4 Best Restaurants in Fuengirola, Costa del Sol and Costa de Almeria

Perched high in the hills above Fuengirola, this is one of the best fish restaurants on the Costa del Sol. Michelin-starred chef Diego Gallegos champions sustainable and healthy cuisine, and his on-site aquaponics facility raises most of the fish and vegetables used here. As a result, 90% of the ingredients are ‘homegrown’ with the remainder sourced locally and Gallegos also has a green Michelin star for sustainability. Freshwater fish such as trout and sturgeon take pride of place on the tasting menu (four aperitifs plus nine dishes), where you’ll also find organic caviar and smoked fish. 

This long-established vegetarian restaurant has a large, pleasant dining space decorated with vibrant artwork. It's best known for its excellent, vast, and bargain-priced lunchtime buffet, which includes salads and hot dishes like red-lentil croquettes, vegetable paella, and soy "meatballs." Leave room for the house-made desserts, all delicious. Vegans are well catered to. Biodynamic wines and beer are available, as are more mainstream Spanish varieties.

Andalusian cuisine meets Basque tradition at this authentic restaurant in the heart of the older part of Fuengirola. Dine on fresh local produce either outside on the pleasant corner terrace or inside the rustic dining room. The menu takes Andalusian cooking as its base but adds Basque traditional dishes in a unique and very tasty north-south fusion. Try the txangurro (Basque-style crab), milhoja de foie con queso, membrillo y manzana (mille-feuille with foie gras, quince, and apple), or the house specialty, duck. There's also a cozy bar where you can enjoy inexpensive tapas and sharing plates. The wine list runs very long and staff offer good advice on pairing.

Tucked into the elbow of a narrow street near the main church square, this restaurant serves up superb Spanish dishes, including albóndigas de ibérico en salsa de almendras (Iberian pork meatballs in almond sauce) and bacalao frito sobre pisto de verduras (fried cod on ratatouille). The three-course daily menu with a half bottle of wine (€19.50) offers a wide range of choices. The interior is warm and rustic, with lots of dark wood and beamed ceilings. The tapas bar comes with a tempting display of light bites (from €4), and the wine selection is well conceived and extensive.