This is the best ‘chiringuito’ in Spain (officially!)

The Spanish summer is a favorite of many, despite the unbearable heat (and high bills), and air conditioning that runs all day.

We like to drink our beer (or wine) on the beach and eat our seafood while our feet rest in the sand. And it’s possible, as Spain has thousands of ‘chiringuitos’, most of them quite affordable.

But have you ever wondered where the best ‘chiringuito’ in Spain is?

Now we have a formal answer. Tapas Magazine Their prestigious “Tapas Best Chiringuito”, 2025 Edition.

The best chiringuito in Spain: El Balneario de los Baños del Carmen

It’s time to toast the Almighty Malaga with a cool tinto de vrano.

El Balneario de los Baños del CarmenSpain’s top beach bar for 2025 has been officially awarded to the historic 1918 seafront beach bar and restaurant.

El Balneario has been a Malaga institution for over a hundred years. It is not just a restaurant by the sea. El Balneario represents Malaga. This is exactly the type of place you see in summer dreams. Enjoy the Mediterranean coastline with its unbeatable views, delicious sardine espetos, crispy fried sardines, and other creative dishes.

It also has a long and rich history. According to Tapas MagazineThe place was once a “symbol of Malaga’s cultural life”, and allowed men and women to bathe at the same time for the first. In the early 20th century, it was considered a revolutionary idea. A dance floor and a fountain of Jerez Wine (!) were available.There was a dance floor, a fountain of Jerez wine (!

Nowadays, El Balneario de los Baños del Carmen is managed by a group of local entrepreneurs. They continue to maintain its legacy with high-quality food, beautiful sunsets, and an unmistakable vibe.

Malaga and its other beach ‘gems’

The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other El Balneario Malaga is not the only city to have a star in the national top 100.

The Top 25 Tapas Chiringuitos also includes two other jewels from the province:

• El Saladero (in Caleta de Velez) – Described by Tapas as “a white hut on the sand, with paper tablecloths and the scent of grilled espeto floating through the air.” Dani Carnero, Michelin-starred Chef at the restaurant in Malaga, calls it “the best chiringuito of the Axarquia”. Princess Leonor also loves this chiringuito. Anchovies are served with leek, anchovies with egg and carabinero potatoes. Legendary tuna is served with tomato.

• La Milla (in Marbella) – An upscale beachfront spot that’s stayed relevant for over a decade. Run by Luis Miguel Menor and César Morales, it offers daily fresh seafood, espetos, Andalusian-style fried fish, and one of the best wine cellars on the coast (over 900 bottles!). There are also sunbeds in the sand and service under a thatched roofing, as well as views that do not need a filter.

Spain’s 25 best ‘chiringuitos’

Here’s a list of places where you can enjoy a good meal and booze with your toes in the sand in Spain.

• Be Papagayo (Lanzarote)
• Beso Beach (Formentera)
• Blue Bar (Formentera).
• Cala Clémence (Javea, Alicante)
• Cala Jóncols (Roses, Girona)
• Ca’s Patró March (Deia, Mallorca)
• Cap Sa Sal (Begur, Costa Brava)
• El Balneario (Malaga)
• El Cranc (Altea, Alicante)
• El Miradoriu (Asturias)
• El Puntal (Cantabria)
• El Refugio (Cadiz)
• El Saladero (Caleta de Velez, Malaga)
• Es Bruc (Menorca)
• Es Fumeral (Menorca)
• Jondal (Ibiza)
• La Fontanilla (Conil, Cadiz)
• La Milla (Marbella)
• La Siesta (Sitges, Barcelona)
• La Xancla (Huelva)
• Marxa (Galicia)
• Oli Ba Ba (Oliva, Valencia)
• Ses Boques (Ibiza)
• Toc Al Mar (Costa Brava)
• Xuroy, Menorca

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