15 Best Bars in Malaga: Speakeasies, Cocktail Bars & Hidden Gems (2026)

Malaga's bar scene runs deeper than the tourist strips on Calle Larios.

We've lived here for years and still find new spots tucked into side streets and hidden behind unmarked doors. From 1920s-style speakeasies to underground tunnels serving porrones, Malaga has bars with personality.

This is our list of the best bars in Malaga.

Not the usual rooftop bars or chain pubs, but spots with character. Places where locals actually drink. Some are famous, others are genuine secrets.

Best Speakeasies in Malaga

Speakeasy "The Pharmacy"

We walked past this one late one night while looking for it and had to double back and peer into a dark window to figure it out. There may have been booze involved in this expedition.

Tucked away in a quiet street near the river, The Pharmacy is the real deal. A proper speakeasy with low lighting, jazz playing softly, and bartenders who treat cocktail making like an art form. The "pharmacy" theme runs throughout, with herbal-infused drinks and creative concoctions like "The Secret Life of Plants" and the "Nepali Gimlet."

What we love: It manages to feel both high-class and welcoming.

Complimentary water and snacks come with your drinks. The staff genuinely care about what they're making.

• Address: Calle Garcia Briz, 3
• Hours: 7pm-2am (until 3am Fri-Sat)
• Cocktails: €10-14
• Best for: Date nights, craft cocktail lovers
• Try this: The Basil Cooler (lemongrass vodka, basil, raspberries, lime, ginger soda)

La Guarida: The Underground Tunnel Bar

Think of La Guarida as a pit stop or pre-game for a long night. Somewhere you can get cheap (but different) drinks and laugh while doing it.

Usually only open at 10:30pm, La Guarida has an unassuming entrance that leads into a tunnel under a building lined with concrete tables and chairs. The draw is the porrones, and the concoctions they pour in them.

Drinks like "The Hulk" and "Caramelo" are mixes of different alcohols, poured into a porrone and given to you with shot glasses. By the end of the night, it turns into a competition of who can pour from the porrone into the shot glass from the furthest away.

Fair warning: Don't wear white here.

• Opens: 10:30pm
• Best for: Groups, pre-game drinks, something different
• Vibe: Underground party atmosphere

Best Cocktail Bars in Malaga

Chester & Punk

Hands down our favourite cocktail lounge. Try The Walking Dead if you ever go!

This is another fantastic lounge that's easy to mistake for a small bar as you walk past.

We did, for a long time. They have a seriously well-equipped old-school bar, and the people behind it know what they're doing.

It's also a two-for-one experience.

At Chester, expect an old-school, elegant vibe with dim lighting, leather seats, and expertly crafted cocktails.

Shuffle a little further in, and you get Punk: neon lights and graffiti-covered walls.

The drinks are strong, the music is loud, and if you stay long enough, you'll probably find yourself in the middle of some dancing. Note: due to the high alcohol content in The Walking Dead, they only serve two per person.

• Address: Near the old town centre
• Best for: Cocktail enthusiasts, couples, late nights
• Try this: The Walking Dead (a Zombie variation) or Caipirinha de la Pasion

Puerta Oscura

This bar doesn't get mentioned enough. While everyone flocks to the trendy spots, Puerta Oscura offers something completely different: a trip back in time.

The 19th-century decor is classy and calming, with antique china in display cabinets, classical music playing, and waiters dressed in period style. It feels like walking into a beautifully maintained salon from the fin de siecle era.

What we love: The bartenders make drinks exactly to your taste.

Ask Luis (the owner) for recommendations and he'll craft something perfect. Their gin and tonics are legendary.

• Location: Quiet street near the cathedral
• Cocktails: Around €7-9
• Best for: Quiet drinks, conversations, classic cocktails
• Important: Cash only

Baires Coffee & Drinks

A newer addition to Malaga's cocktail scene that's earned its spot on best-of lists. The vibe is classy without being stiff, with a cocktail philosophy that blends traditional and contemporary techniques.

Their menu offers "a perfect balance between old-school charm and new-wave flair." Go for a refined Negroni or something tropical with a twist.

• Address: Calle Mendez Nunez
• Best for: After-dinner drinks, cocktail connoisseurs

ZAS Cocktail Bar

Our daughter worked here for a little bit!

It's a small but trendy cocktail bar with a few stools, but a preference for standing and talking the night away.

It's usually a pit stop early in the night for drinks, and later in the night, the last stop with dancing, music, and cocktails!

• Best for: Standing drinks, pre-club vibes
• Vibe: Small, social, energetic

Manana Cocktail Bar

Nestled in the heart of Malaga's old town, Manana offers a diverse selection of over 80 cocktails. From classics like margaritas and mojitos to innovative creations, plus more than 30 beers on tap.

The friendly owners (two brothers) create a welcoming atmosphere that keeps people coming back. It's one of those places where the hospitality is as good as the drinks.

• Location: Old town
• Best for: Groups wanting variety, beer lovers

Best Traditional & Classic Bars in Malaga

El Pimpi

Alright, so calling El Pimpi "quirky" might be a stretch, but this Malaga institution is an experience all on its own.

Housed in an 18th-century building with walls covered in celebrity-signed wine barrels and a maze of Andalusian-style rooms, it's where everyone from Antonio Banderas to random tourists has raised a glass.

Is it touristy? Sure.

