It’s time for an update to our original ‘Top 10’! We take our research very seriously (of course!), gather opinions from friends and feedback from our guests about the most popular bars, cafés and restaurants in Ronda and the nearby villages. We couldn’t possibly limit ourselves to just 10, so we’ve expanded our list to our favourite 25, so that there’s something for everyone and every occasion.
Ronda has a passion for food. With its roots entwined with the Roman and Moorish cultures, the cuisine in Andalusia is rich and varied. The region's invention of tapas created not just a different style of meal, but an alternative, fun way to dine out. As many restaurants are so reasonably priced, a preferred evening out here is to enjoy these small dishes (a little taste of this, a little bite of that) in a variety of bars and restaurants, socialising with friends and family, discussing the weather and catching up on the latest gossip.
Olive oil, jamón serrano (cured ham - pretty much an art form in Andalusia) and fresh, local produce are the main staples and, even away from the coast here in Ronda, seafood is carefully selected and presented in a variety of deliciously different dishes. A glass of locally-produced wine, tinto de verano (refreshing red wine with ice and soda/lemonade) or beer are the perfect accompaniment to your taste of Spain. Here are our twenty favourite spots to enjoy during your stay at La Cazalla.
1. Casa María
Consistently Ranked in the Top 10 on TripAdvisor, Casa María absolutely deserve their more than 3,000 five-star reviews. Creating their ever-changing menu from the best and freshest produce available on the day, María and her family combine an excellent, friendly service with innovative and authentic dishes. Dining is simplified by the lack of menu to decipher and select from: simply sit back, relax, and allow these local specialists to serve you 5-6 well-proportioned courses of the most delicious dishes of the day, including the local wines that best accompany them.
Dine inside or al fresco in the picturesque Barrio San Francisco plaza and delight in creations such as truffle, jamón, egg and potato mash, melt-in-the-mouth crispy tuna with a vegetable salad, local goats cheese with strawberry coulis, cured cod, and sirloin steak cooked to perfection. Just be sure to leave some space for their to-die-for desserts. Reservations are strongly recommended, as this restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors.
2. Taberna El Almacén, Calle Los Remedios 7, Ronda
Photograph © Taberna El Almacén
Our feet sore from shopping for gifts on the Calle de la Bola (Carrera Espinel on any map - it's just known as la Bola locally), we wandered into this nearby contemporary-looking bar and discovered a cool, friendly place with a young, relaxed vibe and innovative tapas. ¡Qué suerte! Their ever-changing menu is created from the freshest locally-sourced quality ingredients of the season or day, thoughtfully combined into a mix of traditional and innovatory.
Their tasty tapas are offered alongside craft beers and good local wines, and as there are plenty of tables and bar stools, there's no need to make a reservation in advance. Head into town, sight-see and shop until your feet can't take anymore, then simply step of the main street into this lovely little haven.
3. Bar El Convento
Tucked away within the residential streets of Barrio San Francisco, next to the old convent, is Bar El Convento: a favourite restaurant that's small in size, but BIG on flavour and presentation. We love the quirky interior, with its varied art, musical instruments, and the train that runs on its track around the ceiling whenever the bar reaches a certain financial goal for the evening.
Their welcoming team will bring you incredibly reasonably-priced, tasty tapas presented with such artistic style you can hardly bear to break them apart. Feast with your eyes and tastebuds on tapas such as Corazon de Vieiras (scallop and prawn), Graten de Patatas, and the oh-so-delicious Rollito de Pollo (a succulent chicken roulade). Friday nights, accompanied with 80s music, are particularly popular with Rondeños, so either arrive for their opening at around 8pm, or wait until 10pm when a second-sitting often becomes available, as the early-birds head off to 'tapear' in another location.
4. Kütral
In 2019, Martin Abramzon, previously La Cazalla’s private chef, opened his own restaurant in Ronda - Kütral. Since then he has gone on to pick up awards left, right and centre. When you want a truly stunning steak, there is nowhere else to go, and people travel from as far away as the coast just to enjoy it. Martin’s passion for his home country, Argentina’s, open-fire roasting technique, is clearly the centre of this concept, delivered in the super cool, quirky environment of a refurbished industrial warehouse. My mouth is watering…!
5. Quinto Tramo
We’ve tried to keep this little gem to ourselves for a long time, but it’s too good not to share! This tiny bar in Calle de la Bola (the main pedestrian street in Ronda) is one of our favourites, but be warned, it can be a squeeze! If you can sneak away from your group and book a perch for just two or four people, you’ll be in for a treat. Don’t miss their unique take on Patatas Bravas, the Mushroom Risotto is melt in the mouth, the caramelized or the provolone Goat’s Cheese, the Pan Bao… I need to stop!!!!
