises in tapas and all kinds of local delicacies, including seriously fresh fish dishes. The restaurant also stocks a wide variety of fine Spanish wines.
Restaurante Alborada is a cosy and welcoming eatery located in the heart of Benalmadena. The Alborada is known for its large portions of traditional Spanish food and has become so widely famous that it is one of the few restaurants in the area to sport TriPAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence.
Bright and cheerful, Carnaval is a Spanish / Mediterranean fish and meat restaurant that serves healthy Mediterranean food at great prices. The restaurant plays upbeat music and the staff makes your dining experience very enjoyable. Definitely a family friendly establishment, Carnaval is bound to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Perfect for an enjoyable evening dining experience, Water Front is a romantic Spanish restaurant serving seriously good food. In addition to the range of delicious dishes, top service and a great location push Water Front further up the popularity stakes.
Casa Rafael is one of the most popular tapas restaurants in Benalmadena and one that attracts tourists and locals from all across Costa del Sol with its authentic tasty food and generous portions. The restaurant offers incredible food at very low prices and is known for its friendly and prompt service, too.
A popular fish restaurant, La Gran Ola is a traditional Spanish restaurant known for its fish BBQ and large menu, which offers almost every Spanish dish imaginable. The food here is unpretentiously delicious, with no frills, and served at fairly low prices. This is a very busy restaurant that is almost always full throughout high season, so book ahead.
European
Restaurant Il Girasole is a Mediterranean restaurant Specialising in Italian and unconventional Spanish dishes. Expect bold Mediterranean flavours, generous portions, reasonable prices, attentive service and a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
Focusing on high gastronomy and fine flavours, Sopranos is a classy European restaurant in Benalmadena's Calle Ronda. The food here is exquisitely cooked and combines unusual flavour combinations with refined culinary methods.
Located in Benalmadena's scenic port, the El Greco is a fantastic Greek restaurant that serves healthy and delicious Mediterranean food. The restaurant offers its visitors an amazing view over the local marina and the food certainly leaves nothing to be desired. Most dishes are prepared with fresh meat and fish, delicious Greek yogurt and of course, healthy glugs of extra virgin olive oil.
Benedicts is a unique restaurant serving British, Irish and Hungarian cuisine in a melange of dishes and flavours you won't find anywhere else. The food here is a perfect fusion of these cuisines, with dishes smashing the traditional culinary boundaries to present visitors with new and exciting takes on timelessly classic traditional dishes.
British
Owned and operated by British expats, the Drunken Sailor is a laid-back and very friendly British eatery where you can grab familiar bites and tuck into delicious English breakfast, Sunday roasts, fish & chips and many other favourites from back home.
Located by Benalmadena's sandy beach, Smiley's Restaurant Bar is a popular British eatery that serves foods from back home cooked with a definite Hispanic flair. The food here is familiar yet innovative thanks to a distinct Spanish twist. Living up to its name, Smiley's is very welcoming, child friendly place and service comes with a smile.
Terrace is a cosy bar/restaurant serving British specialties and lots of delicious drinks to its patrons. Most of the people coming here are Brits and the menu reflects that with most dishes heavily drawing inspiration from the traditional British cuisine while maintaining a distinctively Mediterranean character.
Affordable and family friendly, the Blue Lamp is a British restaurant located on Las Palmeras avenue. This family run restaurant serves inexpensive food and generous portions without skimping on quality. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant is owned by a couple of British expats who know how to make a tourist feel at home.
Warm and welcoming, the Old Duck is a relaxed pub/restaurant that caters mostly to homesick Brits seeking familiar tastes, sounds and sights while visiting Benalmadena. The food here is genuinely British and the beer is flowing and well-priced.
Asian
The Nirvana Restaurant is an authentic Indian restaurant in the heart of Benalmadena. Owned and operated by Indian expatriates, the restaurant has earned TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence and numerous other distinctions for its delicious, unadulterated Indian tastes and its incredible dishes that aren't found anywhere else on Costa del Sol.
Located inside Torrenueva commercial centre, Asiatico Especial Yin Teppan Yaki is a trendy and modern Asian restaurant that is known for whipping up excellent Asian dishes on the spot. The restaurant is famous for its promptness, its delicious food and its friendly staff that are always eager to help.
The Wok Asiatico is an Asian restaurant with a definite tropical atmosphere that is known for serving authentic Chinese and Thai dishes, including extremely spicy delicacies. This is the best restaurant to sample Asian dishes as they are traditionally cooked and not as they are usually prepared for western palates.
International
Elegant and romantic, the Restaurante La Fuente is a Spanish themed restaurant that serves dishes from all around the world in a very warm and enchanting atmosphere. This is fine eatery to sample all kinds of delicacies, from European to Southern American and beyond. The prices are decent for the quality of food provided but may put off budget tourists.
