Best Restaurants in Estepona: 15 Tested Spots for Every Budget (2026)

Looking for the best restaurants in Estepona? You're in the right place. After eating our way through this charming Costa del Sol town more times than we can count, we've put together this honest guide to help you find exactly what you're after.

Whether you want a beachfront chiringuito with your toes in the sand, a rooftop bar with mountain views, or a family-run spot serving traditional Andalusian cooking, Estepona has it all. And unlike Marbella next door, you won't pay tourist prices for it.

Is Estepona Expensive to Eat Out?

Compared to Marbella or Malaga's food scene, Estepona is refreshingly affordable. That doesn't mean you can't splash out. There are Michelin-level restaurants and elegant hotel dining rooms if you're after something special, but day-to-day eating here is easier on the wallet.

A tapas crawl through the Old Town will often cost less than a taxi ride, and even beach clubs, which can get pricey along this coast, tend to keep things reasonable. It's part of what makes Estepona such a joy: you can eat well, often, without having to ration your nights out.

Here's what to expect price-wise:

• Tapas and drinks: €10-20 per person
• Casual lunch: €15-25 per person
• Beach club meal: €30-50 per person
• Fine dining: €60-100+ per person

Best Restaurants in Estepona

These are the restaurants that consistently deliver. Some are pricey, others are local favourites, but all of them serve food worth leaving your hotel for.

La Alcaria de Ramos

Price: €€ | Best for: Traditional Andalusian | Location: El Paraíso

Tucked away by El Paraíso Golf, this family-owned townhouse restaurant feels like stepping back into a different era.

It's not fine dining, but that's the charm. Think hearty, homely Andalusian cooking, served with a warmth you can't fake.

What to order: Oxtail stew, grilled meats, traditional starters

Restaurante Taberna Miguel

Price: €€ | Best for: Tapas with a group | Location: Old Town

One of Estepona Old Town's stalwarts, Taberna Miguel is where you'll find locals and tourists mingling over plates of jamón, revueltos, and traditional Andalusian favourites. With its big terrace and leafy courtyard, it's perfect for summer evenings with a group.

The food is simple but done right, and that's why it's always packed.

What to order: Jamón ibérico, revueltos (scrambled eggs with prawns or mushrooms), grilled prawns

El Pescador

Price: €€€ | Best for: Fresh seafood | Location: Promenade

Seafood lovers, this one's for you.

El Pescador sits right on the promenade, serving everything from razor clams and scallops to whole turbot and swordfish. It's bright and elegant without being stuffy: the perfect place for a long, lazy lunch.

Chef Alfonso has more than 30 years of experience, and it shows in every dish.

What to order: Grilled turbot, razor clams, seafood rice

Baltazar Bar & Grill

Price: €€€€ | Best for: Special occasion | Location: Kempinski Hotel

Part of the Kempinski Hotel, Baltazar is one of Estepona's more polished dining experiences, but still relaxed enough that you don't need to dress up. The menu leans towards grilled meats and seafood, with some playful sides and cocktails thrown in.

The tandoor-cooked seabass is a must, and if you're in the mood for something different, try the tuna belly with watermelon and mint.

What to order: Tandoor seabass, tuna belly, Josper-grilled steaks

Felix Restaurant

Price: €€€€ | Best for: Wellness-focused fine dining | Location: Las Dunas Hotel

Inside the Las Dunas Hotel, Felix is a refined space that marries Mediterranean produce with an Asian touch. Expect artfully plated dishes, jewel-toned interiors, and a wellness-minded approach (no alcohol is served here).

It's one of those rare places where every detail, from the lighting to the service, feels carefully thought out.

What to order: Tasting menu, seasonal fish, plant-forward dishes

Masala Indian Restaurant

Price: €€ | Best for: Indian cuisine | Location: El Pilar

Sometimes you just need a curry, and Masala is Estepona's answer. Set in El Pilar, the restaurant is airy and filled with greenery, with a garden patio that's lovely on warm nights.

The menu has all the classics, but the real win is consistency: the team here has been together for years, and it shows in the service.

What to order: Butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, garlic naan

Restaurants in Estepona With a View

One of our favourite things to do in Estepona, or any city really, is to find somewhere with a view and relax with cocktails in hand. These rooftop bars and terrace restaurants deliver on atmosphere.

The Garden at La Rosa

Price: €€€ | Best for: Romantic dinner | Location: Just outside town

Hidden just outside the main town, The Garden at La Rosa is one of Estepona's prettiest dining spots. The fairy-lit garden creates a dreamy atmosphere on warm nights, while the cosy interior makes it just as appealing in winter.

The menu is short but thoughtful, with highlights like cod in saffron sauce and Argentinian steaks cooked to perfection. It's family-run, unpretentious, and a place you'll want to linger long after your plate is cleared.

What to order: Argentinian steak, cod in saffron sauce, homemade desserts

Bermeja Rooftop at Hotel El Pilar

Price: €€€ | Best for: Sunset cocktails | Location: Old Town

Set high above the town with sweeping views of both the coast and the Sierra Bermeja mountains, Bermeja Rooftop is a go-to for evenings when you want something a little special.

It's chic without being pretentious, with a cocktail list that leans creative and a menu designed for sharing: think modern Mediterranean bites with a twist. Come for the views and the atmosphere.

The DJ sets on summer weekends make it feel like half lounge bar, half restaurant.

What to order: Sharing plates, signature cocktails, sunset views

Cielo Room

Price: €€€ | Best for: Glamorous night out | Location: Town centre

Cielo Room lives up to its name, offering sky-high views over Estepona.