6. Bar Bodega
Just up the road from La Cazalla is Bar Bodega in Barrio San Francisco: an authentic Spanish bar; always busy and with a great atmosphere. Their location in the breezy, tree-shaded plaza next to the Puerta de Almocábar makes them the perfect place to refresh yourselves after enjoying one of our recommended walks around Ronda. Sit outside in the plaza or admire the hanging hams inside while you nibble on their wide range of tapas, raciones and grilled meats. The prices are excellent too - don't be surprised if you've had several tapas and a glass or two of their locally-selected wines and your bill is less than EUR15.00.
7. Bar de tapas Camelot
If you're popping into Ronda town centre for some shopping on pedestrianised Carrera Espinel (known as 'Calle de la Bola' - a nickname so entrenched that many here seem not to know where Carrera Espinel is...), we recommend leaving your car in the central car park on Calle Comandante Salvador Carrasco so that you can taste some tapas when you are tired of the tiendas (or, if you're less inclined towards shopping, wait for your friends and family there!).
This busy tapas bar and restaurant on the corner sees a constant flow of Rondeños stopping by to meet with friends, enjoy una caña (a 'little beer') or two with a few tapas, before sweeping off to their next stop for the day. The bustling and unpretentious scene, accompanied by tapas favourites such as croquetas, mini-hamburguesas and surprising selection of fresh seafood, makes for a perfect pit-stop, and at around EUR1.50 per caña or tapa, the reasonable prices are a soothing balm to the wallets of those who may have enjoyed their souvenir shopping a tad too much. It's a super-popular bar, so be prepared to be patient with the persevering staff - simply sit back and relax, and pass the time with a little people-watching.
8. Restaurante Casa Grande, Alpandeire
Whether you hike to picturesque Alpandeire via one of our recommend walks or take a 30 minute scenic drive to this white village, we highly recommend factoring in a meal at Restaurante Casa Grande. Sequestered beneath the vaulted ceiling of its converted stables with their cool stone walls, you will enjoy a warm welcome accompanied by authentic Andalusian dishes given a trendy twist. Everything is cooked to perfection, and you can choose from a variety of salads and entrees, including vegetarian cuisine, regional dishes, grilled meats or oven-roasted Iberian pork, beef, venison, duck, suckling pig, or lamb, and finishing with a homemade dessert. Oh - and when they offer you a digestif, if you like rice pudding be sure to sample their rice digestif, especially combined with the coffee liquor. Somehow we often seem to end up taking home a bottle or two... Reservations are recommended.
9. Restaurante Asador el Muelle, Benaoján
Simple and succulent are the words that spring to mind when thinking of Restaurante Asador El Muelle at Benaoján train station. Their Arabian oven produces the most perfectly-cooked meats in town (take a look at the oven behind the bar when you go in, the exterior of which you can see to the left of the entrance, it’s the same design as La Cazalla’s fireplace). Alongside their Arabian meats, they offer stews, fish, sausages, cheeses and quality wines.
For such a popular and busy restaurant (reservations recommended), the service is attentive and friendly. You can wander to the restaurant from La Cazalla, take the train to and from Ronda (latest return just before 5pm), or opt for the 30 minute drive through rugged mountain scenery.
10. El Muelle de Arriate
Not to be confused with El Muelle at Benaoján station, dining at El Muelle de Arriate is an entirely different experience you will love. You will be welcomed at the door by owner Frank, who will sit with you to discuss your preferences and thoughtfully guide your choices, and who will continue to humorously entertain you at unobtrusive stages throughout your meal. The food is exquisitely presented and cooked to perfection, and the service attentive but relaxed (the restaurant is well-deserving of their 378 five-star reviews). It's a little pricier than our above recommendations, but the experience is a real treat, so go ahead and make your reservation for that special occasion during your stay with us. The restaurant is an easy 25 minute drive from La Cazalla, although Frank or our team will be delighted to organise taxis for you.
11. Las Maravillas, Carrera Espinel 12, Ronda
Photograph © Las Maravillas
Located directly on the Calle de la Bola, the conventional facade of Las Maravillas disguises a trendy and fashionably-designed restaurant with fabulous food. However, their truly delightful secret is their hidden and completely charming inner courtyard.
If they happen to have it as a special on the day of your visit, we highly recommend their to-die-for mushroom risotto, but to be honest, all of the tapas and mains we have sampled in this friendly restaurant with English-speaking staff have been delicious: the pinchos, the presa... our mouths are watering just remembering these marvellous meals.