Restaurante La Nina is a Spanish themed eatery with a laid-back, family friendly atmosphere and an impressively large menu. The restaurant serves fresh food, cooked from local ingredients, while its kitchen draws upon the great cuisines of the world to create interesting and unusual culinary delights.
Overlooking the eastern side of Benalmadena's marina, Restaurante Angus is an internationally inspired eatery that combines American, European and Asian cooking styles in an exciting menu. The food here is a hit with locals and tourists alike for its diversity and reliable deliciousness.
Restaurante Milan is a unique Italian/Indian restaurant that merges the best flavours from both these great cuisines to create incredible new culinary experiences. Highlights include delicious curries and tasty pizzas but also curry flavoured pizzas and even spaghetti curries too!
Trendy and international in scope, Bar 76 is a fancy gastro pub that specialises in delicious food and snacks from all around the world, tied together with genuine Hispanic cooking. The food here caters to international palates while maintaining a definite Spanish flair.
That Canadian Place is a whacky Canadian eatery that specialises in hamburgers and Canadian specialities. The restaurant has a funny theme but serves seriously delicious food for all the family to enjoy. Many of their ingredients are imported straight from Canada (like maple syrup) to recreate an authentic Canadian dining experience.
Fine dining
When it comes to top tier tapas the Rincon Asturiano doesn't disappoint. As one of the most luxurious tapas eateries in Costa del Sol, this is the definite place to sample tapas cooked by world class chefs in a fine dining environment. The Rincon Asturiano reinvents the tapas tradition and brings it up to 21st century culinary standards for every gourmand tourist to enjoy.
The Venta el Higueron is a luxurious restaurant famous for its extensive selection of fine Spanish and imported wines served alongside its world class dishes. The food here is exquisite and the prices match the restaurant's quality and reputation. This is a formal restaurant that is not especially suitable for young children.
As Benalmadena's highest rated fish restaurant, Pescaderia Los Mellizos enjoys international fame for its style and seriously impressive food. The restaurant employs famous chefs to cook with the freshest local ingredients. The restaurant boasts an impressive view over Benalmadena's port and its overall feel is modern and very refined.
La Sirena is a very popular fine dining restaurant in the heart of Benalmadena specialising in Spanish and Catalan dishes. The atmosphere is friendly and casual despite the restaurants incredibly high standards, making it one of the most family friendly fine dining eateries in Costa del Sol.
Cafes & snack bars
Upbeat and colourful, the Lounge at Pinoccios is a friendly café that serves light meals, delicious tapas and flavoursome coffee in a beautiful beachside environment. The Lounge is very relaxed and laid back, while the menu is accessible and very child friendly with lots of desserts and Disney-themed dishes on offer.
La Cubana is a beachside snack bar and all-day café located at the beach of Benalmadena. This is a great place to relax by the beach while avoiding the noise and commotion of local beach bars. The cocktails here are delicious and the menu offers a wide selection of tasty snacks to choose from.
The Dolce Vita Gourmet is one of the most popular local bakeries and confectioneries in Benalmadena. Popular for its delicious sweet pastry and hearty breakfasts, the Dolce Vita serves mostly Spanish and Italian pastry along with British delicacies and fresh ice cream. The menu is particularly child friendly and the prices are palatable enough to say yes to seconds.
Seafood & grills
As its name implies, the Rodeo Steak House is a larger-than-life BBQ and steak house restaurant that serves huge portions of fresh Spanish meat and lots of spicy sauces to go with it. The food here is plentiful and the meat is always thoroughly cooked, so if you want your steak medium-rare do not forget to specifically ask for it!
La Viborilla is a popular seafood restaurant located on the eponymous beach and is considered as the best restaurant in the area of La Viborilla. Local fishermen deliver their catches to the restaurant's doorstep several times each day, ensuring that the seafood dishes here at La Viborilla is seriously fresh.
The Longhorn del Sol is a friendly grill restaurant in Benalmadena. The food here is unpretentious and cooked with simplicity in mind to create straightforward and down-to-earth honestly delicious meat dishes. The portions are generous and the atmosphere is very family friendly.
Perhaps the most unconventional grill eatery in Benalmadena is the Tex Mex Bobby Peru. Boasting a unique Texan / Peruvian / Spanish menu and lots of unusual dishes, this is a great restaurant to dig into some seriously delicious steaks and moreish ribs. The music is Latin and Spanish, so sets the mood in suitable fashion.
Mickey's Restaurant is a great outdoors steakhouse. This eatery welcomes lots of locals along with tourists thanks to its reasonable prices and simple honest approach to creating delicious dishes served with a smile.