Have a drink in Bar El Pimpi in Malaga!

Where to go for a drink or a tapa when you are in Malaga center? 

Let your quest definitely include this one address: 'El Pimpi'!  

In Malaga, El Pimpi Bar is an icon. It stands for cosiness and great authentic tapas. 

Located in an original wine cellar, it exists of one bar (with tapas) and one cocktail bar (with seafood). 

The decor is traditional and vintage. 

It's very much praised for its wine, and even more for its ambiance, and thus a magnet for local artists, filmmakers and politicians alike. So it truly lives up to its tagline: 'Where Malagueñas meet'. 

The name 'el pimpi' comes from a character that no longer exists: the pimpis, who used to be young men helping out the crews of ships. Eventually they became the first city guides for tourists. 

You can find El Pimpi very easily, in the narrow Calle Granada where you walk through when you walk from the shopping street Calle Larios to Plaza Merced - 2 places you will visit anyway. 

For more information: 
Visit the website of El Pimpi 

Salud!

(= to your health, cheers)

The Top Tapas in Malaga

When asked what the favorite highlight was of a trip to Malaga, many a tourist says: "The tapas"! 

Yes, tourists and tapas, it's a never ending love story. 

What is a tapa? 

A tapa is the small bite you can order with a drink. 

It can be just a small plate of olives, to dozens of little appetizers. 

Such a tapa used to be automatically added, and for free. Today this is rarely ever the case. 

But they can be ordered basically everywhere, for the love for tasting is deeply rooted in the Andalusian culture. From just a few choices a few decades ago, one can now go for all sorts of new inventions, styles and 'designer tapas'. 

Are you more hungry than that? Then simply order a 'racion' or a portion. It is very common to order a portion even if you are 2, 3 or more people sitting at the table. The portions are then put in the middle of the table and everyone picks what he or she likes most. 

Origins of the tapa?  

The word 'tapa' stems from tapar, or to cover. Which comes from the habit of putting a small plate on a beer or wine, to cover the it from sand, dust or falling leaves. And for reasons of a nice presentation one might as well put some olives in that plate. 

Usually it were rather salty products, for they would whet the thirst. 

The 3 most popular tapas with tourists?  

The Number One tapa? Hands down? 

Serrano Ham! 

Generally served in thin slices, this dry-cured ham is made from the landrace breed of white pig. 

It's the culinary symbol of Spain and immensely popular, by Andalucians and tourists alike. 

Oviedo cheese

This tapa is also a traditional tapa and exists of slices of dry, mild cheese. 

A very nice bite, in combination with 'picos', the mini breadsticks with traditional olive oil. 

Patatas Bravas

Also liked by almost everyone: cubes of roasted potato, in a spicy tomato sauce. Especially when you feel your stomach can use some 'real' food. 

As said though, the choice is limitless. A very good idea is: to follow the Spaniards. 

When it is crowded and you see many Spaniards eating… you know it's the place with the best tapas!