What we love about Las Maravillas is that you can pop in any time between 11.30am and 11.30pm and order anything you fancy from the menu, so it’s great if you want to eat earlier than the standard lunch or dinner times in southern Spain. And you can guarantee that whatever time it is, there’ll be a buzzing atmosphere.
Whilst there's no need to make a reservation in advance, as they have tables on the street for those that love to people-watch, plenty of space inside, and that adorable courtyard, you can easily book a table via their website. ¡Disfruta!
12. Restaurante Panorámico, Avenida Virgen de la Paz 16, Ronda
On the corner of Calle de la Bola and Avenida Virgen de la Paz sits the relatively new Hotel Catalonia, and on their rooftop is the most fabulous bar in which to enjoy sundowners with a view. Simply walk through the hotel's reception to the elevators and ride up to the top floor, take a seat overlooking Ronda's ancient bullring, and feel your spirits rise as the sun (and your drink!) goes down.
13. Venta la Parrilla, Ctra. de Ronda a San Pedro de Alcántara, Km. 2,5, Ronda
Whilst we love Spanish food, sometimes you just get a craving for something a bit more familiar, and what could be more British than bacon-and-eggs? Except that this particular breakfast combines our favourite breakfast with that of the Andalusians - the mollete (pronounced moy-et-tay). Molletes are delicious oval-shaped buns of the fluffiest, softest bread. Andalusians like to have them served lightly toasted on the outside only, then they cut them open to reveal the warm softly-steaming white centre, onto which they generously pour olive oil and sprinkle some salt. Some like to add pulped tomatoes and others raw garlic. It may sound like a strange breakfast, but try it sometime - it's delicious!
Anyway, back to the bacon-and-eggs. If you're hankering after this particular type of breakfast during your stay at La Cazalla, take a morning drive to Venta La Parrilla at the Hotel Sierra Hildalga (just across from the hospital on the Ronda circular road). Breakfast can be enjoyed between 10:00 and 11:00 (be prepared - it's popular and busy!) and if you order "un mollete con beicon y huevos de pollo" (pronounced oon moy-et-tay con baycon e way-vos day poy-yo), you will be served this little slice of heaven:
Just make sure there are plenty of napkins handy before you start!
14. Restaurante Al Lago, Calle Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente 11, Zahara de la Sierra
If you're having a day out to explore Zahara (one of five of the most picturesque towns to visit from Ronda), you simply must stop and have lunch at a restaurant with the most incredible view and heavenly food: Al Lago ("by the lake"). It's a slightly more expensive option than our usual dining recommendations, but it's absolutely worth every cent. American chef Stefan and his British wife Mona bring "the traditional Spanish kitchen into the modern day with an emphasis on lighter, fresher local produce prepared with the influences of our backgrounds" (Mona is of Indian/Pakistani descent).
Stefan offers a six-course tasting menu every day, alongside an extensive carte (see here) and daily specials. We've happily devoured the most flavoursome cod served in a banana leaf, delicately seared tuna, and jabili (wild boar) cooked in a spicy pepper sauce, all served with perfectly-cooked vegetables (vegetables can sometimes be a bit of an afterthought on your plate here in Andalusia).
As the restaurant is busy because of its fabulous food and beautiful view of the lake, we recommend making a reservation in advance by calling on +34 956 123 032 or sending an email to info@al-lago.es.
15. Restaurante Bardal, Calle Jose Aparicio 1, Ronda
In general we prefer to eat at more traditional restaurants with a local atmosphere, but a recent special occasion had us widening our gastronomic horizons at 2 Michelin Star Restaurant Bardal, and it proved to be a real treat.
Experienced chef Benito Gomez offers diners a creative culinary experience, where he uses classic Spanish ingredients to design structured menus of around 16-21 dishes divided into 'acts and sequences of tastings'. There are two tasting menus, each with a fixed price (see their website here) and you can also opt for their selection of wines that perfectly accompany each choice.
The service, the combination of flavours, the presentation, atmosphere and decor all combine to provide a quality dining experience. It's not cheap, but it's perfect for a special celebration. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and reservations should be made by telephone to 951 48 98 28.
16. Tragatá
Bardal’s little sister, Tragatá is chef Benito Gomez’s less formal but equally delicious treat for the senses. A taster of his 2 Michelin Star Restaurant Bardal, Tragatá is located in a side street a stone’s throw from the famous Bridge. Buzzing with atmosphere and we always feel just a little bit smug when we snag a table here!
16. TaBANCO LOS ARCOS
A perfect stop off whilst you see the sights around the famous bridge, try to get a table right at the back, where the windows overlook the stunning gorge and bridge. Here you can try many of the local Ronda wines by the glass, a rare pleasure, along with some nice tapas.
