El Mesón de Cervantes

Since arriving in Spain, we had unfortunately experienced several disappointing meals, but this was the first truly wonderful and memorable dining experience we had in Málaga. First of all, we would like to talk about Caroline — she was incredibly kind, warm, and treated us with great humor. Thanks to Caroline and the other servers, we were able to enjoy a delicious and well-paced meal from start to finish. Each dish was served in the right order and at the perfect timing. The baby squid ink risotto was excellent; for Korean guests, it might be even better if you ask for it slightly less salty. The cod was cooked very evenly, with a tender yet bouncy texture that paired beautifully with the sauce. The octopus was also impressively soft, and the duck breast was light and flavorful, especially with its sauce. The wine pairing that was recommended to us was outstanding. For dessert, the apple-based dessert with cold vanilla ice cream was simple yet perfectly balanced and delicious. Every dish was thoroughly enjoyed, and it was a very satisfying dining experience overall. If we ever return to Málaga, this is a place we would visit again without hesitation.

I would give more stars if it was possible. Everything at this restaurant was fabulous. From friendly staff to the vibe and the quality of food. We absolutely enjoyed the food - more like devoured it as soon as it arrived at our table. Even got to meet the chef and thank him and his team personally after watching them create every single plate from our table (it’s an open kitchen so you can watch the magic happen).

A busy and cosy atmosphere at this restaurant. We tasted some delicious local wines and also gorgeous seafood. The risottos are delicious too. Try the baby squids with black rice and the morcilla.

We were there last night with a group of about 30 people. All of them were super happy with their food, wine and other drinks. We enjoyed it a lot!

This is a very "Local" bar/ restaurant and more like an old style English pub than a restaurant . The food is very good with a varied menu from Tapas to full size meals. Definitely worth a visit.

Very friendly staff, great lively atmosphere, very good wine with many choices, classic Spanish food that can also be surprising, for example the anchovis with guacamole and passionfruit coulis. Delicious!

Wow, this place was amazing! The service was super attentive - they gave us fantastic recommendations and you could tell they genuinely cared about exceptional hospitality. The food was excellent across the board! The tuna tataki was a highlight, but we also loved the piquillo peppers stuffed with salt cod and the pork cheeks. Honestly, this was the best meal we had in Malaga. Would eat here again in a heartbeat!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We visited with friends. Our table was booked for 7pm. The restaurant doors opened at 7pm. We were quickly shown to our table. Boy, did the restaurant fill up quickly! The service was great, the food absolutely delicious. There is a good selection of dishes and wine. This was our third visit and it didn't disappoint. We have enjoyed each and every visit. In my opinion booking is essential.

Given we came here during a cruise stop (don't judge us), we were really grateful to get some actual good food. And everything we had here was good - even great in most cases. I had heard about the restaurant when researching for our trip and made a reservation months in advance. But it seemed that if you go there right when they open, you may still get a table without a reservation. Everyone was very friendly. We had basically two servers - a young woman who spoke good English and an older woman who didn't (which was fine - we're not the sort of Americans that expect every person in other countries to speak fluent English). And I speak passable Spanish. The clientele seemed to be mostly locals, which is always a good sign. The couple next to us seemed surprised to see American tourists there and asked us how we heard about the place. And the food...we're not experts on Spanish food by any means but having eaten at a number of restaurants in Malaga, Valencia, Seville, and especially Barcelona, El Meson de Cervantes was our favorite. The style is not showy but highly skilled - always the perfect amount of salt, oil, seasoning, etc. We started with the wine they recommended - Pago El Espino by Cortijo Los Aguilares - which was great (and, as I later sadly found out, hard to get in the U.S.). They first brought out a plate of olives, which somehow tasted of ham (in a good way). Then we had the best croquetas we've had in Spain - light, perfectly prepared. Then we had a really good Chicken Cordon Bleu with great potatoes followed by amazing lamb chops with decadent shishito peppers. We ordered way too much food, by the way. They warned us and we should have listened. We weren't able to finish it all and asked the older server for a doggy bag, but she misunderstood, thinking we didn't like the food, and was a bit offended. The younger server clarified things and told us to next time just say "arriba." Sadly, our doggy bag was confiscated at the cruise ship entryway - they said outside food was not allowed but I think they just knew where we ate and wanted the food for themselves. We may never know the truth.

Como familia. When we arrived at Meson; it was 9pm on a Wednesday. We had been recommended by a neighbor of the home we were staying at. Meson is very close to the museums which makes it very accessible for a post museum meal, which is what we did. The service here is amazing, I find that despite it looking small that their staff makes it their priority to move quickly and efficiently while maintaining the ambiance of relaxation. .

Came here for our first dinner and we truly enjoyed it. We were lucky to get seated as we didn't have reservations. Our food was great. The owners of Teatro Cervantes owns this place too so food is both great. Make reservations as locals come to dine her too. Will be back here if I ever go back. Trust!

