A place to eat, live and argue about whose lamb rogan josh is better.
Despite its size, Benalmádena boasts restaurants from more than 40 countries, including Nepal, Argentina, Thailand, Sweden, Ethiopia, and even Venezuela—making it one of the most internationally diverse food hubs on the Costa del Sol. (Pictured: slow-cooked beef cheek.)
Somewhere along the Costa del Sol, between the Brit-packed breakfasts of Fuengirola and the showy cocktails of Puerto Banús, sits Benalmádena—a town that doesn’t try too hard and doesn’t need to. It’s the sort of place that has quietly become what the rest are busy advertising. And yes, it has sunshine and sea views. But what you might not expect is that it’s also one of the most interesting places to eat in this part of Spain.
Not in the "influencer food-porn" kind of way. We’re not talking foam or dry ice. Think something slower. Real. International, not for the sake of novelty, but because people actually live here from all over. According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, more than 70,000 residents now call Benalmádena home, a mix of Spaniards, Brits, Norwegians, Argentines, Germans, and a growing number of Latin American families.
People who’ve brought their recipes with them. Their Sunday stews, their spice cupboards. Their habits, good and bad. So when you eat here, you’re not eating curated culture. You’re tasting someone’s home.
The Kind of Property You Can Actually Live In
Now, if you’re thinking of buying here, and not just visiting, it’s worth knowing that Benalmádena isn’t really trying to be Marbella. That means: more space, fewer tourists on scooters, and homes that are made to be lived in. Homes with rooms for the books you’ve collected, for the relatives who overstay, for the dog who insists on sleeping at your feet.
There are sleek penthouses with balconies that know how to catch a sunset, yes. But also five-bedroom hillside houses in La Capellanía, built for people who like dinner parties that stretch into midnight. In Benalmádena Pueblo, the old quarter, you’ll find homes with thick walls, terracotta tiles, and courtyards that trap the sound of summer jazz drifting through open windows. And in Torrequebrada, the estate agents talk about “golf-side living” but really they mean houses with space for quiet mornings, maybe a lap pool, and definitely a proper kitchen.
Not kitchens you pose in. Kitchens you cook in. Which matters here, because food is part of the rhythm.
Where to Eat (and Argue About It)
The food in Benalmádena isn’t fancy—it’s full. Full of intent, full of backstory. It’s where Argentine grill houses rub shoulders with Japanese sashimi bars, and you’re just as likely to see a Spanish granddad tucking into sushi as you are to find British kids fighting over tikka masala.
Here’s where to start:
- La Perra Gorda
Avenue de la Constitución, 8, Benalmádena Pueblo
📞 +34 677 61 02 66
⏰ Tues–Sun, 13:00–23:00
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The sort of place where you think you’re ordering tapas and end up ordering the whole menu. They do a slow-cooked beef cheek that might just make you call your mum and tell her hers is second-best.
- Yucas Mare
Calle Los Girasoles, 1, Torrequebrada
📞 +34 952 56 50 88
⏰ Daily, 13:00–23:00
Website
Sea views and Japanese small plates. Try the tuna tataki with soy and sesame while listening to the soft crash of the sea below. Come alone or with someone interesting.
- Restaurante Angus
Calle La Fragata, 19, Puerto Marina
📞 +34 952 56 65 79
⏰ Daily, 13:00–23:30
WebsiteArgentine steaks done properly. The bife de chorizo arrives exactly as it should: grilled, generous, and unapologetically beefy. Pair it with Malbec and mild boasting.
Some Indian restaurants in Benalmádena are family-run for 20+ years, with dishes that evolved to suit both British expats and Andalusian locals—resulting in a truly hybrid flavor profile. (Pictured: lamb rogan josh.)
4. The Kathmandu Tandoori House
Avenida del Sol, 89
📞 +34 951 25 53 45
⏰ Daily, 13:00–16:00 & 18:00–23:00
Website
North Indian dishes that taste of something someone’s grandma used to make. Lamb rogan josh with actual depth, not just colour. Garlic naan that holds its own.
Life Between Meals
You’ll want more than food, of course. Benalmádena offers that quiet trick of giving you just enough to do without ever overwhelming you. A morning walk in Parque de la Paloma, where roosters and rabbits roam freely like it’s their town. A trip up to Castillo Monumento Colomares, a storybook-like monument to Christopher Columbus built by a man with big ideas and bricks to spare.
There’s the Butterfly Park, full of kids asking questions, and the British College, for parents hoping for grammar school rigour in the Spanish sun. There’s dolphin watching in the morning, golf in the afternoon at Torrequebrada Golf, and a strong espresso and a stare out to sea to end the day.
There’s time. That’s the real currency.
And Then There’s You
You’ve probably lived long enough to know what you want. You know that flashy doesn’t always mean better. That space matters. That being able to eat Moroccan one night and Basque pintxos the next isn’t a gimmick—it’s a way of living well.
At ultimate-lifestyles.com, we curate homes for people who want to live like that. Not just stay. Not just spend two weeks and a tan. People who want to live fully, and eat well while doing it.
So if you're after a place that knows how to hold both a sunset and a story, a town where the food matters and the homes make sense—Benalmádena might just be calling.
📌 Start your search for a home worth sitting down in.
Visit ultimate-lifestyles.com to explore available properties, or speak with us directly.
📧 E-mail: [email protected]
📞 Phone: +34 951 12 07 12
You bring the cookbooks. We’ll help with the rest.