For wine and tapas in Nerja, our favourite evenings revolve around a board of jamón, cheese and chorizo with a glass of red. The best places for it are La Jamonería Alcauza, Los Barriles, D'vinos and Esquina Paulina, and this guide covers what to order at each and how to put together a relaxed sharing evening.
Tiny, cosy and with friendly service. This is our go-to for cured meats and cheese. Our favourite is the mixed platter with cheese, ham and chorizo, and it is the kind of place where a quick stop easily turns into a second glass.
Often full of locals, which is always a good sign. Every drink comes with a small tapa, so a beer or a glass of wine here is great value. Our favourite is the chorizo sandwich, prepared live at the table, and the Manchego cheese is recommended too. For more places with a tapa included, see our guide to free tapas in Nerja.
A cosy, underrated tapas and wine bar, run by the same family as La Braseria de Pacomari. We enjoyed the Iberian ham and cheese, goat cheese croquettes, a tartare mini burger, pork tacos and patatas bravas. When we last went, tapas were around €3 to €6 each, so check current prices.
A lovely little spot in the heart of Nerja. Our favourite here is a glass of red wine with one of their sharing platters, ideally on the small terrace outside, watching the town go by. It works beautifully for an afternoon or early evening.
What we like about all four is that none of them feel touristy. They are small, friendly places where you can take your time, and the food is about good ingredients rather than fancy presentation. A board, a glass and a table outside is all you need.
A Spanish sharing evening is less about a menu and more about rhythm. You order a little, eat, talk, and order a little more. Here is how we do it:
If you want a plan, try this. Start in the afternoon at Los Barriles with a drink and the tapa that comes with it, then share a mixed platter at La Jamonería Alcauza. Finish with a glass of red and a board at Esquina Paulina, or a few warm dishes at D'vinos. The centre of Nerja is compact, so it is an easy wander between them.
If you would rather sit down for wine-led sharing plates, Copa Vino is our trendy favourite, and you will find more in our guide to wine bars in Nerja. For a full night out that starts with tapas and ends late, see our perfect evening in Nerja.
Prefer a wine bar with a view? Lamalaka sits right on the Balcón de Europa and is lovely for a glass before you start your tapas round. It feels stylish without being formal, and it is a good way to begin an evening in the centre.
Some of our nicest evenings end back at the house. Casa Joya, in Ladera del Mar just outside the centre of Nerja, has a terrace with a small table that is perfect for tapas and drinks. Pick up some cheese and chorizo, open a bottle and watch the sky change over the sea. If you would like to do the same, check availability at Casa Joya.
La Jamonería Alcauza is our favourite, with a mixed platter of cheese, ham and chorizo. D'vinos serves Iberian ham and cheese, and Esquina Paulina does sharing platters with a glass of red.
In some bars, yes. At Los Barriles every drink comes with a small tapa, and at La Rienda you get a free tapa at the high tables. It is not universal, so ask or watch what the locals do.
Order a drink, then a couple of plates to share, and keep adding as you go. A mixed board of ham, cheese and chorizo plus something warm like croquettes is a good start.