17. LA BARRAFINA
La Barrafina opened in 2023 just inside the old city walls at the Almocabar gate in nearby Barrio San Francisco. Run by one of the best delicatessens in town, you can expect elevated tapas and refined dishes whilst admiring the town’s ancient fortifications.
17. LAS TABLAS
A fairly new opening, Las Tablas is a short walk from the car park off Calle Armiñan. Have a drink at Gloria Bendita in the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent on your way through and then duck in to the cool of Las Tablas, a tiny restaurant with probably only 10 tables (they can accommodate groups of 10 and 12 but booking ahead is essential!). An innovative menu, some nice twists on the usual Spanish fare, the croquettes are smooth as silk and the morcilla is to die for!!!
18. PLATERO & CO, GAUCIN
If you’re out for a drive through the White Villages of the Genal Valley, along the ridge line to the village of Gaucin, from where on a clear day you can see Gibraltar and the mountains of Morocco in the distance, you might want to book a table for lunch at Platero & Co. This is our favourite restaurant in Gaucin, run by a Dutch couple, there’s always something interesting on the menu. Be warned though, it’s popular, you need to book ahead and decide who’s going to be the designated driver for the twisty 45 minute return journey!
19. EL MOLINO DEL SANTO, BENAOJÁN
This is the ultimate reward for an 8km walk through the countryside to the restaurant from La Cazalla! A very pretty little hotel with its restaurant set alongside a rushing stream. You can choose to have a snack from their Cafe menu or something more substantial and totally gratifying from their main menu and then walk back again. A tasting menu is also available! This excursion also works nicely if anyone who doesn’t want to walk opts to drive the 30 minute drive through rugged mountain scenery, meets up with the walkers, enjoys a fabulous lunch and drives everyone back. Perfect!
20. KIOSKO DE LA ALAMEDA
Another great spot for a snack or cocktails at sundown is the old-fashioned kiosk in the park (Alameda) overlooking the gorge. Open from midday to 10pm, this is fast becoming the ‘in’ place for sundowners, but personally we love to pop in after a morning walk, for a quiet coffee and toast with tomatoes.
21. PUERTA GRANDE
Wandering down the pedestrian street opposite the Parador, Calle Nueva, you might be forgiven for passing this restaurant and not giving it a second glance, but stop! Puerta Grande is a little gem of great, old-fashioned style service and wonderful food - try the super-chilled gazpacho served in an ice bowl, the baked fish filleted in front of you at the table, the rabo de toro lasagna…and genuinely the friendliest waiting staff in town.
22. DAVER
More of a café than a restaurant, but if you love cake, you have to pop in to local institution, Daver, at its main location in Los Remedios, just off the pedestrianised shopping street in the centre of Ronda, so you can combine a souvenir sweep with a sugar-fix. If you are having a celebration during your stay, this is also the best place to pick up a cake.
23. GASTROBAR SENSUR
Great for big groups as it has plenty of space and long or round tables, this restaurant opened at the end of 2021, with a fresh decor, a creative chef, knowledgeable and attentive waiters and we think it gives Tragatá a run for its money! Sensur purports to be open 365 days a year, so look for this one on a public holiday when everything else is closed!
24. el paisaje, atajate
If you’re out exploring the White Villages and want a pit stop with a fantastic view, you can’t go wrong with a cerveza or a coffee at El Paisaje. Plan it in to your route!
25. el BARRIO
Almost opposite Bar El Convento, in Calle San Francisco, it is with a deep sigh we add El Barrio to our list of recommendations, for this is our own local hangout! This is where we go if we just want to pop out somewhere nearby for a hearty meal (Cristobal, the owner, is a butcher) and maybe watch some international sport on the tv. The meat is outstanding, cooked on the bbq outside in the summer or inside on the grill in the winter. This is a truly local experience, rarely a tourist in sight, but thoroughly deserving to be shared with our guests!
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that we’ve double-numbered twice! Well, we just had to squeeze two more in and we couldn’t bring ourselves to delete anyone!! The ‘Top 27’ doesn’t have the same ring to it!!!
DINE-IN AT LA CAZALLA
Private Dining at La Cazalla
Of course, we feel the very best dining experience in town with the most spectacular view can be enjoyed right on the terrace at La Cazalla de Ronda, where we can help you organise anything from a simple traditional supper, to a fine dining experience created for you by a private chef, or something in-between! What about a performance of flamenco for a truly spectacular private party at the house?! Whatever your preferences, if you have any questions or need additional information, we are here to help. ¡Buen provecho!