Málaga is a city best known for its sweet wine and tapas, but over the past few years the craft beer scene has come into its own. Here are some of our favorite spots.
When you think of Málaga I highly doubt the first thing that comes to mind is craft beer. Perhaps you thought of the beach, the sun, even our local sweet wines; but craft beer? Not a chance. In fact, when we moved from New York City to Málaga one of my worries was that I wouldn’t be able to find places serving quality craft beer. It is something so common in the States and I wasn’t sure the trend was “a thing” in Málaga. Boy, was I wrong! Not only is there a culture of craft beer on the Costa del Sol, but there are several great spots to enjoy a local brew here in Málaga. What follows are a few of our favorite watering holes in Málaga.
El Rincón del Cervecero
I don’t know if anyone has a friend who does micro-brewing in their garage, but it is clear that the trend of making your own craft beer has grown exponentially over the past few years. El Rincón del Cervecero in the neighborhood of Soho is a bare bones sort of place that will sell you local craft beers along with the equipment to make your own brews at home. They also do workshops periodically if you’d like to try your hand at micro-brewing for the first time. El Rincon del Cervecero is the sort of place I would expect to find in a small town – bare walls, a few bar stools and high tables with a seating area outside on the terrace when the weather is nice (which is often in Málaga). It is a no frills, no nonsense place, but your beer comes with a little snack of bread and chorizo and a handful of potato chips, so it’s a great place to come after work for a little pick me up before you head home.
Address: Calle Casas de Campos, 5
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 7pm-12am; Thursday-Saturday 12-4pm, 7pm-12am; closed Sundays
Website
Central Beers
We love the aesthetic of Central Beers in Málaga. Decorated with warm wood tones and brick walls. The long wooden tables and metal chairs add to the urban style. On tap are more than 15 different craft beers which change periodically. Another point to mention is the kitchen. Central Beers has a delicious menu with burgers, salads and sandwiches to go along with your beers. It’s the perfect place to come to watch a football match with friends. Located in the heart of the historic district, this is a great option for lunch if you are visiting Málaga for the day.
Address: calle Cárcer, 6
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 5pm-2am; Fridays 5pm-3am; Saturdays 1pm-3am
Website
La Madriguera
La Madriguera is a long narrow bar with a chill vibe and friendly service. The staff is very helpful in giving you advice on what beers to try, and the snacks are delicious as well! We tried the hummus the first time and I’ve been eyeing the nachos for our next visit. What I like most about La Madriguera is the fact that there are lots of events and live music. Recently there was a night where you could “meet the brewer.” The philosophy is to keep things fresh. Not only is there a rotating selection of beers, but the menu also changes. They call it “handcrafted foodie,” but it only makes sense in this space where creativity is clearly encouraged. It’s called “La Madriguera” which means “The Burrow” in Spanish, and it’s clearly the sort of place I wouldn’t mind hibernating for a while.
Address: calle Carreteria 73
Hours: Monday – Thursday 6pm – 2am; Friday 6pm – 3am; Saturday 1pm-3am; Sunday 1pm – 2am
Website
La Botica de la Cerveza
This little store and bar in the neighborhood of La Victoria is somewhat unexpected. Set back from the touristy shops and restaurants in the city center, La Botica has a huge selection of beers on tap and in bottles. The bartenders are very knowledgable and it’s clear that they have a passion for what they do. La Botica has a great website with different ideas for recipes using craft beers. One of the recent posts showed how to prepare rabbit with artichokes and IPA beer. This is a great place to buy a gift, as well, since you can put together your own gift baskets or order online. The only downfall to La Botica de la Cerveza in our opinion is the limited choice of snacks. It’s a perfect place to stop for a before or after dinner drink, though!
Address: calle Victoria 13
Hours: Monday – Saturday 12pm – 3pm, 6pm-2am; Sundays 6pm-2am
Website
Cerveceria Arte & Sana
I love coming to Arte & Sana in the summer because their huge windows at the front of the store open out into the Plaza de la Merced. It’s the best of day drinking brought to Málaga. The extensive list of local craft beers on tap is printed in chalk along the back wall; but you also have a huge selection of bottled brews to choose from. The vibe here is very chill and the snacks are great to go along with your beer, although they don’t offer a full menu. This is a fun place to come with a group of friends as it’s a really comfortable and cozy space.
Address: Plaza de la Merced, 5
Hours: Monday – Thursday 7pm – 2am; Saturdays 2pm-2am; Sundays 5pm-2am
Website
Do you know any other great places to enjoy craft beer in Málaga? Leave us a comment below! We’re always looking for new spots to try!