But somehow, it still feels authentic, probably because locals love it just as much as visitors do. The multiple courtyards and dining rooms mean you can always find a quiet corner.

• Address: Calle Granada, 62 (near the Picasso Museum)
• Must try: Pedro Ximenez sweet wine
• Best for: First-time visitors, wine lovers, groups

Antigua Casa de Guardia

Walking into this place is like time travel. Established in 1840, it's the oldest bar in Malaga.

Staff track your tabs with chalk marks on the wooden counter (old school accounting), and wine flows directly from wooden barrels behind the bar. The sweet Malaga wines here are some of the best you'll taste anywhere.

It's not fancy.

There are no seats. You stand at the counter and drink like people have done here for nearly 200 years.

• Address: Alameda Principal, 18 (near the port)
• Must try: Sweet Malaga Virgen wine
• Price: Budget-friendly (€)
• Best for: History buffs, wine enthusiasts, authentic experiences

La Tranca

"Super famous" is how the locals describe La Tranca when we mention it.

It's three blocks from our flat, and I have never seen it not look like a sardine can.

Apparently, that's part of the appeal. We'll let you decide.

This tiny bar is wall-to-wall nostalgia, with vintage Spanish record covers covering every inch of the walls. The bartenders are more like party starters, handing out vermouth on tap while the crowd belts out old Spanish tunes.

Even if you don't know the words, you'll probably end up clapping with strangers by the night's end.

Go with the understanding that it will be packed and loud, but it will be worth it for that feeling of being part of something big, if only for the night!

• Best for: Spanish atmosphere, vermouth, singalongs
• Vibe: Packed, loud, unforgettable

Quirky & Hidden Bars in Malaga

Casa Invisible (The Mosaic Tile Bar)

This place has some history.

A building, once in disrepair, was taken over by a community collective and is now run by them. It's a grey area. A local explained this to me, but finding real information has proven a little tricky.

What is it? Essentially a mosaic-tiled courtyard where the collective runs the bar. It's also one of the few places in the city where you can enjoy drinks in the shade of a tree.

There's nothing special about the drinks (homemade vermouth and locally sourced craft beers), but the point of going is to enjoy the atmosphere. Plastic chairs, occasional poetry readings, live music, and the sort of people who frequent community spaces.

If the occasional smell of something green doesn't bother you, it's one of Malaga's most laid-back places for a drink.

• Address: Calle Andres Perez, 8
• Price: Budget-friendly (€)
• Best for: Alternative vibes, cheap drinks, outdoor seating

Yosu23

This place is out there.

Most of the art is stuck to the walls, floors, and tables. From bottles to marbles to statues, you name it, it has it. While the art decor may be weird, the drinks are reasonably priced and poured pretty stiff.

This pub is directly opposite our other quirky pub, La Biblioteca, so why not kill two birds with one stone and stop at both?

• Best for: Weird art lovers, Instagram photos
• Vibe: Eccentric, colourful, fun

La Biblioteca

This is an odd one because the bar almost doesn't seem to know what it is, with faux bookshelves and related decoration throughout.

There are closed booths, one even with a Lord of the Rings-themed section, an old-school bar, and late at night, half a dance floor.

The entrance alone makes it interesting and photo-worthy, but it's an excellent spot midway into the night to grab drinks and absorb energy.

• Best for: Groups, movie fans, themed booth photos
• Vibe: Eclectic, playful, transitional

International Bars Worth Visiting

Camden Town Pub

This one's a little out of the way, but it's close to the beach and one of our favourite pit stops on the way home.

It's an old-school English pub with a lot of memorabilia, some really good whisky, and an awesome games room.

The games room is why it makes the list because it's perfect for a group of 6-12 people.

It's like having your own private VIP area. Just call ahead.

• Location: Near the beach
• Best for: Groups, game nights, whisky lovers

Cerveceria Untertürkheim

Hands down, our favourite thing to do after lounging at the beach is to head to this restaurant.

It's a fantastic German pub with all the usuals, including sports, tons of German food, and German beer.

None of that's incredibly special, though.

The boots (1, 2, and even 3L boots) are the reason it makes the list! If you're feeling incredibly thirsty, come and give one a try!

• Best for: Beer lovers, sports fans, group challenges
• Must try: Das Boot (beer boots)

ZZ Pub

Operating since 1991, this is Malaga's rock institution. Rock memorabilia covers every wall, live music happens frequently, and the vibe is pure down-to-earth dive bar.

If you're into the alternative scene or just want something that isn't polished and pretty, ZZ Pub delivers.

• Address: Calle Tejon y Rodriguez, 6
• Best for: Rock fans, live music, alternative vibes

When to Go Out in Malaga

Malaga nightlife starts late. Really late. Here's the local rhythm:

• 7pm-9pm: Bars open, early tapas and drinks
• 9pm-11pm: Dinner time (locals eat late)
• 11pm-1am: Bars fill up, pre-drinks
• 1am-4am: Clubs and late bars peak
• 4am onwards: After-parties and churros

Common Questions About Bars in Malaga

Final Thoughts

If you ever make it to one of these bars, please let us know what you think. Also, if you find one you think should be on our list, please let us know in the comments!

And if you're in Malaga, make sure to try some of the other great bars and pubs in Malaga, as well as the oldest bars in Malaga and the local traditional food, before you leave!