Best Ice Cream Shops in Malaga: Where Locals Actually Go

You'll find heladerias on almost every corner in Malaga.

Some have been perfecting their craft for over a century, while others are quietly making some of the best artisan gelato in Spain.

This guide covers my favourite ice cream shops in Malaga, from the city centre to the beach. We'll also explain what helado de Malaga actually is, because yes, this city has its own signature flavour.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Malaga

1. Casa Mira

Casa Mira is Malaga's most famous heladeria, and for good reason. This family-run business has been serving ice cream since 1890, making it one of the oldest in Spain.

The main branch is at Calle Compas de la Victoria 1, with others on Calle Larios and around the city. Scoops run €2-4. Expect a queue in summer.

Severino Mira arrived in Malaga from Alicante with donkeys carrying homemade turron (Spanish nougat). The sales were so successful that he brought his entire family.

Since turron is traditionally a Christmas sweet, the Miras needed something to sell year-round. Using snow brought from the Sierra de las Nieves mountains, they produced Malaga's first ice cream.

Casa Mira uses a ticketing system during busy periods so grab a token when you arrive, then browse the flavours while you wait. Visit before noon to avoid the longest queues.

2. Heladeria Inma

This is where Malaguenos go for serious ice cream. Heladeria Inma has been operating since 1972 and is known for its exceptional nut-based flavours.

The shop is at Calle Moreti 15, about 2km west of the historic centre. Scoops run €2-4. Queues here can be just as long as Casa Mira.

Inma sources ingredients obsessively. Their pistachio comes from Sicily, their pine nuts from Valladolid. The result is intensely flavoured ice cream that tastes like the real ingredient, not a synthetic approximation.

The pine nut with caramel is their most celebrated flavour. The pistachio is made with Sicilian pistachios, bright green and intensely nutty. Any nut-based flavour here is worth trying.

Heladeria Inma is about 2km west of the historic centre. It's worth the trip, but consider combining it with a visit to Huelin beach or the CAC Malaga contemporary art centre.

3. Kalua

If you want choice, Kalua is my new favourite. With over 40 flavours made in-house with natural ingredients, there's something for everyone.

Find it at Plaza de Uncibay 8, right in the city centre. Scoops run €2-4.

The Death by Chocolate is for serious chocolate lovers. Their strawberry sorbet is fresh and fruity, perfect in summer. They also rotate creative seasonal specials regularly.

The central location in Plaza de Uncibay makes it easy to stop by while exploring the Old Town shopping streets.

4. YUMMY

Everything at YUMMY is gluten-free and vegan. Yes, even the cones.

It's at Calle Molina Lario 6, a short walk from the Cathedral. Expect to pay €3-5.

The pistachio is impressively creamy despite being dairy-free. Their Kinder Bueno take on the chocolate bar is popular, and the strawberry is simple and refreshing.

YUMMY is one of the few places in Malaga where people with coeliac disease or dairy allergies can eat without worry. The staff are knowledgeable about allergens.

5. Conico

For ice cream with a view, Conico at Muelle Uno is hard to beat. Sit on the waterfront terrace and watch the yachts while you eat.

Scoops run €3-5. Sunset is the best time to go.

Try the mango and cheese (unusual but it works) or the pomegranate yogurt for something refreshing with a tart finish.

The ice cream is good (part of a quality chain), but the location is the real draw. Perfect for an evening stroll along the port. If you're after more sunset spots in Malaga, the port area is one of our favourites.

6. Helados Cremades Pedregalejo

Combine your ice cream with a walk along Pedregalejo's chiringuito-lined promenade.

Find them at Calle Cenacheros 34 in Pedregalejo. Scoops run €2-4.

Their helado de Malaga is made properly with local sweet wine and raisins. The horchata (traditional tiger nut drink) is perfect for hot days.

This is an excellent stop after eating espetos at one of the nearby beach restaurants. If you're looking for more food recommendations, check our where to eat in Malaga guide.

7. Heladeria Mardels

With unusual flavour combinations and excellent dietary options, Mardels is popular with families.

Two locations: Avenida Imperio Argentina and Avenida Simon Bolivar 15 near the football stadium. Scoops run €2-4.

The Emperador is their standout: white chocolate, vanilla, Nutella, and chocolate chips. They also have good sugar-free options for those watching their intake. If you're visiting Malaga with little ones, our Malaga with kids guide has more family-friendly recommendations.

8. Martonela

Martonela lets you customise with fresh fruits, nuts, and biscuits on top.

On Calle Granada 60 in the city centre. Scoops run €3-5.

It's one of the first ice-cream stores you will notice because it's right along Calle Marques de Larios.

9. Heladeria Bajocero

If you have a car or fancy a cycling adventure, Bajocero offers something different: a semi-rural location on the edge of the Montes de Malaga.

At Camino de Colmenar 23, north of the city. Scoops run €2-4, with vegan and gluten-free options.

Their avocado ice cream is made with locally grown avocados from eastern Malaga province. The gold caramel with white chocolate is rich and indulgent, and the banana split with dulce de leche is for serious appetites.

What Is Malaga Ice Cream?

If you see "Helado de Malaga" on a menu anywhere in Spain or Europe, you're looking at the city's signature flavour.

It's not named after the city arbitrarily. This is a distinctive ice cream with a specific recipe that originated right here.

The base is cream and egg yolk, enriched with honey and brown sugar. The key ingredient is raisins soaked in sweet Malaga wine until they're plump with flavour. When folded into the ice cream, they create little pockets of boozy sweetness. Some versions include toasted almonds.

Think of it as rum and raisin's Spanish cousin.

Is Malaga Ice Cream the Same as Rum and Raisin?

No, although they're often confused. Helado de Malaga uses sweet Malaga wine (a fortified wine made from Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel grapes), which gives it notes of honey, dried fruit, and caramel. Rum and raisin uses, well, rum. The flavour profiles are genuinely different.

How Much Does Ice Cream Cost in Malaga?

Expect to pay €2-4 for a standard cone or cup with one or two scoops at most heladerias. Premium shops like YUMMY and Conico charge €3-5, partly because of their ingredients, partly because of their locations.

Casa Mira and most traditional heladerias sit at the lower end. Even the priciest places are reasonable compared to what you'd pay in northern Europe.

Conclusion

Try helado de Malaga at least once. It's the city's signature and you won't find a better version anywhere else.

For the best experience, visit Casa Mira for history and Inma for pure quality. Go before noon to avoid the longest queues at both.

If you have dietary restrictions, YUMMY (fully vegan and gluten-free, including cones) and Mardels (gluten-free, sugar-free, and lactose-free options) are your best bets.

Combine your Pedregalejo ice cream stop with a walk along the beach and espetos at one of the chiringuitos. It's what locals do on summer evenings.

If you're exploring the centre, our Malaga Old Town guide and best coffee shops in Malaga will help you plan the rest of your food crawl.