Casares offers authentic dining experiences where locals gather for fresh, home-style meals like this slow-roasted lamb shoulder from the Forge.
There's a beat to life in Casares. It's slow, measured. The streets rise sharply, the whitewashed walls catching the sun just right, the distant waves carried inland on the wind. The sort of place restaurants don't need spin but word of mouth—of the sort gathered over generations, not advertising budgets.
They who come and settle here—who buy a villa on the seafront, a penthouse in the modern centre, or a restored finca in the Andalusian countryside—soon discover that Casares' finest food isn't always where you read about it in the guidebooks. It is in secret hillside restaurants, in family-run kitchens, in places where the waiters don't ask if you've been here before because, if you have, you know.
This is where the locals dine.
1. Sarmiento Brasa Andaluza
📍 Carretera de Casares, KM 12.5, 29690 Casares, Málaga
📞 +34 952 89 50 35
🌐 restaurantesarmiento.com
⏰ Hours: 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
If Casares had a signature aroma, it would be wood smoke and grilled lamb, and no place does it better than Sarmiento Brasa Andaluza.
This is not one of those restaurants where you flip through the menu looking for something you know. You have faith in the fire. Meat is grilled over an open flame, caressed by the wisps of local oak and olive wood. The flavors are pure and deliberate—a sweet spot of technique and restraint.
Order This:
- Grilled Iberian pork secreto – Charred, tender, served simply. No fuss.
- Fire-roasted piquillo peppers – Sweet, smoky, and essential.
- A bottle of Rioja Gran Reserva – Because some meals deserve proper wine.
Many Casares locals avoid tourist-heavy spots and opt for ventas (rural taverns) and traditional eateries. These restaurants are often located just outside the village or along scenic mountain roads.
2. The Forge Restaurant
📍 Carretera de Casares, KM 9.8, 29690 Casares, Málaga
📞 +34 952 89 51 20
🌐 vivamanilva.com
⏰ Hours: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)
Situated in a former country house that has been converted, The Forge doesn't attempt to be anything more than what it is—one of Casares' top places to dine.
The menu is heavy on locally raised meats, slow-cooked and masterfully seasoned. There are no pretenses here—only big portions, friendly service, and a space so intimate that it's like eating at a friend's mansion.
Order This:
- Slow-roasted lamb shoulder – Fall-off-the-bone tender, best enjoyed with good company.
- Hand-cut sirloin steak – Cooked to perfection, served with house-made chimichurri.
- A glass of aged Pedro Ximénez sherry – Rich, deep, unforgettable.
3. Venta Victoria
📍 MA-8300, Casares, Málaga
📞 +34 952 89 41 18
⏰ Hours: 12:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Venta Victoria is where locals go when they want the kind of meal that reminds them of home. No extravagant plating, no modern twists—just Andalusian cooking at its finest.
The setting is rustic, the service no-nonsense, but what matters is on the plate: tender oxtail stew, sizzling garlic prawns, a tortilla española that’s impossibly fluffy.
Order This:
- Carrillada ibérica – Slow-cooked pork cheeks, impossibly soft.
- Gambas al ajillo – Prawns in garlic and olive oil, served still sizzling.
- A bottle of crisp Albariño – Clean, bright, the perfect match.
Owning More Than a Home in Casares
Travelers come to Casares for the peace, the space, the feeling that time passes differently here. They remain because it provides a life that feels won.
It's morning coffee on a balcony with a view of the Mediterranean, a midday dip in a pool where the water and sky are indistinguishable, an evening spent dawdling over wine in a restaurant that doesn't require Michelin stars to establish its reputation.
For those who prefer to invest in a contemporary villa, a hilltop mansion, or a minimalist penthouse in Casares, it's not just about the property. It's about waking up in a setting where every meal, every view, and every moment is intentional.
Find Your Future Home with Ultimate Lifestyles
At Ultimate Lifestyles, we connect our clients with more than just houses—we connect them with homes that enhance the way they live.
Our portfolio includes seafront villas, countryside estates, and contemporary residences in Casares and across the Costa del Sol.
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