Tapas bars

There are ten tapas bars in Torre del Mar, concentrated in the pedestrian centre, so you can walk from one to the next without moving the car.

How it works here

In much of Málaga province, ordering a drink gets you a free tapa with it. How generous it is varies from bar to bar, and some places here are locally famous for it. You are not expected to order food separately: the drink brings something, and if you want more you order raciones to share.

Two things that catch visitors out

• Mealtimes. Lunch runs from about two in the afternoon, dinner rarely starts before nine. A tapas bar at seven in the evening will be quiet, and that is not a sign of a bad bar.
• Many close one day a week. Often midweek, sometimes the whole weekend. Check the closing day rather than assuming.

Reading the ratings

The busiest bar in town holds a 4.4 across more than 2,200 public reviews, while a small one holds a 4.9 across seventy-seven. Both figures are true and they say different things. The first tells you the place works on a full Saturday.