It's equal parts rooftop lounge and restaurant, drawing a fashionable crowd for sundowners and late-night dining. The vibe is more international than traditional, with a menu that mixes sushi, tapas, and fusion plates alongside an excellent wine and cocktail selection.

It's one of the best places in town if you're after a glamorous night out with a view to match.

What to order: Sushi platters, fusion tapas, cocktails

Restaurants in Estepona On The Beach

Estepona has some of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol, and these beachfront restaurants make the most of them. From traditional chiringuitos to glamorous beach clubs, here's where to eat with your toes in the sand.

Trocadero Estepona

Price: €€€ | Best for: All-day beach dining | Location: Beachfront

Part of the well-known Trocadero Group, Trocadero Estepona brings a touch of colonial chic to the beachfront. With wicker furniture, leafy palms, and animal-print accents, the setting feels like a tropical lodge on the sands of the Costa del Sol.

The menu blends Spanish favourites with a surprising sushi section, but it's the cocktails that many come back for.

What to order: Cocktails, sushi platters, paella

Salduna Beach

Price: €€€ | Best for: Sunset drinks | Location: Benamara

Laid-back and welcoming, Salduna Beach is a beach club in Benamara where hours seem to melt away.

While the vegetarian options are limited, the seafood and grilled meats are excellent, and the bar is one of the best places in Estepona to catch the sunset.

It's an easy place to spend a whole day without ever leaving the sand.

What to order: Grilled fish, sundowner cocktails

Sublim Beach Club & Restaurant

Price: €€€€ | Best for: Glamorous beach day | Location: Laguna Village site

Built on the site of the old Laguna Village, Sublim has fast become Estepona's most glamorous beach club. With wave-inspired architecture, a pool terrace, and sleek interiors, it feels more like a resort than a restaurant.

The menu highlights fresh local produce, with dishes like razor clams with citrus and chilli or seafood paella that are perfect for sharing.

What to order: Razor clams, seafood paella, champagne

Tikitano by Besaya

Price: €€€ | Best for: Long beachfront lunch | Location: Beachfront

A long-time icon of Estepona's dining scene, Tikitano is instantly recognisable thanks to its Polynesian-style roof and elegant beachfront setting.

The terrace is vast, offering views that stretch to North Africa on a clear day.

The menu is Mediterranean with international touches, featuring dishes like crispy prawns, tuna belly salad, and French oysters.

What to order: Crispy prawns, French oysters, fresh fish

Chiringuito Torre Velerín

Price: €€ | Best for: Traditional espetos | Location: Torre Velerín beach

Summers in Estepona wouldn't be complete without a stop at Chiringuito Torre Velerín. Recently renovated, the beach shack now has a fresh, whitewashed look, but the spirit remains the same.

The house speciality is the espeto de sardinas, skewered and grilled over an open fire, though the seafood paella and pil-pil prawns are also worth trying. It's off the beaten path but much loved by locals, which is always a good sign.

What to order: Espeto de sardinas, pil-pil prawns, seafood paella

Traditional Dishes to Try in Estepona

Before you start restaurant-hopping, it helps to know what to order. Here are the local dishes you shouldn't miss.

Espeto de sardinas is the most iconic dish on the Costa del Sol.

Fresh sardines skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over an open fire right on the beach. Simple, smoky, and affordable, it captures everything good about eating here. You'll find espetos at every chiringuito, but the best come from places that have been making them for decades.

Seafood paella is a colourful pan of saffron rice loaded with prawns, mussels, and clams.

Though originally from Valencia, Estepona's beachside restaurants serve versions that are perfect for long, lazy lunches with friends. Always order for two or more and give it 40 minutes to cook fresh.

Gazpacho and salmorejo are two chilled tomato-based soups that locals turn to in summer.

Gazpacho is light and refreshing, while salmorejo is richer and creamier, often topped with egg and jamón. Both are served ice-cold as starters.

Jamón ibérico is another must-try: thin slices of acorn-fed ham carved straight from the leg and best enjoyed with a glass of wine. The real thing is expensive but worth every euro.

Argentinian steaks might not sound Spanish, but Estepona's Argentinian community has made them local. Restaurants like The Garden at La Rosa serve exceptional cuts cooked over charcoal and paired perfectly with a glass of Malbec.

Do You Tip in Estepona?

Service is included in the bill, so you're never under pressure to leave anything extra.

Most locals round up a euro or two or leave small change after a good meal. In upscale restaurants, 5-10% is appreciated but never expected the way it might be in the UK or US.

Quick tipping guide:

• Tapas bar: Round up to the nearest euro
• Casual restaurant: €2-5 or 5%
• Fine dining: 10% for excellent service
• Beach club: 5-10% if service was good

What Time is Dinner in Estepona?

Dinner starts much later than visitors expect. Restaurants typically don't fill up until after 9pm, and in summer it's not unusual to see families sitting down after 10pm.

If you're used to eating at 7pm, you'll find yourself alone in an empty restaurant.

Embrace the local rhythm instead: have a late lunch, take a siesta, then head out for dinner around 9pm. A long, leisurely evening meal is part of Andalusian culture.

Spanish meal times:

• Lunch: 1:30-4pm (main meal of the day)
• Merienda: 5-7pm (coffee and pastries)
• Dinner: 9-11pm (lighter than lunch)

How to Choose the Right Restaurant

With so many options, here's how to narrow it down:

For a special occasion: Baltazar, Felix, or Sublim Beach Club For traditional Spanish: Taberna Miguel, La Alcaria de Ramos, Chiringuito Torre Velerín For views: Bermeja Rooftop, Cielo Room, The Garden at La Rosa For beach vibes: Tikitano, Trocadero, Salduna Beach For something different: Masala (Indian), Argentinian steaks at La Rosa