Great place with a great menu and lovely staff. Don't visit Malaga and not stop by this place.

The place is cool and lively and the food is presented well, but it was really heavily salted. And my main issue was that they used this same flavored salt in each of the dishes, so as a result all of the dishes ended up tasting very similar. We tried quite a few dishes as the prices were very reasonable. Our favorites were: -sea bass: this was the star... cooked really well, and it wasn't covered with the salt -baby squid: very juicy, and great texture -anchovies were fresh and delicious We didn't like the jamon... it was extremely chewy. Tips: -make reservations. It gets packed -check your bill. They charged us for 3 items that we didn't order (totally to about 20 euros)

I have been to this restaurant no less than a dozen times, definitely every time I am in Malaga and every single time, it gets better! The food is exceptional, the wine perfection and the staff, an absolute delight! Do NOT miss Meson de Cervantes. It is a true treat! Make reservations though. You will be glad you did!

What a treat on our last night in Malaga. We read about this restaurant in Lonely Planet and they were spot on as the BEST in Malaga. We arrived to a very packed house WITHOUT reservations. Our hostess offered us each a glass of vino and the seated us as soon as possible. We had a cute two-top table. Great tapas. A lot of veggie options. And the best Spinach salad in a long long time. A must do while in Malaga!

What a spectacular experience. The food was amazing. The staff were superb. Friendly and accomodating. If you find yourself in Malaga you really have to come to El Meson de Cervantes. And If you are truely blessed you will have Sebastin help you.

Wow! This place is the same owner as Tapeo de Cervantes and like Tapeo, this place did not disappoint. While several menu items are the same, there are numerous different ones. LOVED the goat cheese salad with berries. Tried sweetbreads for the first time and they were quite good and thinly sliced. The lamb stew was tender with amazing flavor, like it had been cooking all day.

Prices were a bit on the higher side compared to other restaurants we ate in the area, but the food was top notch making it worth a couple extra euros. We really enjoyed the risotto, the Argentinian steak and the duck. Only complaint was the waiter was a bit pushy. He recommended we get six tapas, we ordered five and he seemed upset. He kept asking what else we would want when we told him we had ordered enough.

A good Spanish restaurant with tasty food and a good selection. Priced a bit higher than comparable restaurants. Very accommodating staff. Great appetizers / tapas.

True Spanish tapas in a cozy environment! Great service at great price and the food was divine. Ordered a spinach & asparagus salad to start. The cheese and walnuts added texture and overall dressing was appetizing. Next came the grill octopus which were seasoned perfectly and had great texture. Just enough acidity from the seasoning to cut through the heaviness of the dish. The patatas bravas were fantastic. Great spicy tomato saucy that enhanced the potatoes that you could eat all day. The entrecôte was melt in your mouth succulent and had a good mix of accompaniments. (Pictured) The final dish was on another level altogether: the pork. (Pictured) The pork dish was well marbled with a side of balsamic vinegar, pineapple relish and pumpkin. Adventurous food pairing and paid off in spades. The vinegar cut the fatty pork while the pumpkin added texture. The sweetness of the relish enhanced the savouriness of the pork. A near flawless dish if there was one. A glass of sangria and a warm apple tart with ice cream later, the only thing left to do was pay the very affordable tab and call it one of the best meals we ever had.

Modern Decor Delicious Tapas English and Spanish menu available Reservation available Credit card accepted The Order: 1/2 Entrecotte €9 1/2 Secteto €8 1/2 Boletus €7 Carbonated water €2.50 House red €3 Local Malaga wine €2.50 Favorite of the night: Fried pork with apple and lemon sauce Food, service, and decor were on point; making this as good as it gets for Tapas 2016!

Hit this place late one night. Excellent service along with a crazy amount of options. Cava and red wine...what's to complain about. Tried the special, about 7 pieces (seared ahi tuna) ...probably the best I've had in sometime. The suace was just enough, and the small amount of wasabi on the side was the perfect amount. Also, got a more cooked Red tuna . The bravas potatoes was some of the best I've tried this trip. Note, first time I've seen " SERVICE IS NOT INCLUDED TIPS ARE WELCOME" on bottom of check. They deserved a great tip....

The food is absolutely delicious!!! The bartender was extremely nice and accommodating to our preferences. However...we saw a cockroach on our table and the waiter killed it without any sort of apology for what we have witnessed...it took forever to get the bill...

This place is fantastic. The boar stew and butter shrimp are highly recommended. We were walking through Malaga when we happened ji poj this place. It was absolutely packed but the wait is worth it.

