If you’re dying to know the tradition of the Holy Week in Malaga, that’s the post that you’ve been waiting for. You’re going to read about some of the best places to eat in Malaga during the Holy Week (but not only).
The best places to eat in Malaga during the Holy Week maintain their essence all year round, although it’s during this special time that they give their best. You will be able to soak up the authentic atmosphere of the Spanish Semana Santa and, at the same time, enjoy delicious specialities. Basically, you’ll get the best of both worlds.
These bars and restaurants are decorated with paschal candles, religious images displaying Virgin Mary and Jesus of almost all the brotherhoods in the city, and even scapulars all over the place. Therefore, if you want to know where you should be eating while in Malaga during the Holy Week, take a look below.
1. Entre Varales
The brotherhood ambience is present in this bar all year round. The inn “Entre Varales” has been standing out in the Holy Week-related world since 2016 when the Lópex siblings (Francisco and Pilar) and Pilar’s husband Miguel Ángel Navarro took over the place.
Navarro is a Holy Week’s helmsman, and he also carries the throne of María Santísima de la O, of the Sevillan brotherhood “Hermandad de la O”. A real “capillita” (a person who is engaged or very fond of the activities carried out by the brotherhoods regarding the Holy Week) to say the least.
Therefore, no surprise that this bar/restaurant welcomes the images of almost every brotherhood in Malaga. It’s located in Malaga city centre, right in front of the Church of San Julián and near the Agrupación de Cofradías, a place where all the brotherhoods of Malaga reunite.
But its atmosphere is not the only feature that has made this bar famous in Malaga and the outskirts. In fact, its menu welcomes delicious specialities, which stick true to the Malaga’s cuisine. You’ll find the guiso de jabalí (the wild boar stew), tostas (open sandwiches), bacalao al estilo trinitario (cod in the Trinitarian style), and the typical “pescaito frito” (fried seafood). And if you like seafood, let yourself be conquered by “Nuestra Señora del Carmen”, an octopus-based dish. Another famous dish is the Red Tuna of Barbate, which Miguel Ángel Navarro cooks with white lard.
The menu also welcomes tapas and small portions of food, which, however, will fill you up, as well as salads named after the brotherhoods in Malaga. A real experience!
If you plan to go here, remember to make a booking beforehand, or else you’ll have to wait at the front door of the bar for a table to get free. It’s very much attended especially during the Holy Week and Lent.
Address: 15, Nosquera street
Opening hours: from 10 am to 4.30 pm, and from 8 pm to 12 am
Medium price: from €5 to €10 per person, depending on the quantity and type of food you ask for
2. Las Merchanas
Las Merchanas has three different bars located in three hideouts of Malaga city centre. The most ancient one is that located in Mosquera street, which has been recently backed by one in Andrés Perez street and Cuarteles street.
Pepe Tejón Merchán opened the first Las Merchanas where an old coal yard used to be and named it after the Merchán women of his family. Being passionate about the Holy Week since the age of 9, he decided to create a space where good food and the Semana Santa atmosphere could come together. And it worked! Nowadays, the three Las Merchanas inns are a must-stop for everyone, either if you like the authentic ambience of the Holy Week, or you just want to have a tapa at an excellent value for money.
When you enter this authentic restaurant, you are welcomed by marches of those you can hear in the streets accompanying the thrones during the Holy Week. The place is filled with images of Virgins and Jesus Christ belonging to the brotherhoods, as well as objects that are normally used in the sacred processions.
In the menu, you’ll see the typical cuisine of Malaga, whose most famous dish is the ham croquettes, known as “Croquetas de la abuela Mari” (Grandma Mary’s croquettes, a homage to Pepe’s wife’s grandma, María José). They are so famous that every day, the kitchen produces almost 800 of them, and they even received a Michelin star. You won’t want to miss them for the price of €7.
Other dishes you should try are the flamenquín (with meat, ham and cheese), the fillet steak cooked with the Jerez wine, the Ensaladilla rusa (made of mayonnaise, potatoes, tuna fish, carrots), and the montaditos (small bread filled with basically anything you like), the most famous being the “pringá”.
Las Merchanas has converted into a touristic lure thanks to the authentic atmosphere and the excellent quality of its dishes. Make sure to get there in advance, as they don’t accept bookings.
Address: 5, Mosquera street; 9, Andrés Pérez street
Opening hours: from 1 pm to 12 pm, all week. Those in Andrés Pérez street and Cuarteles street close on Sunday night and Monday.
3. Mesón Las Cofradías
The Holy Week ambience is kept throughout the year in this restaurant. It’s owned by Manuel Jiménez, who belongs to the brotherhood of Prendimiento and who has converted a 40 sq-mt into a Holy Week museum. The authentic experience begins at the door of the inn, where you’ll be greeted by a Nazareth, belonging to the Brotherhood of Capuchinos.
While in the inn, focus on the small representations of various thrones of the Holy Week in Malaga: Penas, Esperanza, Cautivo, Expiración and the Virgin of La Paz, belonging to the brotherhood of La Sagrada Cena.
Its typical dishes are the black pudding, chorizo, edible beans, and chickpeas, in addition to the sandwiches typical of the Holy Week. Don’t miss out on “Hombre de Trono”, containing larded meat, and the “Capataz”, which is made of loin and pepper. And if you’re more of a sweet person, the bar also provides chocolate Nazareth images and the famous honey Torrijas.
Address: 11, Pl. Enrique García-Herrera, 11 , near the parking of Camas
Opening hours: from 11 am to 12 am
4. La Canasta
This franchise has bars and bakeries spread all over Malaga, although the most famous one is that located in the Plaza de la Constitución, facing the Main Tribune that’s built each year in the Holy Week. Here, you can find sweets that resemble the Nazareths, in addition to the classic Holy Week sweets.
Address: 13, Plaza de la Constitución
Opening hours: from 8 am to 21.30 pm
Other places where to eat in Malaga during the Holy Week
Keep in mind that, during the Holy Week, the features of the city centre change drastically. That’s because of the Main Itinerary that takes place in the Alameda principal, Larios street and the Main Tribune in Plaza de la Constitución. Therefore, some sites may have their opening hours changed, as well as the possibility to stay outside is reduced due to the passage of the thrones.
Some places that might be affected are the double bend in Granada street, Calderería street, Plaza Uncibay and Plaza de la Merced. These areas are all filled with bars and restaurants offering the most delicious dishes, which, despite not having the same authentic ambience of Las Merchanas, Entre Varales or the Mesón Las Cofradías, offer a great spot to enjoy the Holy Week at first hand.
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Have you ever been to any of this bars and restaurants? Which one did you fancy the most? Do you think any other bars should be on the list? Tell us and in the comments and don’t forget to rate this post 🙂
