From Poniente Tattoo Studio, we want to share a list of our favorite places in Estepona.
There’s a bit of everything: gastronomy, nature, specific spots in the old town, charming corners…
And the best part is that it’s a list that’s constantly growing, as it’s based on a map created on Google Maps to which we are adding new places that we discover.
So, if you’re visiting Estepona or just want a resource to help you in those moments when you ask yourself ‘what should I do today?’, save some ideas from this list.
We have many more on the original map, but these three are a good representation. They’re the kind of bars you return to because they have that ‘certain something’ you love. Call it personality, delicious food, or good atmosphere.
1. Mencey
We’ve been regulars at Mencey forever.
But aside from going out of routine and nostalgia, we go for the fried calamari. The best you’ll ever taste.
Also highly recommended are the pork loin bites and potatoes.
*Lunch only.
2. Darcy’s delicatessen
Delicious vermouths and craft beers. It’s a perfect place for a drink and a snack.
They have a wide variety of hot and cold tapas. All of them are delicious. You can tell the ingredients they use are high quality.
Our personal recommendation: any cheese tapa or the smoked sardine one.
*For lunch and dinner.
3. Restaurante Venta los Reales
We love this one. However, you need a car and drive up to the Refugio de Los Reales.
There you’ll find this venta and a menu with seasonal dishes. Most of the vegetables they use come from their garden. They have meat dishes, stews, and several vegetarian starters.
If it’s winter you can eat inside by the fireplace. In summer you can enjoy their terrace among pines with sea views from the mountain.
*Lunch only.
Sometimes, happiness is sitting on a terrace to have a coffee and some churros.
1. Restaurante Sabores
They offer a wide variety of bread types and the coffee is good.
It’s sometimes a bit crowded, but just wait a bit and you’ll find a spot quickly.
It’s one of our favorite spots for breakfast.
2. La Italiana
They have a variety of breakfast options, but we recommend it mostly for a snack.
It’s a classic in Estepona. Anyone who hasn’t had a crepe with Nutella from La Italiana hasn’t really lived in Estepona.
3. Yeca Café Cantina
They’ve opened recently and it’s a place with a great vibe. Plus, you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just meet for drinks there.
If you’re looking for a place with an atmosphere and good coffee, stop by Yeca.
We believe in discovering places while walking, getting lost. But if you want a direct hit, here are a few little corners of our town that we love.
1. Pasaje Maruja Mallo
One of the prettiest spots in Estepona. It is named after the Galician painter Maruja Mallo, from the Generation of ’27.
Curiosity: two poets fell madly in love with her and wrote two iconic books of Spanish poetry in her name: El Rayo que no cesa (Miguel Hernández) and ‘Sobre Los Ángeles’ (Rafael Alberti).
2. Senda Litoral
Several kilometers along the coast. A great plan is to rent bikes, explore it, and stop somewhere for a drink.
It has several cool spots, but our favorites are two: a wooden dock past the Estepona port and the area at the end of the promenade, before entering the Angel Park, in the other direction. It’s beautiful at sunset.
3. Castillo de San Luis
Castle ruins with remains of a Moorish tower and the foundations of a Roman mausoleum.
Its interior has been recently converted into a museum. If you’re a resident, it’s free, if not it only costs 1€.
Sea, beach, mountain… A bit of everything!
1. Paseo del Pinsapar
The Paseo de los Pinsapos is a short (1.5 kilometers) and easy route in Sierra Bermeja, very close to Estepona. The path goes through a small forest of Spanish firs, with streams, ferns, and even a Lorca poem at the end.
Bring some coffee in thermos and enjoy a good morning walk.
2. Playa de la Chullera
The truth is Estepona’s beaches aren’t the most beautiful in the world, which is why we want to recommend a nearby one.
Chullera belongs to Manilva and you get there by car, but if you have one, it’s worth it. It’s declared as a “coastal complex of environmental interest” and a protected area due to its scenic value and biodiversity, with flysch formations, low cliffs, and crystal-clear waters.
3. Charco de las Mozas
It’s not in Estepona either, but it’s close. Specifically in the Guadalmina river, within the municipality of Benahavís.
It’s a group of three natural rock pools. There are areas of varying depth. You have several options. You can do the canyoning route or spend the day at the pool at the end of the route. Or the best: both.
You leave the car near the pool, walk to the start of the trail, and when you arrive, you sit by the shores to enjoy a well-deserved sandwich.
As we said, this list is just a sample of all the places in our map.
We leave it here in case you want more information.
Oh! And any new recommendations you’d like to make to enrich the map are very welcome. You can write to us on Instagram or on Whatsapp.
And if you want to know a bit more about who is behind all these recommendations, here we talk a bit about us.