I am in Malaga visiting friends that have lived here for two years and they said El Meson de Servantes would definitely be a hit if I fancied authentic Spanish food - they were not wrong. We had the Argentinian entrecote, the pork cheeks and the sea bass and all three dishes were exquisite. They have truly mastered the cooking time of everything they serve: meats were moist, fish was crispy-skinned and flaky. The waiting staff are typically Spanish, and go out of their way to make sure you have a splendid experience. The older female waiting staff are especially amazing if you enjoy a cheeky chat (in Spanish and English) after your meal. Their wine list is decent too, and everything is exceptionally reasonable in regard to price.

Excellent! Just excellent! All the tapas were great! Grilled baby Calamaris are highly recommended, as well as the steak. Don't miss when in Malaga

I have been to Málaga twice (2015 and 2017) and I have also been to this restaurant twice. I think that says it all ;) I had several tapas and medias here and everything was absolutely delicious. The ingredients are fresh and everything is spiced to perfection. The tuna was cooked just right and the salat with goat cheese was the perfect mix of different tastes (sweet, bitter, salty). If I will ever go to Málaga again it is very likely that I will go to this place again.

Fantastic place . Amazing personable service . By far the best restaurant in Malaga. Can't thank enough Yolanda and stuff for a great way to treat us and the kids!

This place is owned by the same owners that own Vineria Cervantes and both places are excellent. We had some of the best tapas here and the prices are very affordable. 65 Euro for 6 different tapas dishes and 6 glasses of wine.

What a delight. The service, the food and the price were all in perfect harmony. If visiting Malaga, don't miss out this wonderful place.

We went to Meson de Cervantes twice during our 5 day Holiday in Malaga last week. Apparantly, this restaurant was ranked no 1 at Tripadvisor, thus triggering our interest for a visit. At first glance, the restaurant looked a little poor from an aesthetic point of view, but this first impression soon vanished after our first taste of the excellent Moscatel vine. Although the garçons English vocabularity was rather limited, we managed to order some excellent tapas. The portions are more than agreeable and the taste is sublime. In this respect, I highly recommend the restaurants tuna, entrecote and dorade. From a Western-European perspective, the prices are a laugh. So is the expression on your face after leaving this place.

Eh... service was slow, food was mediocre. TripAdvisor gave it great ratings so we booked a table. We sat down and were tightly wedged between two tables and then boxed in by a third that was so close the couple that sat down next to us asked to move over a table. I had to push that third table away to get some breathing space. We ordered the fried peppers, the meatballs, the steak and the anchovies. All of the food was average, nothing special. We got the anchovies and then sat and waited forever for our food while a party of 5 who came after us got their full meal. I had to ask about our food which continued to come out in a slow trickle, each dish about 20mins apart. I asked for lime and was handed a dirty lime from the waiter's hand, nope not on a saucer but from his hand. We had sangrias that came with spoonfuls of added sugar that collected at the bottom, not sure why they added that. While the waitresses were nice the seemed overwhelmed. Wish it was better.

My favorite restaurant in Spain! Went because Tapeo was all booked, but it was such a great decision! We went just when it opened at 7:00pm on a Wednesday and we sat down immediately. We ordered a bunch of tapas: jamon with artichokes, asparagus and tomato purée; black sausage with sweet potatoes, quail eggs, and chimichurri; grilled red tuna with cauliflower puree; and salmon with herb butter and chick pea puree . All were delicious but the jamon with artichokes was a little bland and there was only one lone artichoke heart, I wouldn't suggest it. The tuna and blood sausage were fantastic and The bill was only 21 euro! Can't recommend this place enough!!

These tapas were so incredible. We were not disappointed by anything. The parking situation isn't idea but they have English menus and English speaking staff which we really appreciated. Super affordable prices.

After going to that failure of a tapas place in ridgewood it was nice to come to southern Spain and enjoy real Spanish hospitality and tapas. Prices are reasonable. Locals and tourists feel welcome. And they speak Englishbif you don't speak Spanish.

Outstanding. Took our teenage kids here with us and all had a great time. Everyone loved the food and had a wonderful time. Wait staff was excellent. Everyone would come back again if we were staying longer in Malaga.

Enjoyed being at this restaurant our last night in town. Food was delicious and the service which we received from Yolanda was top notch. Owner Victoria was lovely and friendly as well. Enjoyed the Wild mushrooms with asparagus, pumpkin risotto, crustless quiche, tasty meatballs and a couple salads. The strawberry Panna cotta was really wonderful! If you are going to be in Malaga, make sure to have a meal (or two) there.

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. The restaurant is so amazing and I would recommend this to anyone who's anywhere near Malaga. The owners are delightful and the food is delicious. We had the spinach salad, salmon and wild boar. All of it was delicious but the salmon was my favorite. They cooked it perfectly and the spinach side with black rice was delightful. A must eat while in Malaga.

Went here for dinner on our first night in Malaga at the suggestion of our hotel concierge. It was absolutely the best meal we had in Malaga at about half the price. Wonderful tapas, great service, nice wine list.