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Pedregalejo It’s not a beach, they’re several small coves separated by breakwaters, throughout the El Pedregal seafront promenade, in the east of Málaga.
It used to be a fishing neighbourhood and still looks the part: low-rise houses, beaches stranded in the sand and barbecue grills ablaze at midday. That’s where the people of Málaga go to eat fish.
Pedregalejo grew up in the 19th century as a fishing hub, back when it was still separate from the town. The fishermen from here and from El Palo are known as meringues, and the term is still in use.
The city eventually caught up with it, but the neighbourhood retained its character: narrow streets leading down to the sea, one- or two-storey houses and the sides, the traditional boats, which are now used as grills for the skewers.
If you’re interested in the local dialect, you’ve got The Malaga Dictionary.
This is what’s most surprising about the account, and you won’t find it in any guidebook:
All three are on the same high street, just a few numbers apart:
Paseo Marítimo el Pedregal 49. Rating: 4.4 With over 1,800 reviews. A family-run business serving grilled and fried fish.
It’s closed on Mondays. The rest are open from 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm and 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm; on Sundays, only at midday. Book by telephone, especially for dinner.
77 Paseo Marítimo el Pedregal. 4.3 with over 2,700 reviews, and packed with people from Málaga, which is the best sign. Espetos, paella and seafood.
Book the terrace in advance: it runs out at dusk.
Paseo Marítimo el Pedregal 66. Mind you, it’s often described as a beach bar serving skewers, but it isn’t. It operates more as a café and restaurant with an extensive menu: breakfasts, bowls, burgers and vegetarian options.
Its advantage is the timetable: Open every day from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm, so it’s a great place to have breakfast overlooking the sea when everywhere else is closed. It has an upper floor with views.
To find out what to order, traditional dishes from Málaga.
Walk the length of the promenade. It’s a pedestrian-only path and runs right alongside the coves. The best bit runs from Baños del Carmen to El Palo, and it takes quite a while, with no rush.
Stop off at Baños del Carmen, the old spa dating from 1918, with its eucalyptus trees standing by the water. It is the sunset spot in the east of Málaga. You can find it at Los Baños del Carmen.
Have a bath. The coves are small and sheltered by breakwaters, so the water is calmer than on open beaches. A good choice if you have children.
And stay until sunset, where the sun sets behind the city and casts silhouettes of the boats. More places in the best sunsets in Málaga.
It’s about 4 kilometres from the centre, heading east.
Pedregalejo is the eastern end of the urban coastline. At the other end, to the west, are the seafront promenade, Mercy y He was taking.
And continuing eastwards, you come to the Peñón del Cuervo, the barbecue beach.
It’s a free plan: The beach, a stroll and the sunset cost nothing. More ideas at free things to do in Málaga. And if you happen to be there during a festival, the traditions of Málaga: the Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16 July is celebrated in a special way here.
We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. If you’d like to explore both the city and the surrounding countryside:
You’ve got the city in What to see in Málaga in three days, the coast at the towns in Málaga with beaches and destiny in The Malaga Guide.
It’s worth checking the bill. Many restaurants in the area automatically add a 10% service charge, which isn’t a voluntary tip but a charge that’s already included. Furthermore, the bread and olives served without you asking for them are usually charged separately, so they aren’t a free tapa. It isn’t a widespread bad practice, but it does come as a surprise to those who aren’t expecting it.
El Caleño, at 49 Paseo Marítimo el Pedregal, is the highest-rated, with a score of 4.4 and over 1,800 reviews, although it is closed on Mondays and it’s best to book by telephone. Miguelito el Cariñoso, at number 77, is the neighbourhood classic, with a rating of 4.3 and over 2,700 reviews, and its terrace fills up quickly at dusk. Both restaurants prepare their espeto on the boats on the beach.
It is about 4 kilometres to the east. The most convenient option is the EMT’s number 11 bus, which runs along the Alameda–El Palo route, taking between 20 and 30 minutes. You can also walk there in about an hour along the coast, or cycle along the cycle path leading off from Muelle Uno. Parking is difficult at weekends and in summer.
This is because it consists of a series of small coves separated by breakwaters, rather than a single stretch of sandy beach. This layout means that each cove has its own atmosphere and the water is more sheltered than on open beaches, making it a good choice for families with children.
The ‘marengos’ are the traditional fishermen of Pedregalejo and El Palo, a term that is still used in local parlance. The ‘jábegas’ are their wooden boats, and today many lie beached on the sand, converted into barbecue grills: it is on these, fuelled by firewood, that skewers of sardines are grilled in full view of the customers.
A former spa dating from 1918, situated at the western end of the promenade, with its characteristic eucalyptus trees leaning over the water. It is one of the most beloved spots in eastern Málaga and the go-to place for watching the sunset in this part of the city, as well as the natural starting point of the promenade towards Pedregalejo and El Palo.
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